It seems there are a few of us here that use gel polishes, and many more showing interest, so I thought it a good idea to start a thread showcases all the different colors. When posting a pic, please include brand and color name.

These were all taken in the sun. Most colors are darker and deeper when viewed inside.

Gelish: Bella's Vampire


Gelish: Night Reflection


Gelish: Plum and Done


Gelish: After Dark

Jessica Geleration: Notorious


Jessica Geleration: Mystic


Gelish: Sweet Dream


Gelish: French manicure with Sheek White with Little Princesses

White french glue-on tips with Gelish Simple Sheer and Waterfield



Gelish Midnight Caller



Gelish Bella's Vamp



Gelish Starburst over Midnight Caller



Gelish Bronzed over Sweet Chocolate



Gelish Standout



Gelish Pink Smoothie with Tumberline Violet



Gelish Highbridge over Gossip Girl



Gelish Exhale

thanks for posting these colour ladies!! A lamp and all I need to get started, with some colours is part of my bday present, so I am compling a *big* list.

Oooh! I love Gelish Plum n' Done, and Inhale. And the Gelish French manicure with Sleek White and Little Princess.

DH said, "Uhm, what is Gelish?" He went to Google something and it was the first thing in the history.

Gelish Rose Garden

so incredibly helpful!!! I just ordered the system and seeing the colors IRL is wonderful!

tons of samples, and you can click on the pictures to see them bigger!
http://singularhappenings.blogspot.com/2011/05/gelish-gelish-and-more-gelish.html

Thanks, SaraAnna! That's quite helpful to see the difference between the many shades of pale colors.

everyone's nails are so beautiful!!!

This is Snow Bunny on the tips and one coat of Little Princesses base. In reality the LP looks even lighter/whiter than the picture shows (it would have been more so if they had done 2 coats). I do like the Snow Bunny though.

Your nails look great! It is a much nicer white, imo.

Thanks. This manicure did not turn out as nice as the first (I won't be going back to the same salon) but I like the tip color much better. Now, I need to figure out which color is the sheer pink so I can order my gelish to do at home.

Now that I'm looking back at the pics, it doesn't look like Sparklee's French manicure is with Little Princesses...shown directly above it looks like what I have but the base on the French looks different.

Sweet Dream might also work for softer tips too...but I haven't seen it IRL.

I ordered lots of light colours, so when they come I will tell you if any look promising.

DURN!!! I * love* Snowbunny for the tips! That's the one I ordered, along with Sleek White and a host of other lighter colors. You nails look great, morning glory! I quite like the one coat of LP with the tips. Yay! Sooooon my precious nails... Soooooon...

Yes it is! I do one coat of Little Princess, Sheek white for the french tips, and then another coat of Little Princess.

I think LP will be one of my faves. It really reminds me of my all-time fave nail polish.

Well dang, it just looks so different to me. Even the LP color on your French looks different than the LP in the pic right above it. Without you having posted the colors I would have guessed the French was with a sheer-er pink and not the LP.

Oh, and I didn't mean to sound like I was calling you out on what you used...I just can't figure out why I like your nails so much better than mine, lol.

If you aren't busy...wanna come and paint my nails when I get my stuff in the mail?

It may be the pics that make the LP pic above the french look a lot pinker. It really is a more white-pinkish color. KWIM? The LP pic was taken in the sun, and the french was on a cloudy day. Not sure if that accounts for the difference, but I would say the french pic is probably closer to the accuracy of the LP.

If you're looking for the same opaqueness, but more pink, try Sweet Dream.

White-pinish...that's exactly how I'd describe the LP. Just a bit too white for me, but I don't want too pink either. Not that I'm picky.

I'm wondering if I wouldn't like the Simple Sheer with the Snow Bunny...it's not as opaque but still pinky.

I am loving Bella's Vamp, will have to get that next time. I know it has been around awhile but I have been to chicken to get anything that dark. Loving all these pics though, so it is inspiring me to be a bit daring

This one would be great for a French. It is a very subtle pink with irridescence, quite sheer - with two coats.

