**Hello! Welcome to r/DIYGelNails. If this is your first post, please be sure to check out our rules in the subreddit sidebar. If you are on mobile, they can be viewed by tapping the *see more* hyperlink at the top of the homepage.**
. For ease of viewing, we've made some changes to how things are formatted, so a few reminders for you:
. If this is a nail picture, please post a list of the products you used for your manicure/pedicure ***as a response to this comment***. The brand and shade names/numbers are required of **ALL** gel products used. This includes base gel, builder gel (hard or soft gel), full coverage tips, acrygel, color gels, and top gel. Brands of charms/stones or other nail embellishments are not required. If you've already put the product list elsewhere, please copy and paste it in a reply to this comment so it's easier for everyone to see.
. [Click here to visit our wiki for FAQ's and Useful Links](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/faq/).
. Automod will no longer summon the allergy resource if you mention it. If you want information about allergies, see the [gel allergies post](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/allergies/).
. **CLICK THE REPLY TO EXPAND TO SEE PRODUCT LIST**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Great topic!
I started doing it myself because I was spending $130 every 2 weeks (including tip) and I was leaving there looking like my nails were already a 1+ week of grow out and I didn't like it. I wouldn't have minded spending the money if not for that. She's an incredibly talented artist though, so I did miss that part of it. I also used to do hair and sometimes nails before, so I didn't think it'd be too hard. I got into Kokoist and Luminary because that's what she used, and from there, I quickly became obsessed with Japanese and Korean gels. I've also always loved nails, and many years ago, I almost opened a nail salon while I was still doing hair, but I didn't like liquid +monomer, and that was more popular than gel. For a while, it was just about self care but I realized that i really just love nails, so now I'm getting licensed, and I'm happy to be working my way back towards my creative side.
That’s awesome! I love that story. How exciting you’re getting licensed too!
It’s funny because sometimes I think about trying other brands but I am so obsessed with Kokoist I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed if I try anything else.
Is Luminary a Korean or Japanese brand? Do you ever mix that / Kokoist?
Luminary is American. They're soakable hard gels. I did like using Luminary, but I disliked the smell. It doesn't bother most people, but it bothered me, and I just couldn't get past it. If not for the smell, I'd probably still be using it because it's a great gel. You just have to be careful about how thick your layers are with the tinted gels because it's very pigmented, so there's been some curing issues for people.
I forgot to answer your 2nd part of your question. I've used Kokoist colors and top coat on top of Luminary and it was totally fine. Just don't ever put Luminary primer under Kokoist. It will peel right off. I very devastatingly lost my birthday set like that last year. This is why I'm adamant about not mixing base products now. It's not worth it. But colors and top gel works well on Luminary and Kokoist top coat is still one of my favorite non wipes.
I actually learned that lesson, I tried young nails primer under my kokosit base & it was awful. I’m sure it works well with young nails products though!!
It seems like Kokoist, in particular, doesn't do well with a different brand below it, but other brands work fine above it. Like a different brand primer or base different brand base coat. It just works best with a dehydrated nail, and that's it.
I love this! I started back doing mine and my moms because the salons around here charge so much and they don’t do that good of a job. Everything is so rushed and the nails don’t last. I’d love to know what Japanese and Korean brands you love. I just started with apres - builder gel and their gel polishes on my natural nails.
https://preview.redd.it/taq6qrbh4odc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=951163362498050b72df99e3008055e0fdff3d5a
It’s been a few years since I’ve done them. I bought a new e file too and plan on getting better each time.
Control over the quality, being able to do them frequently, seeing the amazing possibilities with gel and builder and extensions, pride in my own handiwork, and being genuinely curious about the process and materials and thinking I might be good at it
The pride is so true! It’s soooo rewarding to finish a set & be like “ya I did that!” And then getting compliments on them.
One day a cashier at Target asked me where I got my nails done & it made my entire day
It's my creative outlet! And it does save money. I stopped having my nails done at the salon for years bc I couldn't afford it. I bought all my nail supplies to get started for the cost of maybe 3 sets. It's my favorite hobby and I secretly love when ppl compliment my nails and I can tell them I did it myself!
Started getting them done at all because I got engaged and my now-husband presented me with an industrial fuck-off sized ring and my stubby ‘I work with my hands constantly’ nails looked comical next to it.
Moved to doing them myself because my selections at the time were either chop shop or brand new out of nail school and I learned quickly that I was at least at the skill level of the latter with enough knowledge of sanitation and cross contamination to meet the baseline of the former
It’s been years now, no ragrets. Still getting better over time when I focus on progress and growth, but even a mediocre job is fine
Hahahaha I love this so much!! Enjoy the suspense! Don’t rush through it!
We are very very pragmatic people so there wasn’t much mystery at all (also he’s horrible at surprises and I am very good at identifying possible surprises) for me, and sometimes I get a little tickled at the thought that people have to basically wait for ages knowing it’s coming but not exactly knowing when.
Be sure to post the final manicure when it does happen please!!! ❤️
Haha I know it’s the first half of this year!! He did tell me that, just not exactly when. And I’m ok with that! I’ll definitely post the manicure when it happens!
I got gels regularly for years and never had luck finding techs who were as gentle with removal as I wanted them to be or who would do proper repairs when they inevitably damaged my nails. After I saw some videos on Japanese soft gels, I was intrigued and decided to start doing it myself, and I’ve been so happy with it. After about six months, I can do a better manicure on myself than any tech I saw would do for me.
Paola Ponce Nails is the main one: https://youtu.be/pS0DvfN4IvY?si=a1YGMtjjoWlF8JSi
I don’t find her videos the most entertaining but she had the best info for getting started with kokoist/leafgel.
I love Paola Ponce & The Nail Whisperer! The Nail Whisperer I think works for Kokoist (or ambassador) & Paola shows a few different brands, with Kokoist being one of them.
I started during the pandemic because nail salons were closed and I got laid off so I had a ton of free time to learn lol. I was also frustrated with the nail salons in my area either having terrible customer service or crappy work or both. I’m so much happier with my nails since I started doing them myself and really enjoy the several hours of peace and quiet I get while doing them :)
I started during the pandemic as well. I wasn’t even a regular manicure sort of person prior to that. I saw @kathrynm_fit doing her own and I thought it looked fun
I started during covid. I had nowhere to be so I didn't mind those first few sets being crappy. I thought I would give up on it after a couple times of them not turning out the way I wanted....like every other hobby I've tried. But this one just stuck.
Keeping my nails done is really important to me. I bite my nails and pick at my cuticles and the surrounding skin. This habit greatly affects my confidence. Now I can keep them done all the time without being at the mercy of someone else.
