Okay, so you wanna know about my builder gel nail design adventure? Buckle up, it was a ride!
The Idea: I saw some crazy nail art online using builder gel and thought, “Hey, I can totally do that!” I mean, how hard could it be, right? (Spoiler: harder than I thought).
Gathering Supplies: First things first, I needed the stuff. I already had a UV/LED lamp, some regular gel polishes, and the usual nail tools. But I had to grab:
- Builder gel (obviously!) I picked a clear one to start.
- Slip solution. I heard it helps with shaping.
- A builder gel brush. It’s different from my regular polish brushes, a bit stiffer.
- Forms. For extending my nails.
Prep Work: Okay, this is where I messed up the FIRST time. I rushed it. Don’t do that! Proper prep is KEY. I filed, buffed, pushed back my cuticles, and used a dehydrator and primer. Seriously, don’t skip any of those steps, or the gel won’t stick. I learned that the hard way when my first attempt started peeling off after a day.
Applying the Forms: This was trickier than it looked in the tutorials. Getting the form to fit snuggly under my nail without any gaps took some practice. I watched like, five different YouTube videos. I think I finally got it right on my third nail.
Builder Gel Time: Alright, the main event! I dipped my brush in the slip solution, then picked up a bead of builder gel. The goal is to apply a thin layer first, cure it, then build up the apex (the highest point) for strength. It’s a lot like sculpting. I was aiming for a nice, smooth C-curve.
Curing: Each layer needs to be cured under the UV/LED lamp. I followed the instructions on my gel, usually around 60 seconds. I zapped each layer to make sure it was solid.
Shaping and Filing: This is where the magic (and the arm workout) happens! After curing all the layers, the nails were… chunky. I used an e-file to shape them, paying close attention to the side walls and the apex. Then I switched to a hand file for finer adjustments and to smooth everything out. Seriously, my arm was killing me!
Polishing and Design: Finally! After all that building and filing, it was time for the fun part. I applied a gel base coat, cured it, then added two coats of my chosen color (a sparkly pink, because why not?). Cured each layer, of course. Then, I added some glitter accents using a thin brush. One last layer of top coat, cure, and done!
The Result: They weren’t perfect, not by a long shot. I still need to work on my shaping and getting a smoother application of the builder gel. But hey, they looked pretty good for my first try! They were strong, and I got a bunch of compliments.
Lessons Learned:
- Prep is EVERYTHING.
- Patience is key. Don’t rush any step.
- Slip solution is your friend.
- Watch lots of tutorials.
- Don’t be afraid to mess up. It’s part of the learning process!
Would I do it again? Totally! It’s time-consuming, but it’s also super satisfying to create something cool with your own hands. I’m already planning my next design. Maybe something with encapsulated flowers?