LeChat Madras Opal

Nice!! Looks very similar to Shellac Negligee......

That is very pretty poppyseed!

Gelish Tiger Blossom




Gelish Rose Garden

Oh, Madras Opal is very nice, poppyseed! Can it be used with the Gelish bottom/top coats or does it have to be all LeChat? Ugh. Like I need to order some more colors...

sparklee, your collection looks divine, LOL! Your hubby doesn't have a sniff, does he? Mine is completely oblivious as to how much haircuts are, mani & pedi's, etc. --- or clothes, or... but he's *really* awesome at car parts and all that sort of paraphenalia. LOL!

I usually do my own mani/pedi and just applied a deep, deep Bing cherry-type red on my toenails yesterday. Used some Seche Vite top coat which is excellent for being super shiney, fast drying and giving a very hard layer quickly.

Finally broke down and purchased "1/4" width cuticle nippers, which are wonderful! I didn't know they came in such a tiny size or I would've done it years ago. My cuticles are totally amazing --- or should I say lack of cuticles?!

I used Gelish bottom and top coats w/ the LeChat nail color.

I use Gelish foundation and top coat with all my gel polishes. I have found it to be the best of them all, and the easiest to remove.

ETA: You're all using your solar oil, aren't you?!?!

Not in the slightest!! I actually told him I only spent about $200.......

He knows guns, computer, car stuff and audio/video paraphernalia - For "girlie-stuff", he's oblivious!

This is Shellac Beau (2 coats) with Mother of Pearl on top


And this is 1 coat of white on my tips, 1 coat or Beau, and then 1 coat of Mother of Pearl

This lighting shows it better

jcent,..how how howwwwwwwwww, do you do your own french?? it is my favorite look,..helllp!!
yours looks soooooooooooo good!!
Sorry if this has been asked already!!

I cheat. I didn`t know if I could do this, but I tried it asnd it worked. I paint it on the best that I can, and then with a nail brush, the kind that looks like a paint brush, kwim, I dipped it in the Gelish Cleaner and just tidied up what wasn`t perfect. Just be sure to be light handed with the cleaner (not the remover, just to be clear) and wipe your brush clean everytime to get the excess white off. Easy! I also did one pr 2 at a time before curing so I didn`t have to worry about messing anything up.

And thank you

No,..THANK YOU!!
Guess what Jcent!! That is how the professional did it at my nail place!! lol!! You see,..your just a natural!!
And actually she put the white on very messy,..then cleaned it up like you did!!

That's how the professionals do it. I saw it on a you tube vid. for LeChat gel nails.

Wow! Your French looks amazing, jcent!!! Thanks so much for the tips on tips. While waiting for my goodies to arrive, I took a leaf out of sparklee's book and have been practicing doing tips with nail polish. After some rather wretched-looking experiments I got out a Q-tip (not the least bit precise, LOL!), dipped it in non-acetone remover and went to town on the inside of the smile line. That cleaned 'em up! Looks like I'm on the right track.

The gal that did my Shellac French is very obviously a "pro" 'cause she barely touched the smile lines up at all! That's something to strive for. So, now a question, do you gals put the smile lines on with the brush going horizontally across the nail, or vertically on the nail?

poppyseed --- thanks for the reminder to look at videos. I only looked at Gelish's vid's on their webpage.

LOL! Cracked me up! My DH tries to slip by how little he's spent on the car/bike/guitars/iPad. However, I pay attention when he's rambling on in his research before he buys something, so I have a ballpark figure. My stuff? His ear-flaps close down and it's like Charlie Brown listening to his teacher, "Wah-wah-wah wah wah..." Love it!

Amazing French, Jcent!!

I go horizontally 'cause I don't like rounded smile lines - I prefer more square looking nails and prefer my french to line up with the edge of my nails KWIM?!?!





+1

Solar oil.......she asks??? what is that?