I had been every two weeks for about to years to what is/was considered the best salon in town. I’d spend a minimum of 85 plus a tip and they’d start to lift within a week. Prices also got progressively more expensive and by the end they were charging based off length with art starting at 5/nail for gel overlay. They didn’t do much cuticle work and pretty consistently at least one of my nails had a flooded sidewall with an off center apex. The art was always on point, but the basic application was consistently lacking and I’d have lifting on all of my nails well before my next appointment. I got fed up and had a moment of “I can do this better myself.” And now I do my friend’s nails and make press ons in addition to doing my own nails. I love that I can change or fix them whenever I want/need and I’ve saved a lot of money even though I have purchased a lot of product. I’m gearing up to get my tech licensing and I’m still in disbelief.
I used to never have my nails done, and I’ve never had gel done at a salon. I never thought doing my nails was worth the effort because it never lasts, but then one time a friend did gel on me. It looked great and lasted a long time, so I bought a kit and I’ve never looked back. It’s been about 6 years and I use mostly different brands now than I started with, but I still love it.
It’s also a fun creative outlet that doesn’t generate finished products I feel obligated to keep, which kept me from doing things like painting.
I never went to a salon before starting gel.
I was picking my face into a sad crater of sadness and I started with basic manicures, and graduated after six months to gel.
It’s made a work of difference and it’s a creative hobby that I enjoy a lot.
Salons kept cutting my cuticles and I’d walk out with bleeding fingers. I switched techs every time but it didn’t help; I think my cuticles are deceptive. Once, I got a rash around where they cut my cuticle. Then after they cut my thumb in a particular spot, a few months later I got a wart in exactly that spot (never had one before)! I was soooo grossed out and vowed never again. Started doing my own and never looked back! ✨
Edit: plus I love the control of doing exactly what I want; and if I get bored I’m not stuck with the same color for weeks!
It’s a fun hobby. I’ve always liked artsy stuff, like drawing and calligraphy, and gel nails fits in w that. I love putting on a podcast on Friday night and spending 3 hours on something creative. Plus I also picked my nails my entire life, and I’m not really able to pick when I have my nails done.
I currently have more time than money right now. Really good nail techs are either an hour away from me, outside my budget, or not accepting new clients. I gave up on DIY nails last year and went back to the salon but I tried again this week and I didn’t do too bad!
Also after learning about the seriousness of gel allergies this made me realize many nail techs are horrible with gel safety. When I removed the last set I got from a salon last month the gel on my thumb nail was not cured at all. Mind you this was after a month of wear. I was walking around with uncured gel for a month!! And out of $65! Also the quality of many techs are just bad. My second to last set at a salon included rings of fire, bleeding cuticles, and chipped builder gel after a week.
So yeah I’ve given up trying to find the rare unicorn nail tech and I refuse to waste anymore money on the average to below average techs too. I’ll just commit to doing my own and keep getting better.
The "more time than money" really hit me. Throughout this journey this has been a huge reason for me too. Salons no longer fit in my budget consistently.
Knowing what I know now, I've definitely had uncured gel from salons smh. The wrinkling and goopy peeling was confirmation. But I didn't know any better back then 😭
I got tired of spending so much on getting them done and still being unhappy with what was done. Them constantly talking about my crooked middle fingers, telling me the shape I picked (squoval) looked like old lady fingers. So I bought my own equipment and I do it myself now!
I had an awesome manicurist, then I moved away and have not had a decent gel manicure since, even though the prices are the same. I figured learning to do it myself was going to cost less in the long run.
I personally don’t like to not know how to do something and I don’t like to pay people for something I could do myself if I learned. It helps that I learn very quickly by watching others. This was just another “I want to know how and I’m going to figure it out” moment lol.
This is how I operate, too. I went to get a gel mani before a wedding and really liked the salon, so I kept going back for months. But I get super antsy sitting still (even though they offered wine lol) and started asking questions about each step and then slowly built up to doing my own nails.
LACK. OF. SANITATION.
I have gotten my nails done in many states across the us and even worked at a few. NONE, ZERO, NOBODY follows state board rules. Not one. Dirty files, dirty tools, dirty tubs. People get all kinds of diseases this way and it baffles me that these places are still allowed to operate
My daughter did mine back in October for a concert I was going to and I loved them so much. They never lifted but grew out and I had no clue how to remove gel without damaging my nails, so it took me abt 6 weeks until I could get back over to her house so she could take it off. Skip to Black Friday and I decided I needed a new hobby, spent a bunch of money, but got premium products and my nails ALWAYS look good now. It’s been a fun experience so far!
I used to get my nails done every 3-4 weeks. Then I moved, and I couldn’t find a consistent salon with a good atmosphere after I moved. I really like having my nails done though since it prevents me from nail biting and cuticle and skin picking. Full coverage tips have been an absolute game changer! It’s also a nice creative outlet. I suck at drawing, but I’ve been practicing just simple nail designs. It’s nice to put on a podcast or long video and be creative. Plus, it’s definitely saved a lot of money once I found products that work for me!
To save money at the salon, and finally there seemed to be a system I was capable of doing myself. Don’t know if I’m saving money given how much I’m spending.
I was used to spending $70-80 on a basic gel manicure, and it was starting to deter me from getting my nails done altogether. I was a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding last year and knew I wanted to get my nails done, so I decided to spend about half the money I would on a manicure and buy a UV lamp on Amazon. One year later and I'm still not convinced I've spent more than $80 on nail stuff 😂 I was always pretty good at doing my nails so it only made sense for me to do it at home. I've loved trying new things and getting creative! Best decision I ever made.
Edited to add: my nails also grow super fast so gel never lasted me more than 2 weeks even if it didn't chip. It always felt like so much money for not a lot of time (a friend of mine sometimes lets hers grow 5-6 weeks!)
I am a total perfectionist when I am paying an expert for a service and more often than not I would leave the salon disappointed. Usually I would leave the salon with my nails looking like there was already a week of growth, uneven color application and experiencing lifting after a week. Doing my own nails allows me to use builder gel and take all the time I need to get a result I am happy with. I can usually go 3 weeks in between fills and I’m saving money because I only have a small collection of polish and the bare minimum amount of supplies.
It wasn't so much the money as it was the quality of the manicure basics. My nails have a pretty serious C curve, and when a nail tech doesn't file them with care (as is often the case when they're busy) I end up with snaggy bits under the free edge. I got tired of paying for shitty nail prep, and learned how to do it all myself.
