Alright, so a bunch of you have been asking me, “Is IBD gel actually any good?” And you know, I’ve been messing around with nail stuff for ages, tried a bit of everything, so I figured I’d share what I found out when I gave IBD gel a whirl myself.
My nail journey, oh boy, it’s been a long one. For the longest time, my own nails were just a disaster. They’d peel, they’d break if you just looked at them sideways. I spent so much money at salons, trying to find something, anything, that would just let me have decent-looking hands for more than three days. Seriously, it was a constant battle.
My First Brush with IBD Gel
So, how did I even stumble upon IBD? Funny story, actually. I was at my cousin Maria’s place for a barbecue, and her nails looked fantastic. Now, Maria, she’s super practical, not the type to drop a hundred bucks on a manicure every few weeks. So I pulled her aside, “Maria, spill the beans, what’s on your nails?” And she leans in, real quiet, and says, “IBD gel, girl. I do it myself. Got it online.”
That was enough for me. If Maria said it was good and budget-friendly, I was willing to try. So, I hopped online and ordered a starter kit – I think it had a builder gel, a couple of colors, and a top coat. It wasn’t crazy expensive, which was a big plus right off the bat.
When the package arrived, I was pretty eager to get started. I watched a couple of videos, you know, to make sure I wasn’t going to completely mess it up. My first attempt, well, let’s just say it wasn’t salon-perfect. The builder gel, especially, was a bit thicker than I was used to from other gels I’d tried. Getting it smooth and even, without lumps, took some practice. My first set looked a little… rustic. But hey, practice makes perfect, right?
The curing part was straightforward. I used my regular LED lamp, and it cured just fine. No weird stickiness or anything after the final wipe. The real test, for me, was always going to be the wear time. That’s where other gels had let me down big time.
So, How Did It Hold Up?
And you know what? It held up surprisingly well! I’m talking about my nails, which usually start chipping or lifting within a week, especially with all the hand washing I do. I’m a bit obsessive about clean hands, always have been. This IBD stuff, though, it stayed put. I got a solid two weeks, sometimes pushing three, before I saw any major issues. Mostly just the grow-out at the cuticle line, which is to be expected.
Here’s what I noticed:
- Durability: The builder gel, in particular, made my nails feel really strong. Less bending, less accidental snapping. That was a game-changer for my naturally weak nails.
- Application Learning Curve: Like I said, the thickness of some of their gels, especially the builder, took some getting used to. Thin coats are your friend. Don’t try to glop it on all at once.
- Removal: Now, this is important. Removal wasn’t super quick. It’s a soak-off gel, but you need patience. You have to soak it properly with acetone and wraps. I tried to rush it once, just picking at a lifted edge – big mistake. That was with a different brand, years ago, right before my sister’s wedding. Oh, the panic! I ended up with one really mangled nail and had to do an emergency patch-up job that looked terrible in photos. Never again. So, with IBD, or any gel really, take your time with removal to keep your natural nails healthy.
So, the big question: is IBD gel good?
From my experience, for what I needed – something tough, long-lasting, and reasonably priced that I could do myself – yeah, it was pretty good. Especially that hard builder gel. It really delivered on strength and wear for me.
But here’s the kicker, it’s not some magic potion. You gotta do your prep work. Clean nails, properly buffed, a good dehydrator and primer if your nails are oily like mine sometimes get. If you skimp on prep, no gel in the world is going to perform its best. And like I said, application technique matters. Thin, even coats.
I’ve also heard some people say they find certain IBD color consistencies a bit off, or that they don’t like the smell of some products. I mostly stuck to their builder gel and then used my own regular polishes over it, or just a clear top coat, so I didn’t run into too many issues with their colored gels directly. My friend Sarah tried one of their bright pinks and said it took three coats to get opaque, so your mileage may vary depending on the shade.
Ultimately, it’s like a lot of things in the beauty world. What works like a dream for one person might be just okay for another. For me, IBD builder gel was a solid find, especially when my nails were going through a really weak phase. I learned how to work with its quirks, and it helped me get the strong, lasting manis I was after without constant salon visits. I’d definitely consider using it again, especially the builder. But you know me, I’m always on the lookout, always trying the next new thing too! This whole nail game is one big experiment, isn’t it?