Thanks everyone! I thought I was doing it wrong, ans wasn`t sure if it would cause lifting or something. Good to know ``pros`` do it like that too sometimes. I actuallly cleaned them up a bit too much on some nails, so regrowth started to show siiner tan I would have liked, so next time I will leave a the whites thicker. I didn`t know there were videos, I have to check that now!

I paint mine vertically, I just have better control like that, and I am trying really hard to make sure to cover and seal the ends, so that is easiest for me.

Poppyseed, Solar Oil is nail and cuticle oil. I use a an oil by LCN, lots if companies make them. It will keep your cuticles lovely, and with all the soaking off in acetone, it will keep your nails moisturized too, so they don`t get brittle.

Thanks for the info re: solar oil. When do you use it on your nails? In between manicures?

this is the you tube video French Manicure

another question. What do you use to clean the brush with? I'm assuming alcohol.

I use the oil everyday, before bed with hand cream and somtimes in the day, if I am using hand cream.

I just used the Gelish cleaner...which I think is alcohol.

Oh, and be sure to put it under your nails too!

Thanks for the video Poppy!
Now if I can get my left hand to cooperate for me!!

Solar Oil is very important in keeping your gel from lifting. If your nails are too dry, they will lift or peel.


"Solar Oil is a synergistic blend of four naturally light essential oils along with Vitamin E, it is designed to deeply penetrate and protect both natural and acrylic nails as well as your skin. It comes in a more liquid form than other oils like massage oils and cooking oils.

Solar Oil contains Jojoba Oil which helps Vitamin E penetrate deeply into the skin, this prevents cellular damage and eliminates visible signs of aging, so is good to start using whilst young. Jojoba Oil penetrates Rice Bran Oil and Sweet Almond Oil into natural nails and acrylic nails and this keeps them tough and flexible. Repeated use drives oils penetrates to product deeper into your nails and skin therefore maximizing the benefits and preventing problems.

After a while when you have acrylic or gel on your nails, it can lift up at the edges, this is due to the plate no longer receiving oil and moisture from the nail bed. When your dried out plate comes in contact with water or moisture, it sucks it up, making the plate expand, the plate then dries out and contracts and the plate then begins peeling and looses its shape, pulling away from the nail that it's attached to and this then results in cracking and breaking. Solar Oil prevents this from happening, all from just using it a few times a day on the nails. Solar Oil also ensures the the acrylic or gel nail remains strong and flexible. Solar Oil is designed to penetrate through the acrylic or gel to act as a shock absorber and a lubricant for the product, stopping it breaking or lifting. "


I have small bottles in my kitchen, bedroom and study, and I apply it up to 6x a day. Can never be too moisturized.....

you did a fantastic job and I LOVE the base color. If I do Snow Bunny on the tips it might just be the perfect American/French manicure I've been looking for!!

It is a really nice sheer pale pink with a hint of peach in it. I also liked it with just 2 coats and mother of pearl sparkle on top. The mother of pearl is a barely there sparkle.

OMG I was missing an essential function of self manicure, LOL.
I went to Sally's on my lunch hr and stocked up on emollients and cuticle grooming supplies, and a brush to do my French.

lol! We are all going to have the most amazing nails!

This is Shellac's Hot Pop Pink. At first I thought I wanted a light colour so did 1 coat of Romantique, but is is soooo light (a good base for a french mani really) and I knew that another coat would fix it, so I put on a coat of Hot Pop Pink on top. I just did 1 coat and the colour is still strong. It would be even more concentrated if I had done 2 though.



ETA, this is a few days old now so please forgive the regrowth.

Yummy Jcent!! Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!

This is Gelish Passion

this almost makes me want to stop biting my nails haha! You all have pretty nails! I have no idea what Gelish is though, is it a brand?

Crossing Fingers the whole story starts

Here

My FAV colour to date! It is a gorgeous pink glitter.
Gelish High Voltage, 2 coats.

Great!! And i just placed a order!! Dang nabbit!!
I love it!!!

yay, you will love it!! It is so fun.

That's a sweet summer color, jcent! Your cuticles look great --- mine have never been so lovely. Since getting and using the wee cuticle nippers, mine have been be-e-e-e-eautiful!