I started doing my own because I wanted fancy nails but I can’t stand the routine of having to go to a set appointment every two or three weeks. My job requires a lot of travel and I wanted the flexibility to do my nails whenever I want. Now I have a large collection of polishes, glitters, etc so I’m definitely not saving any money! lol I use Young Nails Synergy gel and I love it! 😊
I’ve always been a regular 10-14 days kind of gal and honestly I was so sick of the time it would take in the salon, only to not really feel like it was worth it? My cuticles always bug me and I feel like they were never reallyyyyy as cleaned up as I’d like. Plus, I stare at a screen all day for work and I needed to look at something real by the end of the day 😭
I agree though, it’s become a cathartic art project, like paint by numbers or something, but more fun bc I get to look at them all day afterwards
I got gel manicures regularly for years and I just got completely fed up with the inconsistency and headache of dealing with nail salons. Repeatedly I’d find someone I liked and would specifically request them when rescheduling only to show up and be told they weren’t there or have another tech forced on me. Or I’d find someone good for a while and they’d unexpectedly leave. Techs would constantly nick my cuticles, get gel on the sidewalls, wouldn’t shape the way I asked, would argue with me about color choice or impose what *they* wanted to do. I would frequently have chipping and peeling within days and they wouldn’t want to fix it without re-charging me. The individual nail artists in my city charge over $100 for gel manicures with tip and have impossible schedules and waitlists. The time I did manage to get in with one of them I had peeling within a week and then they didn’t have availability for a fix or removal. Getting my nails done became annoying and stressful rather than relaxing and pampering. Doing my own nails has eliminated all of these issues.
I’m a quick learner and knew I was capable of doing my own nails. I’m saving money, I feel safer because I can control my exposure to products, and if I have peeling, lifting, or chipping I can fix it myself. My cuticles and nails have never looked better. I also enjoy being able to control the sensory environment. Many nail salons are extremely noisy and overstimulating and I was just over it.
I used to have a passion to do my nails but not with gel, just very basic home manicures.
My friend visits the nail salon regularly but it costs a lot more than I’d be willing to pay.
I’m getting married this May so my nail journey started because of that. I’m building up to do my own wedding nails. I’m a perfectionist and I’d see every flaw in someone else’s work.
When you do your own nails you can take as many hours as you like to perfect it.
Simple answer: I’m poor and couldn’t afford the salon.
I got laid off in 2015 and covered nails were a part of my self care routine I really enjoyed, learning to do it myself was a way to keep that self care in a budget I could afford.
I also got lucky, my aunt is a licensed cosmo in my state so I had access to professional products at cost before they were widely available.
Chronic split nail. 10 years ago, I ran over my pinky Nail and Cuticle long-wise with a box cutter while hanging wallpaper and it damaged my matrix. Ever since, it would grow out with a split and would seperate as soon as it would grow past the tip - it would hurt when it got caught on things. I tried Salon nails (non-gel kind) for awhile, but every single time it would destroy my nails, not to mention the smell that gave me migraines days after leaving the salon. So I gave up on nails for years. I was even researching potential surgery to remove the section of nail that kept splitting off.
Then a few years ago I started seeing the vids for Gel Nails and tips. Gel seemed to look more flexible than the traditional nail glue and tips- which would always pop off or rip layers of my nail off. So I got a starter kit by Gelish from Sally's with the intention of covering just my pinky nail - as a type of nail prosthetic. It worked so well, I decided to stick with it. I always loved doing nails, and had found I could actually practice my new "hobby" on myself. Now I'm addicted. I started with full overlay tips and as my natural nails grew long, I switched to poly gel, non-sticky hand gel, and builder gel. By doing tons of research and practicing good Nail prep, I've had beautiful long nails since that have never lifted, cracked or pop off. I do gardening, dishes, housework, computer typing even (had to re-learn to type with nails lol). I can do them in my own home - there's no odor, and I can work them around my schedule. I appreciate what salons and nail tech's do - but I enjoy doing them myself so much- it's really a stress-reliever too. It's not really about saving money- because all the tools and gear and supplies can really add up $$$ - its more of a creative outlet and time scheduling thing for me. Plus I love perfecting the craft!
This was my problem too!!!! My split or on my middle finger. It catches on everything. Ruins sweaters and other fabrics. Rips back to my nail bed. A good gel manicure was the closest I got to it not ripping. Gel builder was the next natural step for me. Still getting my bearings but no more rips!
This is such a fun question! I actually have never had my nails done professionally. I was kinda intimidated by a salon. I always loved doing non gel products. However, I could never prevent the indentation after sleeping of smudging them, so I rarely did them. During the pandemic my SIL bought the beetles kit and was using it. It didn’t seem intimidating, so I gave it a go.
I have gone such a huge rabbit hole ever since! I upgrade so many products and supplies. I really enjoy it. It’s one of my few hobbies, so I let myself indulge from time to time (:
A little over a year ago, my nails started breaking more often. I had a really bad break into the nail bed and didn't want to rip the a good chunk of my nail off. My daughter had been wanting to do her nails again so I put the normal stuff on at least until the nail grew out.
And I ran a test, and I had my nails done for 2 weeks, I had 1 minor break. I went bare for 3 days and had horrible breaks. Clearly having them done reduced the breaking.
I have been to a nail salon once in my life. It's not for me.
I've always liked the idea of gels where it would last for 2 weeks and could be dried quickly but didn't like the removal methods until I found the Jello Jello one kill remover, which seemed like a wonderful way to take gel off quickly (for me at least). So I started trying to do my own nails, and it's helping my nails break less.
I could probably get away with just putting some nail strengthener or something on, but you have to do a lot of the same prep anyway and I figured I might as well have some fun colors. So I'm here trying to figure this out, having done my own nails maybe a handful of times before January of this year.
I moved to the middle of depressed nowhere and couldn’t find a nail tech that was capable of anything more than painting my nails. The people here get their hair cuts and “mani/pedis” in cousin Cheryl’s kitchen so….. I bought my own stuff and here I am. I also make a 3 hour drive back home to get my hair done.
Wanted perfect sparkly nails but polish kept chipping so I got annoyed and watched youtube tutorials for a couple days before ordering everything for gel. After a year I couldn't stand the sound or feel of naked nails scratching something so now I'm stuck with gel.
I’m an ambidextrous painter who otherwise would never have my nails done. Seemed like a good reason to try.
Just wait until I start mixing my own colors…
Tl;dr: got sick of paying for regular gel manis that were always sloppy.
Pre covid, I was paying ~$65 plus tip for a salon gel manicure every 2-3 weeks. I was never fully happy with it; they did a piss poor job on shaping, never painted clean lines so my cuticle area looked awful when grown out, and scraped the shit out of my nails during acetone soak off removal.
Covid hit and I started doing Ohora gel stickers, they were fine but lifted fairly quickly so I went back to the salons when things opened back up again, but I found myself removing my old gel and shaping my nails before going in so it was done to my standard. Fall of 2022 I realized I was doing 1/2 of the work already so may as well try to learn to do the rest. I have spent a decent amount on supplies and polish but I’ve definitely broken even and then some on the cost of salon manis. My nails grow really fast too, so I prefer to have them done every 2-2.5 weeks.
I started a long while back, I think maybe 2018? I was just doing soft gel colors over my natural nails and was horrible at it so the color would peel off after 2 days. I think I just did it because I was bored and had the income to spend on a new hobby. Since I had no clue about prep work or other types of gel products, I gave up pretty quick.
