DIY Gel Nails at Home!

So I've mentioned on a million different occasions that I'm a poor college student. I work at a movie theatre and spend a lot more money than I should on stupid things and then wonder where it all went once the tuition bill shows up. 

I couldn't part with $40+ a month just to get my nails done, but I was also sick of looking at gross chipped nails. I also HATED spending so long to paint them only to have them chip off within hours.

So for my birthday last September I may have suggested to begged Eric to get me a lamp to do gel nails at home. And I have never once regretted that decision.

He bought me the Sensationail Starter Kit. (affiliate link)

It comes with everything you need, and doing them is a lot simpler than I thought.

1. First you prep your nails like usual, filing and whatnot.
2. Next, you use the primer to prep your nails and let that air dry.
3. Paint a base coat and cure under the lamp. I usually do the two thumbs together, then the four fingers from each side, because that's how I found it fits best under the lamp. The lamp turns on and off automatically.

4. Paint as many coats as you find necessary, curing between each coat. I've found that colors that are more sheer need 2 or more coats, but darker colors are usually okay after just the one. The key here is to "cap" the top. After painting your nails like usual, swipe the end of your nail to seal the whole nail, if that makes sense.
5. Finish off with the top coat and cure under the lamp.
6. The last step is to use rubbing alcohol on a lint free pad to remove the sticky residue from the top. It seems really weird but you're nails are immediately dry. I LOVE that part. Because before when painting your nails I wasn't comfortable for at least 6 hours. 

The last step is to flaunt your nails to everyone and drop their jaws when you tell them you did it yourself. (Hair flip)

(excuse my chunky fingers. I also never noticed I had chunky fingers until right now.)

This is two weeks out. You can see where my nails have started to grow out. Looks pretty great huh? (actually the pic doesn't show it very well, but they do, I promise.

My thumb from my notebook project: courtesy of manicurist me. (More hair flips) 
So you should try it out! It will save you a ton of moolah to spend on your tuition or mortgage...or more gel nail polish or something, I won't judge. ;)

Show me your manicures! #LittleBitsofLacey I might even repost them on Instagram :) :)

xoxoxo,
L