Thank you! I love hot pink in summer. I just push mine back, gently, in the shower everyday, I have never cut them, 'cept the odd hang nail.

Oh, I also gently push the cuticles back (fingers and toes) and use Avoplex on them, but they have really benefited from additional "work" on 'em.

Here is my very first "homemade" Gelish: Sleek White and Simple Sheer. Thought I'd show my right hand, 'cause I'm righthanded. They aren't perfect, but I'm delighted with how the colors turned out. Doing a smile line is much easier with Gelish than regular polish! I'm officially hooked!

ETA: My gratuitous sparklie shot, LOL! --- diamonds look quite warm due to reflection from my top.

2 coats of Gelish Bashful, 1 coats of Tumberline Violet

I just started painting my nails (still not that great at it) and have put a lot of money into my OPI polishes. I didn't know this stuff existed! Do you need to be more then a beginner to use this stuff?

Gelish Bashful is my favorite! It looks great with the Tumberline Violet on top, I will have to try that some time

Wow, looks awesome Cricketgrrl and yes, your diamonds look beautiful too!

Oh, jcent, that looks great! I had to stop myself from ordering about ten more than I did. LOL!

maliasmom, thanks! I've been examining my work and have decided it's as good as either of the crazy techies did! Honestly! I'm soooo delighted with Gelish. Well, the wee smile lines aren't quite perfect but the rest of the application is much better than the tech's did. I guess not being in a huge hurry makes a difference... The only thing better than staring endlessly at sparklies, is staring endlessly at them on a lovely manicured, Gelish-ed hand. LOL!

2ndLOVE, I've never used UV polishes before and only in summer was I doing my nails (fingers and toes). If you're good at applying regular nail polish, this will be easy-peasy for you!

I love this!! It look like a birthday party on your fingers!!

maliasmom, it is a great colour! I think it depends on your colouring, but for my skin, it is the perfect nude shade with a hint of shimmer. And the tumberline violet is very misleading if you go by the bottle, but I love it on.

Cricketgrrl, your nails look great too!!! Those are excellent smile lines for not doing it before. I always touch mine up with a nail brush dipped in alcoholégelish cleaner. Then they are perfect, and people are shocked I did them myself. I love that people ask me where I got my nails done!! Then when I say my front room, they are confused. And I think our sparklies look so much nicer with great nails! Yours is lovely in the pic, and deserved to be photographed.

2ndLove, I think it is easier than regular polish in that you can cure them 1 at a time if you need to, and if it isnt right, you can just wipe it off with the cleaner. The trick with these is thin, thin coats, so that the polish doesnt pool or run. I started using the pH bond, followed by the pro bond, and then do my mani and they last now for 14 days. My hands are constantly in water... The other benefit us that when you are done, they are dry. I am slowish doing mine, and have the UV light, not the LED so it takes me 45-60mins. I find it fun though, and since there is no drying time and I only have to do it once every week or 2, it saves a lot if time in the long run.

Thanks kanga!! I really like this combo too, and feel happy when I look at my fingers.

Thanks, jcent. Yeah, love the sparkies w/nice nails---and sometimes, the sparklies just beg to be photo'd.

Coolio! I made a big oopsie on one thumb, used the cleaner on it, but it made the thumbnail all sticky, so I just soaked the whole thing off and started fresh. I suspect I didn't use enough cleaner on it. Hmmm!

I also find doing four fingers on one hand, then the thumb separately, seems to work best. Perhaps once I get a few applications down, I'll do them all at once. I went wild and bought an LED light. It's excellent and soooooo fast!

You did a very good job there, CG!!! Well done.....

Here is Black Cherry Berry ~ This is an interesting one as it looks very different inside and outside.

Hi, I am new to Gelish and would be grateful for some help. I was just wondering how dry the color coat should be after curing. Mine can still be wiped off and I ended up curing it 3x the 30 seconds under the LED lamp to try to get it to dry. Once the top coat is on though everything is fine and seems to last.