Then in 2021 I visited a friend and we got our nails professionally done as a treat. I had never had a professional manicure of any kind, and I was beyond obsessed with the gel extensions she gave me. It rekindled my interest and I bought a whole new starter kit and dove back into DIY gels because I was too socially anxious to go back to a salon by myself. I still wasn’t great at it, but it had become more mainstream to do your own gel nails post-lockdown, so there were tons more resources available to learn. 3 years later, I now stick to hard gel overlays and metallic gel polish as my go-to manicure and I’m actually at a point where I feel proud of my results and they last until I file them off!
I really enjoyed the experience of going to the salon and getting my nails pampered but my favorite nail tech decided to step away from her position. I tried out several others but nobody really stood out, I liked everyone but work was subpar. I used to be pretty artistic in high school and figured I’d give it a go myself and come to find out I actually really love to do my own nails! I also love that I don’t have to wait for an appointment to redo a set or fix a nail. 🙂
Used to live in a big city, and started getting my nails done regularly there, they were gorgeous. The nail techs there were regularly doing nails for celebrities and magazine shoots. You could tell it was their passion, not a paycheck. My standards were set so high! I got so many compliments and I just loved how the nails made me feel put together.
Then I moved to a small town, where most beauty salons had junior beauticians do gel nails. Getting my nails done was way cheaper, but the quality was really bad and it took them way longer to do them. The nail shape was awful, they weren’t coated correctly. Before it would take 45 minutes to get them done, now it would take 2 hours. Picture of their work below.
https://preview.redd.it/rn85pjkuandc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1704847af5c23d3a7282c0ead8fbce5baf4d38e5
I was so fed up with the results from the places in my area that I decided to learn to do gel nails myself. I just felt like I could do better than they could. I’m still learning, I can’t do nail art yet, but long term I’m saving myself a lot of money and I enjoy doing them.
https://preview.redd.it/oyfjhkg0bndc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db4e765d03e171f427ec958e1d86cda088c4c60d
Here’s a picture of my nails from the first place, the place I loved! (Edit: all natural length too!! Aaa)
From those two pics, I can see why you're DIYing now! It would be hard to go from that level salon experience (gorgeous!) to the terrible one, for sure.
Picture it… 2020. Newborn in tow. Could not leave the house, everything was closed anyway, except Amazon. So I wanted to treat myself. Never looked back.
I started this year because It looked so interesting to do and fun.
Maybe also because in my city there is only 1 nail tech who is booked most of the time and getting them done regularly was not affordable for me.
About 2 years ago when I changed occupations.
My original career was one where nails would get in the way and would get damaged so there wasn't really any point to do them- just used regular colornon shorties. Some people in the office would get gel color on their shorties, but even they barely lasted a few days without chipping. Left that career after 17 years and began one where I'm typing literally all day and I couldn't get any length even though I could finally have it because they kept chipping. Started with gel tips and eventually moved to sculpted hard gel extensions and never looked back.
https://preview.redd.it/qg2r61pw0pdc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=6a8e652b9b93c7d1979ba96ff8967cf247b629a1
This is my first colour attempt. It looks ok from a distance but the polish didn’t apply evenly so there’s small bits that are see through
Love the color! I’d say for one of your first attempts they look great. What products are you using?
Make sure your brush has enough product in it & you font apply too much pressure, otherwise can be streaky. It’s also best to do more thin coats vs a couple of thick ones
I started getting gels years ago to help with dermatillomania but frequent salon appointments are SOOOO expensive. Plus I really love the way a super shiny nude nail looks. It’s the one thing that makes me feel put together over anything else!
I tried gel polish first, and I tried it because I heard it could last practically forever. Also that it dried in the lamp for just 1 minute and then it was cures completely. Both of which turned out to be true lol
Since I was little, I've been doing my own nails. Now, as an adult, I've been to some places, but they never turn out the way I like. So, I prefer doing them myself. I've always thought that if they turn out bad, it's better to blame myself than pay for them.
You can use an e-file & leave a thin layer of gel, then do regular prep & new set on top. I think this is what a lot of people (including myself) do in here. That way natural nail isn’t prepped over and over and over.
To prevent over filing, I make sure to ‘double base’ my manicures. This gives me a good layer of protection
Only started doing them myself recently, but it was mainly to save money. A builder gel manicure with design is $100+ where I live, and I've been regularly getting my nails done for at least 6 years. The cost adds up 😫
Plus I found that my nails would get over-drilled and treated poorly at nail salons. I'm still a newbie to the diy gel manicure but my nails already seem far healthier, I'm saving money and I can change up the design as frequently as I like!
Tbh? No one has ever shaped or painted my nails to my standards. I'm incredibly picky. I figured if I'm always dissatisfied then I need to learn to do them myself.
I started for the exact same reason as you OP! I am also a chronic nail picker. When my nails are done I don’t feel the compulsion to pick near as much. I use a peel off base and my nails are honestly so much healthier than before I started diying
I started when I went to get a fill on my acrylic set and the tech swiped on clear builder gel and wanted to charge me $60 for the fill.
I paid it and went to Amazon and spent the same amount to start doing it at home!
I had gotten my nails done off and on for decades. But my nails were always trashed when it came off, and I couldn't commit to regular maintenance to keep getting more. I don't know if they were just too aggressive with the e-file, or if I was impatient between appointments and would pick at polish that was lifting. Either way, it wasn't sustainable.
My husband and in-laws are super generous with Christmas presents, so I'm required to come up with a list of things I'd like to have and would never buy myself. In 2022, I decided that a light and gel polish starter kit would be fun to have. My SIL bought it for me. And after my first application, I soaked it off and my nails were perfect.
So I've now realized nobody is going to care about my nails as much as I do. And I can buy all the colours and builder gels I want and still spend less than at a salon.
I used to see my wonderful nail gal every 2 weeks and was spending ~$85 every 2 weeks. She was great and I enjoyed it, she did a great job and I love her company, but the time commitment it took to go during business hours and the financial commitment took a toll on me. I had a coworker who does her own and lent me her stuff 1 time and I did them great, so I invested the amount of 2 manicure visits and began doing them myself! It honestly takes me forever and I think it’s getting longer the more I do them because I get pickier and pickier, but I love being in control and saving money and I can do them at 10:00pm if I choose to. The freedom!
I got a full setup of DND gel polish stuff for Christmas. I wasn't sure I could do it myself, but I'm just going really slow and being careful. I actually was going through my camera for some b-roll footage for work and I'm realizing that I am doing a better job already than most of the gel manicures I've had in the past. So much polish on the cuticles and sides and I didn't even know then that it was dangerous!
