I know the nail market is currently saturated with Gel-Polish Hybrids, but since this is the biggest category to hit the nail industry in recent memory, I wanted to revisit application and troubleshooting tips.
For nail techs who are currently using Gelish, a quick review of this post will help refresh you to continue providing your clients with the best possible service. For nail techs who have not yet jumped at this huge trend, hopefully some of this information will ease any concerns you have and provide answers to some of your questions!
Gelish Application Instructions:
- Sanitize the nails and your clients hands.
- Push back the cuticle.
- Remove cuticle from nail plate.
- Shape the natural nail using your 240 grit file of choice.
- Gently remove the shine using the 100 grit side of a 100/180 Buffer.
- Remove the dust and clean the nail.
- Wipe the nail with Gelish Cleanser (Blue Liquid) using a lint free wipe.
- Apply Gelish PH Bond to the nail plate. APPLY SPARINGLY - i.e. very thin coat!
- Apply Gelish Base Coat (GELISH FOUNDATION GEL) - first seal the edges of the nail.
Then apply a THIN APPLICATION to the nail plate using a gentle, massaging, circular motion with the brush.
If you apply too thick a coat, your results will suffer. - Place hand in the Gelish LED Light for 10 seconds or a 36 Watt UV Light for 1 minute.
As with ALL UV products, cure thumbs separately for best results.NOTE: For Clients with NAILS PRONE TO THINNING AND PEELING, add the following two Enhancement Steps: - Apply GELISH STRUCTURE GEL in a THIN LIGHT APPLICATION from cuticle to free edge to build structure to the nail. Seal the edges of the nail & the free edge.
- Place hand in LED Light for 30 seconds or 36 Watt UV Light for 2 minutes.
As with ALL UV products, cure thumbs separately for best results.
- Apply GELISH STRUCTURE GEL in a THIN LIGHT APPLICATION from cuticle to free edge to build structure to the nail. Seal the edges of the nail & the free edge.
- Remove some of the tacky surface residue with clean dry brush or clean dry lint free Wipe.
DO NOT USE CLEANSER... this is a DRY cleaning. - Apply Gelish Color Coat of Choice. First, seal the free edge of the nail. Then, apply to the nail plate in a THIN LIGHT APPLICATION from cuticle to free edge.
If you apply too thick a coat, your results will suffer. APPLICATION SHOULD BE ALMOST SEE-THROUGH ON 1st COAT! - Place hand in the LED Light for 30 seconds (20 seconds for light colors) or a 36 Watt UV Light for 2 minutes.
If using the Gelish 18G LED lamp, cure all 5 fingers at once. With ALL other UV/LED lamps, cure thumbs separately for best results. - Repeat Step 11, 12 &13 for second color coat. If deeper color is desired, can repeat again for a third color coat.
- Apply Gelish Top Coat(GELISH TOP IT OFF GEL SEALER). First seal the free edge. Then, apply from cuticle to free edge using a THIN LIGHT APPLICATION.
If you apply too thick a coat, your results will suffer. - Place hand in LED Light for 20 seconds or 36 Watt UV Light for 2 minutes.
If using the Gelish 18G LED lamp, cure all 5 fingers at once. With ALL other UV/LED lamps, cure thumbs separately for best results. - Wipe off the tacky surface residue with Gelish Cleanser (Blue Liquid).
- Apply Nourish cuticle oil to the skin surrounding the nail.
- Gelish recommended cure times are based on using a Gelish Harmony LED Curing Light or 36 watt UV Light for curing. For best performance follow recommended cure times.
- For best results, be sure to cap the free edge of each nail. Edges that have not been capped tend to wear and chip faster.
- Be sure to remove any excess Gelish from the client's skin PRIOR to curing each layer!
- Performing a wet manicure is NOT RECOMMENDED prior to applying Gelish. The worst thing for the natural nail is water. If the nail is waterlogged before the base coat is applied, it is perfectly natural for the nail to peel within days, once the nail dries and shrinks back to its natural size. Do a dry nail prep rather than a hand soaking, etc. If you must do a wet manicure, apply and cure the base coat first. Doing so will seal off the nail from absorbing any further moisture, and protect the Gelish manicure from chipping and peeling.
Check back next week for Gelish Troubleshooting Tips, Tricks, and More! Do you use Gelish? Do you have any tricks you have learned? We would love to hear about them!