The only thing I can think of is that instead of the dry brushing stage I wiped the foundation layer with cleaner (as I had seen in an instruction video). I have now ordered a brush and will try again doing it properly. I did apply very thin layers, so that is definitely not the problem.

You should not be wiping the color coats, only wipe with cleanser after curing the top coat. The foundation layer should not be wiped either, only dry brushed to remove shiny residue. If you don't have a brush, use a lint free wipe and do it very gently.

Are you sure you are using an LED lamp and not a UV lamp?

I don't touch my nails until I am done and the top coat is cured. Also, what is the dry brushing stage?

Hi, the dry brushing stage is what I found on the Harmony video (http://youtu.be/H7GlvMYr_ro). The reason I used the cleanser previously was because I saw it on someone's Gelish instruction video (which I can no longer find). (I have also seen plenty of videos from people who don't brush or wipe the foundation layer at all).

Anyway, I just got my brush and tried it with dry brushing the foundation layer and it worked! The only difference with before was using the cleanser rather than a dry brush on the foundation layer. I didn't think that this could make such a difference! Also, I didn't actually brush the color layers, but found out by accident that they were still wet.

Well, do what works for you, but most of us just paint and cure coat by coat until we use the cleaner after the top coat is cured.

Just used Bashful for a French mani, and LOVE it! So many lovely colors.

This is 2 coats of Go Girl topped off with 1 coat of June Bride



The June Bride is really fun and actually sparkles

Baaaahahaaaaa...I just commented on your nails!!
Holy smokes...my mom and i just used Go girl yesterday!!
It is by far my favorite color of pink ever!!

Whoooooo, looks like it will go with a pink moissy is I get one!!

hahahaha it is such a good pink! Not dark but not light. It is the June Bride that made it a bit peachy. I haven`t worn it just on it`s own yet. I keep meaning to, but then I always want to sparkle it up. According to my DH ``this is the best nail colour I have ever had``. LOL!

Gelish Night Reflection

clearly not the best pic...it was 2 weeks old and my hands were in rough shape, but it shows the colour. In real life, it has a nice shimmer to it.

This may one of my favs yet!

2 coats of gelish Sweet Chocolate with a stripe of High Voltage. It reminds of raspberries and chocolate. MMmmmm

I can't help it... I've got to go to the beauty supply store tomorrow and they sale the Gelish Kits... I'm really thinking about purchasing one.... you girls just by your gorgeous pics have me still wanting to try it...

.... Oh and jcent... your nails look amazing.. I love your last color combo... so yummy...

Jcent- I don't know which is more amazing, your gorgeous pink stone ring or your nails! Beautiful!!

I highly recommend this colour combo!!! It is perfect for fall, and with the added kick of hot pink sparkle!! And I wore that ring, just `cause I wanted to see a pic of it.

Roo, gelish is so great!! But you won`t want to soak off every few days... If you start with the pH bond though, and then do a thin layer of you fav strengthener or base, then do the Gelish base, colour, top, it will make it easier to soak off in a week or less.

Thanks jcent... I've been trying to get some length lately out of my polish so I think this will help...

As long as you prep your nails well, and do thin-ish coats, you should get at least 10-14 days out of it.

Take pics!!

I like the tumberlan violet. I'll have to add that to my collection.

I am loving that chocolate and high voltage combo. Darn it, now I've got to buy a whole whack more colours to play with!!

I just added tumberland violet to my wish list.

Has anyone tried silver sands or grand jewels?

Gelish "Caution", note the coordinating ring, LOL

Gelish Jet Set. I like the color but I don't know if I like it for me...I usually go much more natural/neutral. There is a tinge of plum color that isn't showing up well in the photos.

MG, I love these nails!

thanks! I think if I saw it on someone else I would like it...not so sure I like it on me yet. I bought the little bottle at Sally Beauty and they said to try it and if i didn't like it I could exchange it for another. Can't beat that!