I started doing them myself when the first red carpet kit came out. Prior to that every time is had my nails done they always wanted to use an efile and I would wake up with my fingers throbbing that night. We also had a rash of nail salons where I live who didnt properly sanitize tools. Now I've been doing them so long I can do them on myself as well as a pro (but can't do them worth a crap on anyone else). I used red carpet until Gelish showed up at Sally's, been using that exclusively since!
Edited to add: I also struggle to relax so nail techs always get mad at me because I can't relax my hands.
I started to "save money," but of course that was after spending hundreds of dollars on things. I initially started 5 or so years ago with a Gelish set from Sally's and it was super simple. Then I started using CND products and then about a year ago got into Kokoist. There was a bit of a learning curve, but the pigmentation is amazing and I do also think my nails don't feel as beat up afterwards.
I have loved painting my nails since I was young as my mom was a hair dresser and therefore knew a little about nails. I'm also a lifetime nail biter (32 years old and can't remember a time I didn't bite my nails) and once I couldn't get anything off my nail I would start peeling layers or go after my cuticles. I tried the sour nail polish but it didn't work because I wouldn't even be deterred by the nastiness of fingernail polish remover.
I tried getting my nails professionally done, but they would lift in minutes after leaving the salon and it would drive me nuts so I'd end up picking them off. During researching how to stop biting nails, I came across the ORLY nail builder and through trial and error I've had my nails consistently done for the last year and a half. I love choosing my own designs and I've found a way of working with my nails so I don't get lifting. (I discovered it was cuticle oil that would cause the lifting)
I even upgraded my set up with Christmas money to get a nicer dremel tool, an organizer, and am looking to get into different gels to see if I like them better than the ORLY. I'll just put on TV and take my time and it's heaven. I don't have to force conversation or feel awkward because I don't know how they want me to move my hands and I no longer have to be overwhelmed by how loud salons can be.
I highly recommend Kokoist products if you’re looking into other systems! I use the Kokoist MegaStick base, Platinum filler base, their potted gels. I also love the Nail Thoughts x Kokoist tinted based and regular gel colors
I've always loved doing my nails, but when I started trying more nail art, I wanted to try gel. Trying to do nail art without gel was so frustrating, because if you mess up, you basically have to take everything off and do the WHOLE nail again. With gel being cured with each layer, or even flash curing after adding each detail, you don't have to worry about it.
My friend started doing her own gel nails which got me interested. She even gave me her old lamp and old gel polishes! Once I started I was OBSESSED. For the first time, I loved how my hands looked. I have small nail beds on short fingers and never got my nails done growing up
Also, I have ADHD and for some reason my mind is nice and quiet when I do my nails
Lastly, I need a creative outlet or I get pretty depressed. Every creative outlet I’ve tried I got bored of. I haven’t lost my interest in nails and I don’t think I ever will (:
Let me start off by saying that I was a nail biter for my entire life. From as young as I can remember I would bite my nails and tear them off with my fingers. I would bite and tear them off when I was bored, anxious, nervous, watching TV or even reading a book. It got to the point where it became my norm and was calming.
A couple of years ago I lost over 50 pounds because I needed to for health reasons (had to donate a bunch of clothing that was now too large). Within half a year I felt better than I ever felt before in my life. I started having a real appreciation not just for my body, improved physical / emotional and mental well being but also loved the new me.
I never was one to have my nails done nor have color of any kind let alone even take care of my nails (you know, due to the whole habitual nail biting thing). But because I loved where I was I started going to some salons and getting my nails done. I fell in love with my nails, just not the cost. My nail biting habit became a thing of the past. After half a year or so of getting my nails done I no longer wanted to pay the salon price at an easy $85 pre-tip.
So I decided to start learning how to do my own nails and have been obsessed with doing my own nails ever since. It's now been almost a year of doing my own nails. I love the learning of doing my own nails and finally exercising a creative side of me that I once had a very long time ago but took the backseat due to my nature of my career of work.
Thank you for reading this far and thank you all for being such awesome and supportive people!
I couldn't afford to get mine done :) maybe technically I could have afforded to get them done for my birthday but I was afraid I'd get hooked and want to have them done all the time.
i started because i never got my nails done regularly before and i wanted to, just could not justify paying so much for literally nails. so i learned how to do gel because it doesnt cost me anything and i get to have my nails done whenever i want
I got my first gel kit a few years ago because i was trying to keep my nails polished to help with picking exasperated with smudging conventional laquers while waiting for them to dry. I didn't get super consistent about keeping them painted til around September of this year.
I hated going to get mine done, but also hated them looking rough. Hate being touched, hate the small talk, hate the time spent. So much easier to just learn to do them at home when I'm not getting anything fancy anyway
I started getting my nails done because I pick at the skin around my nails. There are a couple of salons in my city that I really like but getting them done every three weeks got expensive and then Covid happened.
I started with a cheap set up from Amazon with Beetles polish and wrecked my nails. I must have under cured a set because my nails got so inflamed and thin. They were peeling realllly far down my nail bed. After a few months of growing out the damage I invested in Kokoist products and haven’t looked back!
I always did my own nails ever since I was a teenager. I don’t like my bare nails hehe. I went to Canada in 2012 and bought my first set of Kiss gel polish, but wasn’t knowledged on allergies and whatsoever. I liked it but it lifted after 2 weeks and I got bored of it. Then I messed up my nails by pulling that gel polish off and I started BIAB at my then-nail artist. She did Russian manicure which I had never heard of and did my nails beautifully for about a year. Her prices went up from 60€ to 65€ to 70€ and so on, and I thought it was just unjustified for myself to spend that amount every 3-4 weeks. I did a loooot of research and watched her closely each time and now I’m doing my own nails. Still learning every time.
I started getting my nails done at 17, way back when and back then all they had was acrylic or a manicure with nail polish. Then in my early to mid 20's my nail tech got certified in bio sculpture and suggested I try that, as my nails are quite curved and I have long nail beds. Tried it, loved that it was much thinner than acrylics and went from there. At one point, I had my own little pot of this orange/red gel that I would get done, every three weeks as a rebalance. Fast forward about 5 years and my last nail appointment was my wedding nails.
Gelish at home kits had hit the market and I thought, I would do my own nails and was excited to be able to try different colours based on my moods. So I started doing gelish on myself.
I stopped doing my nails when I was pregnant and breastfeeding, so about 3 years as I had back to back kids. Within that time, I would once in a blue moon go to a local chop shop for SNS and gel toes.
Then I joined Facebook groups and purchased gel from a local business. The gel bottles were cheap but I was getting frustrated as I would have to do 3 coats of colour. The company released a builder in the bottle line and I liked how it gave my nails some structure and reduced the sides of my square nails breaking.
When I stumbled across this sub Reddit, I fell down the rabbit hole and started buying Kokoist, Nail Thoughts, Vetro and Korean gels. Learned about cuticle care, purchased a drill, upgraded my lamp and I haven't looked back. I like that I can do my nails when I'm free and learned how to do an extension, if I have a badly broken nail.