Yep!!
I have noticed the same color on my hair stylist's nails the other day and I really loved it on her too.
I think it's important to have a really nice nails shape as this color won't look good on everyone...

I love that colour MG!

so jealous of all the gorgeous hands in this thread! i'd polish my nails all the time if my hands were that nice.

MG, I really like that color on you!

I'm so jealous of all of your beautiful nails ladies! I've heard that the gelish stuff really wreaks havoc on your nails - like it is just as bad as removing fake nails. Is this true? I've wanted to try the gelish once I can keep my nails consistently long, but they just started peeling again so I don't want to do the gelish if it'll just worsen that...

KTR- I find that my nails are definitely a little dry after removal, but I would not say it is nearly as bad as when removing acrylics. I put almond oil on my nails and cover with a strengthener/base coat for at least a few days before doing another round of Gelish, but a lot of people don't take breaks and do fine. One thing: I never ever ever buff my nails before application like the directions say to do. It seems like that would be far more hazardous than the polish itself could ever be!

I do not think it damages my nails at all, as I never file my nail bed at all with it.

Hmm maybe those other people were filing the nail bed - I KNOW that damages your nails! Thanks for the input ladies! I think I'll be asking for gelish stuff for christmas!

When I went to my nail technician, I asked for fake acrylic nails. Seeing my nails she said NO (bizarre, never heard of anyone refusing to do a service that will cause bigger revenue for them). Says my nail is too nice and fake nails will destroy it. She recommends a gel nail polish, a cheaper option. She says it's safer ^_^

My nails were damaged when they were being filed/buffed! I've posted this before but my routine for non-damaging gel polish is pretty simple.

1- NO BUFFING EVER.

2- Solar oil daily

3- Use regular base coat beneath gel system

4- Soak off with regular polish remover instead of 100% acetone. Still only takes ~10 minutes and is much less harsh.

I'll try to post a pic of my natural nails next time I polish. If anything my nails are stronger now even when I'm not wearing polish. I can't remember the last time I broke a nail and usually have to cut them because they get too long!

MG, what is solar oil? Is it the same as the oil that comes in the starter kit?

I have read many use regular base coat nail polish with the Gelish polish system....

Do you find with using regular basecoat first... that your Gelish lasts JUST as long as without it?.. and using the Gelish foundation first? (FYI,,,,My favorite basecot that rescued my nails from wraps/glue (my nails were really damaged) is Orlys Nail Defense.))))). I love that stuff.. but I left it off because Gelish says to use their foundation first...I have been using Orlys nail defense for about 5 years now under all my manicures and I love it..

I just started Gelish and I LOVE it... I did my first manicure with them last Wednesday night...((did a regular polish sandwich as I didn't have any Gelish polishes yet....it worked great..I did foundation/cure.. top it off/cure.. then my regular polish.... let dry GOOD.. then top it off again/cure..2 coats of top it off was the final topcoat..))... but....I am not sure how hard removal will be...I do know to rough up the topcoat to break the seal...an I bought the Gelish remover as I thought it would be gentler than pure acetone... I did read that regular basecoat underneath makes them easier to remove..as well as protecting your nails.. but I wondered about the staying power of them then.........any input would be greatly appreciates.. and I have been solar oiling them daily..:-))

No.. Solar oil is made bv creative nails design (CDN)..Its Awesome.. and its supposed to be one of the only Oils that can soak thorough the layer of the Gelish to help keep your cuticles (of course) but also your nails healthy..:-)

here is a link..you may have to copy and paste it ( the link works!)

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Nail-Desi...=solar+oil+nail

I have been using a regular base coat for months now under the Gelish base. It does not last quite as long but I am so annoyed by the growth at the cuticle that I tend to change it more often anyway, and I get tired of the same color.

Lately I have been using regular non gel nail polish and only using the gelish top coat-turns out great, and really easy to take off. That lasts about 10 days. Sometimes I just don't want to get out all the paraphernalia and I can just use the regular polish while watching TV. I use the quick dry stuff.