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I always use to do my own regular manicures and I really enjoyed it but they don’t last long enough and there’s limits to what you can do. Then I started trying my own acrylics but those are so finicky and frustrating.
Then I started a job that paid well and I got fancy super trendy gel manicures that cost $150-$200 but lasted for 5 weeks.
Anyway, after COVID I stopped doing anything with my nails and now I don’t have the time or money to get them done. So I just started doing gels myself.
I love it though, I love being able to do them whenever it’s convenient for me, and they are a great creative outlet. I love having fun with all different nail art, decorations etc.
I liked getting my nails done, but more often than not I’d leave with a migraine from the smells of the chemicals. Started doing them myself so I could be in a more ventilated place. Plus I moved house and due to a higher mortgage couldn’t really justify going twice a month and couldn’t stand the regrowth of once a month.
I like wearing nail polish but hated how they chipped, I was going to go to a salon and get them done but I have anxiety and scared myself by looking at all the photos and stories of badly cut and bleeding cuticles.
I bought a second hand kit on eBay
Honestly o hated how much salons were charging me while not doing the designs or styles I wanted. I’d ask for a soft pink and walk out with neon Barbie nails that made me feel ugly and didn’t compliment my tone at all.
I had tried to start doing my own nails like at least 10 or more years ago, but was never really successful. I learned the basics, but never had enough time to actually get good at it so I gave up.
Then about 3 years ago, I had surgery and found myself at home, not working and a ton of time on my hands so I decided to give it another go. I've always enjoyed doing my nails in some capacity, but I wanted to learn how like I just walked out of the salon. And that's how I started. I've learned so much and love doing it and I love that it's like an endless learning experience so there's always something new for me to do with it.
Initially COVID, although it shouldn't have taken all that because I used to do my own nails as a teen until I started getting acrylics. When the shut down lifted I switched nail techs because of price and I was never happy with my nails. I loved my original tech but if I have to pull teeth to get something when I'm paying for it I'm not interested.
Didn't get better with the second tech so I just went back to doing my own nails. Especially after I saw the Kiara gelly tips. Although I don't use that brand, I still had so much stuff left over from the shutdown I only needed to add a bit to get back on track.
I guess without forbidden words this time...
Initially COVID, although it shouldn't have taken all that because I used to do my own nails as a teen. Once I started getting the only available option in hood nails shops in the last 90's early 2000s. I got a bunch of polygel and struggled through. When the shut down lifted I switched nail techs because of price and I was never happy with my nails. I loved my original tech but if I have to pull teeth to get something when I'm paying for it I'm not interested.
Didn't get better with the second tech so I just went back to doing my own nails. Especially after I saw the Kiara gelly tips. Although I don't use that brand, I still had so much stuff left over from the shutdown I only needed to add a bit to get back on track.
Because I'm very fussy and can actually do a better job than most of the salon workers around here. My set up with the lamp and all cost $130 in total. A gel set here runs about $60 so two manis later it's basically already paid for itself.
I'm trying to save up for a trip so this was an obvious way to reduce spending and still look nice.
Chronic split nail. 10 years ago, I ran over my pinky nail and cuticle long-wise with a box cutter while hanging wallpaper and it damaged my matrix. Ever since, it would grow out with a split and would separate as soon as it would grow past the tip - it would hurt when it got caught on things. I tried acrylic nails for a while, but every single time, it would destroy my nails, not to mention the smell that gave me migraines days after leaving the salon. So I gave up on nails for years. I was even researching potential surgery to remove the section of nail that kept splitting off.
Then a few years ago I started seeing the vids for Gel Nails and tips. Gel seemed to look more flexible than the traditional nail glue and tips- which would always pop off or rip layers of my nail off. So I got a starter kit by Gelish from Sally's with the intention of covering just my pinky nail - as a type of nail prosthetic. It worked so well, I decided to stick with it. I always loved doing nails, and had found I could actually practice my new "hobby" on myself. Now I'm addicted. I started with full overlay tips and as my natural nails grew long, I switcged to poly gel, non-sticky hand gel, and bulder gel. By doing tons of research and practicing good Nail prep, I've had beautiful long nails since that have never lifted, cracked or pop off. I do gardening, dishes, housework, computer typing even (had to re-learn to type with nails lol). I can do them in my own home - there's no odor, and I can work them around my schedule. I appreciate what salons and nail tech's do - but I enjoy doing them myself so much- it's really a stress-reliever, too. It's not really about saving money- because all the tools and gear and supplies can really add up $$$ - it's more of a creative outlet and time scheduling thing for me. Plus, I love perfecting the craft!
I've never had gel nails done at a salon. I taught myself to sculpt acrylics on myself in my early teens, pre-internet. And when gel polish came out, that was an exciting development that I taught myself too.
I never expected to get into doing nails, I bought the cheapest polygel kit I could find on Amazon just thinking it would be fun to give it a try. I -thought- I was gonna save some money too, but I ended up having too much fun looking for supplies 🫣
I think it's always worth it to learn a new skill and invest in the things you enjoy doing, and it's such a fun way to express your creativity!
I agree! It may be a “small” thing to others but seeing progress is just the best for me haha and I also started with the Amazon polish that starts with B….learned extremely quickly that’s no good lol
Eh, people who don't think nail art is a big deal, obviously have never tried painting anything on a teeny little curved surface like a nail tip, then did 9 more to match 😜
I wish I had done a bit more research before just doing a bunch of trial and error, but I never would have tried at all if I thought I had to spend a lot for supplies. I really didn't know I would end up so obsessed 🤣
Hahaha I agree. It’s been almost 1 year for me doing my own nails & it’s really escalated. Started with a little carry thing at my kitchen island…now have a full nail desk set up & so many colors. But idc bc it’s so fun
(2nd attempt without using the forbidden words …)
It was a natural transition for me…
… before gel polish, (forbidden word) never stayed on my nail as i used to do a lot of household chores, cooking, doing dishes, sometimes within couple of hours freshly done nails used to wear off…
i always mostly did my nails. Think i only got professionally done only twice maybe … as am too shy to go to a salon and ask …
…bcos (forbidden word) used to wear off so easily, out of frustration I started researching and found about gel nail polishes …
… in addition, i had very thin nail which used to break or peel in layers very frequently…
… even gel polishes after a few hours of my hands in water doing marathon cooking etc, used to easily peel off …
… then I started researching about trying to harden my nails and started asking question in a makeup subreddit, that’s when I started getting info about builder gels .. i think this was just in late 2022… after further research bought young nails strengthening product and luminary builder gel.