I get as long or almost as long doing the base coat. I still do all of the other steps including the gelish base. I don't wait for 14 days usually because the regrowth bothers me too. I can let a french go longer because it is hardly noticeable.

***Lately I have been using regular non gel nail polish and only using the gelish top coat-turns out great, *****

so you don't use the foundation at all.. just your regular stuff.. then the top it off and cure?..

thanks for these tips!..:-))

the Gelish base goes over your regular base coat...... I may try that when I soak these off.... thanks Ladies!!..:-))

yes exactly, works fine, and it's a good way to use up your favorite colors. And.... it soaks off in about 2 or 3 minutes

Ladies, I am not exaggerating when I say you have changed my life this morning. I have been missing my OPI colors and have gotten awfully tired of living with my hands in a lamp. Thank you!

So true, I hate all the time under the lamp, just make sure the polish is thoroughly dry before you put the top coat on. I sometimes polish in the evening, and put the top it off on the next day.

I see I wrote my comment in the wrong spot!.. darn phone..LOL..

This what I wanted to comment to Poppyseed..

*****Sounds great..I didn't own any gel colors when I did
This first gel Mani...... I am wearing...foundation...cure.... Then top it off...cure..then regular polish..dry well..then sealed that with 2 coats of top it off... 10 days and 1 chip..only the reg. Polish chipped...my nail was still sealed underneath with the foundation and the top it off....I see there are many ways to use Gelish..I Love it SI far..just hoping I don't end up with any damage to my nails........they took soooo long to recover and grow out....from my wraps with glue..*****

well now I can update as well..soaked off my gel nails.. NO damage so far...Yay!.. It came off pretty easy about 8 minutes or so..pushed right off with a cuticle stick...I did rough up the top coat with a 180 file .. (that's the only part of this Mani I dislike!),,,I used a rice heat pad I heated in the microwave.... cotton with foil method... used Vaseline on my cuticles and my fingers so my skin doesn't dry out..the afterwards I rubbed in Solar oil on my nails and finger and waited about a half hour or so.. then cleaned with Alcohol and started a new Mani...I used the ph bond this time as I didn't have it the first time.. thought it was a good idea being I sat with oil on my nails for awhile.. I tried to dehydrate my nails the best I could...

this time I did all gel polish aside from a sparkle coat of regular polish over the gel polish..I love a little sparkle! a subtle one.. I really need to buy a few more colors...and I'd love to get a clearish sparkle to wear over colors.. I read Vegas nights was nice.. and Izzy Wizzy?.... so I am on my second Gelish mani..Oh I did use 1 light application of Structure this time over the foundation.......

Loving this Gelish system so far..I would love to save up for a better LED light.. I have the Red carpet manicure 45 pro Led light right now.. it was cheap at Ulta with a 20% of coupon.. (cost $40.00) and Looks exactly like Gelish pro 45 one Sally beauty sells for more money. they are the same light just different colors..... Its works quick.. 45 seconds for each coat..and supposedly the Gelish Company made Red carpet manicure for Ulta ....well that's what I read..;-) so they work with each other very well....it feels cheap though and like it will not last that long?!?...Especially of its being used every 2 weeks or so.. and also by my daughter...She loves Gelish now too!..So....I am asking Santa Claus this year for a really good LED nail Lamp if I stick and love this system as long as I have no damage after repeated use.. I want the Gelish 18G lamp.. does anyone have it? ......any input on it?... I almost bought the Gelish 6G led used off Ebay for a great price.... but I was afraid if buying used.. and if it didn't Cure or work right as it was used...the seller had no returns .. but after thinking about it I feel a new lamp is better with the whole curing and allergy problems I read about..

I also loved reading this thread and the other Gelish tread.. thank you Ladies for all the beautiful pictures and posts..:-)

Gee I rambled on this morning!.;-)

Here is a photo of just regular cheapo drugstore nail polish, with a coat of Kleancolor Chunky Holo Black over it, and finished with one coat of Gelish Top it Off. Done about a week ago.

very cool poppy!

poppy - so just regular polish and basecoat, etc, dry, then top with the Gelish topcoat, cure, and that lasts nicely?

i'd been wondering if that would work... 'cuz i'm not interested in the whole gel polish system... but i love the glassy top coat finish.

oh, and is there anything other than Solar Oil that works? i remember trying that stuff back in middle school and i couldn't stand the smell.