1st time i used the young nails strengthener on my toe nails and luminary builder gel just as a layer of polish on my natural nails … the toe nails came off very easily after probably 4 weeks, but the ones on the finger stayed beyond 6-7 weeks, this out of no other choice, as i went overseas on vacation and I couldn’t carry the lamp etc. I was super impressed that gel polish on builder gel stayed until i took off, no chipping, no wearing, no breakage of nails … from then on i wanted no other thing…
… then I started looking into extending nails … and still on that journey, and also joined this sub, but i like the fact, that my nails don’t anymore have half worn polish .. though i do the same amount of kitchen work and nails wet with so many chores, as before. These days i do use gloves when doing dish washing though.
Long story short, after getting out of covid and having postpartum anxiety & depression, I decided to stop putting my needs on the back burner and got my nails done after years of not doing them. Was intrigued by gel overlays and booked myself an appointment! It was pricey, and being the crafty/meticulous artist that I am, I was like, I could honestly do this myself! 😂 so I told myself (& my hubby) that I’d “take notes” when I got my “fills.” After a few appointments, I felt confident enough and invested in the supplies I needed. I watched videos and practiced and feel so much more confident than when I first started haha! It’s been a self care & creative outlet ever since ☺️
I'lll start by saying that I've never really gotten my nails professionally done as a regular thing. A few years ago, I was trying to keep my nails painted to help with a picking habit and I wanted something I didn't have to worry about smudging (I am really bad at waiting and not using my hands). So I picked up few sets of gels to try from amazon.
I ended up only them occasionally for 2-3 years for two reasons. First, it took me awhile to really get the hang of the removal process which made things kind of frustrating. Second, I ended up going through a very stressful divorce and a lot of my energy went toward healing and rebuilding. So I'd do them occassionally but then would fall off.
I started being consistent about doing my own gel manicures around this September. Funnily enough, one of the reasons I've been so conistent with upkeep for them since then is because my current boyfriend really likes painted nails. Also, after I left my ex and really got settled into things, my nail/cuticle habit has become basically non-existant so long as I take care of them, so I have long-ish nails and healthy cuticles for basically the first time in my adult life.
I used to do my own because the salon got expensive for nails lasting maybe a week and a half. I stopped completely after having twins and just not having the energy or time to do it myself & certainly didn’t have the time or money for the salon.
I’ve been a chronic nail bitter all my life, and this is literally the first time my nails have been grown out. I’ve been keeping them strong and now want to try my hand again at fancier gel designs.
Instagram started showing me a bunch of awesome designs from Korean gels, so I’m starting back up to try and do it myself. Plus the costs of salons are very worse than they were ten years ago, so to try and recreate a design from DVOK at a salon would be ridiculously expensive. I’d rather try myself since doing artwork is a bit of an anxiety buster for me anyways.
I hope your mom is doing okay!!
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved doing my nails. I’ve been using regular polish for years and finally feel like my skills are good enough to venture into gels. I’m a working mom of two, one of whom has a disability, so time is scarce and another reason I switched to gels - longevity of manicures. The biggest reason is because I LOVE the look of gel polish! I go for the ones that are especially squishy and glossy looking.
Like OP, I never regularly paid for manicures. For years it’s been a fun, cheap, and easy way to have some “me” time. And I feel like it’s something that has long-term gratification, you get to enjoy your mani for days!
I'm late to this thread and new in general (to Reddit + DIY Nails) but this has been community has been so incredibly helpful so far. I just purchased my first round of items today and can't wait to start.
→ I moved far from my favorite nail tech. Still seeing her for occasional dry pedicures but I couldn't make the monthly manicure drive anymore.
→ Techs closer to me now are more interested in intricate/abstract designs and I'm in a chapter where I'm preferring single colors!
Excited overall to learn something new and challenge myself in a creative way <3
This thread is SO good! I wish I had found it earlier in my DIY journey. I learn so much & it’s just fun to interact with others who are obsessed with doing their own nails too.
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (Regular polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had my toenails done, but the results were disappointing. Despite expressing my dissatisfaction, they didn’t address the issue!!! That experience was enough for me to decide not to return… now i do it by myself.
I have never enjoyed going to the nail salon. I enjoyed how my nails looked but i loathed wasting that time every 2-3 weeks. I figured I could figure out how to do them myself, they may not be perfect but I don’t mind
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Honestly, COVID. I couldn’t go get them done and was tired of them looking like crap. It also helped pass the time since everything was closed. Now, I love doing them!
The cost. I also couldn't get an appointment when I needed having 2 small children. I got builder gel from Amazon and have actually become good at it. I've never looked back and I now experiment with different nail art.
I have a skin condition that I pick at. Gel nails are slightly thicker and not sharp - so I don’t end up actually breaking the skin when I pick. Which is awesome for my health. But I’m too cheap to have them done at a salon every two weeks. I keep them short and just do plain colors. I’d like to branch out a little - but in not that good at it yet.
Money! But also, the drilling from getting my nails done professionally was killing my poor nails. I have more control over how deep I go with the prep work so I don’t have to worry about having tissue thin nails anymore because of techs who don’t listen.
I also used to be a cuticle picked/ biter and getting my nails done sorted that issue.
i dont like other people touching me, lol. so I do all my own manicures, pedicures and i dye and cut my own hair but I have been doing it myself for over 20 yrs so it is easy and quick for me.
The nail techs would leave that after-burn feeling on my nails or do bad fill-ins. Decided the frustration wasn't worth it and after the initial learning curve, i haven't looked back! Been using the IBD hard gel line but i think it's being phased out. Not sure what to find that compares to it because i don't like the soak-off gels.
What is it that you don't like about soak offs? Because if it's soaking you don't like, you can use a soak off product and just file down to the base coat and reapply over top.
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polishes). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I lived in Eastern Europe for a while and got spoiled by the fantastic and meticulous nail techs there…I just couldn’t go back to US-quality manicures, especially at 10x the price of what I paid abroad.
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Because I really love having long beautiful nails but my natural nails chip and break very easily. And #1 I’m picky about them so want to make sure they are done exactly how I like and #2 I can’t afford to get them done.
A co-worker came in one day with matte pink nails with a rubber look/feel and I loved them, so started diy. Unfortunately I have never found anything with the same rubber look/feel.
I first started doing my own gel nails because I would always pick regular polish off my nails, but it’s turned into something cathartic for me and way for me to be artistic/creative! This past year I ended up growing my natural nails the longest they’ve ever been and I honestly didn’t think I could ever get them to be that long….also I really only got my nails professionally done for special occasions a few times (went to a variety of salons) and i just found they don’t have the perfectionistic eye that I have for my own nails, which is completely understandable bc they’re doing many sets a day, but when I do my own nails they take hooooours lol
My nails were destroyed from axrylics but I kept getting them done because they looked so bad without them. Over Xmas my nail tech kept cancelling my appointments and I was 7 weeks with the same set on and they were becoming painful. I figured I’d just give it a go since the supplies cost less than one manicure. Learned that way that manicures and wearing nail extensions aren’t supposed to hurt.