Dana, here is something I wrote on the "UV Lamp" thread here. I am pretty happy with how it's worked out for me. I bought all of it at Sally Beauty Supply. To make a long story short, yeah just use your normal base and color and then the "top it off" gel clear coat. Hit it with the drying lamp and you are good.

The nail dehydrant may help a bit too with making it not chip off. I hope this helps!

I didn't even use basecoat, just reg. polish(which I let dry overnight) and gel topcoat. I use Jasons vitamin E cream for my cuticles, from CVS, I love it and it doesn't smell just very moisturizing and not greasy.

fantoostic!

I find Seche Vite's top coat is an excellent alternative to gel polish—every bit as liquidy-shiny looking. It lasts me as long as the gel polish, although in the last few days, the shine is less than gel. However, it's sooo much easier to remove and the application is also much faster.

+1 to Seche Vite, but it does shrink on me a lot. So I get 4-5 days out of it.

One thing I really like about the gel polish is that I get fewer broken nails. I'm pretty hard on my nails so I'm wondering if the regular polish and gel polish top coat will be strong enough. I am so loving consistently nice nails...I don't want to go back to breaking one every week or so and having to trim the others back so they all can grow out even.

KTR-as promised here are my natural nails after removing gelish last night. I didn't finish the mani yet and please excuse my wrinkled up fingers..I've been cooking and cleaning all morning and it's cold out so I'm all shriveled, lol.

The gelish polish is thick enough to cover any little ridges and imperfections in the nail and leave a shiny smooth top coat.
But you can see, my nails are pretty healthy and undamaged despite being a regular gel polish user. I'm just not used to them being naked anymore, lol.

MG - Your nails are beautiful au natural. I wish mine looked half that good!

Holy Moly - your natural nails are way gorgeous! My nail beds are all different lengths, and the nails on my index fingers always peel, and I've got those weird black lines in a couple nails. I'm super jealous! I started Nailtiques Formula 2+ last weekend, I've read good things about it helping issues like mine. Anyone used it before?

Nailtiques is AMAZING!!!! Don`t use the 2+ for too long though. It will be too much. After a few weeks I bet you can switch to the 2, and then just use the 2 under your Gelish base coat if you do it to maintain. Nailtiques, seriously the best!!

Glad to hear! I'll probably use the 2+ for another week and then switch - I was able to trim my nails down past the part that had split/peeled off after one week, so I'm hoping if I use it for another week they can grow back out to where they were without peeling, and then I can just do the 2+ once a week with the 2 to keep it up.

OH - and I added the gelish LED "lamp" and top coat to my christmas list! I plan to try the regular polish with gelish top coat version of it, because regular polish - no matter what base or top coat I use - always chips on me in the first 48 hours. If I can get 5 days of wear out of that I'll be perfectly happy!

To much protein will make your nails brittle. I have found Nailtiques transforms my nails in less than a month.

I honestly didn't know that, I thought it was too little protein did that! So I'll just do the 2 under the base, like you said, and should be good.

Thanks for the tips, jcent!

You want just the right amount of protein. Too little, and they split and peel, too much and they will become brittle. It is the same with hair. When you notice improvement just go up to the next one. I tend to stay with 2 and just use it once every week or 10 days under the gel polish, but if you want to change it every 5 days, you may get to a point where you need to switch to 1 or whatever they call the maintenance. Just watch your nails. You will know if they get brittle, they will just start snapping off when they break.

I just want to thank you ladies for introducing me to Gelish nail polish!

I have never been able to grow my nails as they are so weak & bendy.They split & peel & have never had a "free edge"!

Now,they are long! My husband jokingly called them tallons

I have bought Big City Siron,Hot Gossip & High voltage. Love them!!!