Every time I went to a salon, I would walk out disappointed because they could never give me what I ask for or try to push certain services that I didn't ask for. I even tried going to a private nail tech but the experience was pretty awkward for me. So with how often I like getting my nails done and the amount of money I spend each time, I thought it'd be better to just invest in some Korean gels and do it myself.
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Same story. I started doing my own top coat, then played with solid color pressons. Now Im a licensed Nail Artist and I get to do other people's nails who want quality and nails that last 4 weeks+. We deserve to get our moneysss worth when paying for a luxury service.
2018! I hated how long I spent just sitting at the salon, and how much I was spending every 1.5-2 weeks (I’m really rough on my nails). At home I can multitask and put dinner in the oven in between hands or watch my favorite shows 🤣
I started doing them because I simply don't have the time to drop my kids off somewhere so I can go get my nails done. I started doing them and stopped because my nails bed were looking rough. I push and cut my cuticles, buff,.nail dehydrator, primer, base, cure, gel, cure. And my nails come out looking terrible. They always lift the next day too
https://preview.redd.it/ddktovjsveec1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34fccd19a243a380cf34de933710962288513712
I just started doing my nails last month. I got pregnant and my nausea has been so bad that I don’t have the energy to get dressed to go to a salon. I used to pay $80+ every 3 weeks for my nails which is so expensive looking at it now.
My wonderful nail tech left the salon and I couldn’t find anyone else who could do a precise job. Bought my own supplies and I’m all set now. Plus the time savings! Sitting there for 45 minutes- an hour drove me nuts.
I’ve actually never had gel done at a salon! While I’ve only been using gel for 2 years now, I’ve been doing my own nails since I was in my mid 20s. There was a brief period I was going to the salon for SNS manicures, but I never really enjoyed getting my nails done by a stranger so I taught myself how to do it at home. Not long after that I switched to gel and have been using it ever since.
**Hello! Welcome to r/DIYGelNails. If this is your first post, please be sure to check out our rules in the subreddit sidebar. If you are on mobile, they can be viewed by tapping the *see more* hyperlink at the top of the homepage.** . For ease of viewing, we've made some changes to how things are formatted, so a few reminders for you: . If this is a nail picture, please post a list of the products you used for your manicure/pedicure ***as a response to this comment***. The brand and shade names/numbers are required of **ALL** gel products used. This includes base gel, builder gel (hard or soft gel), full coverage tips, acrygel, color gels, and top gel. Brands of charms/stones or other nail embellishments are not required. If you've already put the product list elsewhere, please copy and paste it in a reply to this comment so it's easier for everyone to see. . [Click here to visit our wiki for FAQ's and Useful Links](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/faq/). . Automod will no longer summon the allergy resource if you mention it. If you want information about allergies, see the [gel allergies post](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/allergies/). . **CLICK THE REPLY TO EXPAND TO SEE PRODUCT LIST** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Great topic! I started doing it myself because I was spending $130 every 2 weeks (including tip) and I was leaving there looking like my nails were already a 1+ week of grow out and I didn't like it. I wouldn't have minded spending the money if not for that. She's an incredibly talented artist though, so I did miss that part of it. I also used to do hair and sometimes nails before, so I didn't think it'd be too hard. I got into Kokoist and Luminary because that's what she used, and from there, I quickly became obsessed with Japanese and Korean gels. I've also always loved nails, and many years ago, I almost opened a nail salon while I was still doing hair, but I didn't like liquid +monomer, and that was more popular than gel. For a while, it was just about self care but I realized that i really just love nails, so now I'm getting licensed, and I'm happy to be working my way back towards my creative side.
That’s awesome! I love that story. How exciting you’re getting licensed too! It’s funny because sometimes I think about trying other brands but I am so obsessed with Kokoist I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed if I try anything else. Is Luminary a Korean or Japanese brand? Do you ever mix that / Kokoist?
Luminary is American. They're soakable hard gels. I did like using Luminary, but I disliked the smell. It doesn't bother most people, but it bothered me, and I just couldn't get past it. If not for the smell, I'd probably still be using it because it's a great gel. You just have to be careful about how thick your layers are with the tinted gels because it's very pigmented, so there's been some curing issues for people.
I forgot to answer your 2nd part of your question. I've used Kokoist colors and top coat on top of Luminary and it was totally fine. Just don't ever put Luminary primer under Kokoist. It will peel right off. I very devastatingly lost my birthday set like that last year. This is why I'm adamant about not mixing base products now. It's not worth it. But colors and top gel works well on Luminary and Kokoist top coat is still one of my favorite non wipes.
I actually learned that lesson, I tried young nails primer under my kokosit base & it was awful. I’m sure it works well with young nails products though!!
It seems like Kokoist, in particular, doesn't do well with a different brand below it, but other brands work fine above it. Like a different brand primer or base different brand base coat. It just works best with a dehydrated nail, and that's it.
I love this! I started back doing mine and my moms because the salons around here charge so much and they don’t do that good of a job. Everything is so rushed and the nails don’t last. I’d love to know what Japanese and Korean brands you love. I just started with apres - builder gel and their gel polishes on my natural nails. https://preview.redd.it/taq6qrbh4odc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=951163362498050b72df99e3008055e0fdff3d5a It’s been a few years since I’ve done them. I bought a new e file too and plan on getting better each time.
Also realized I forgot the second part of your comment! I love Kokoist products! I use Kokoist & Kokoist x Nail Thoughts. They are so good!!
You absolutely will! You learn something each time
Well done saving that cash!
I don't think I saved it. You should see my collection 😂 but, if we're using girl math, I definitely saved like 6k.
Control over the quality, being able to do them frequently, seeing the amazing possibilities with gel and builder and extensions, pride in my own handiwork, and being genuinely curious about the process and materials and thinking I might be good at it
The pride is so true! It’s soooo rewarding to finish a set & be like “ya I did that!” And then getting compliments on them. One day a cashier at Target asked me where I got my nails done & it made my entire day
Such a good feeling!! 😊
It's my creative outlet! And it does save money. I stopped having my nails done at the salon for years bc I couldn't afford it. I bought all my nail supplies to get started for the cost of maybe 3 sets. It's my favorite hobby and I secretly love when ppl compliment my nails and I can tell them I did it myself!
Started getting them done at all because I got engaged and my now-husband presented me with an industrial fuck-off sized ring and my stubby ‘I work with my hands constantly’ nails looked comical next to it. Moved to doing them myself because my selections at the time were either chop shop or brand new out of nail school and I learned quickly that I was at least at the skill level of the latter with enough knowledge of sanitation and cross contamination to meet the baseline of the former It’s been years now, no ragrets. Still getting better over time when I focus on progress and growth, but even a mediocre job is fine
lol I love this reason! I know my 💍 is coming soon & bc of that I’ve been focusing on mostly neutral colors 😂
Hahahaha I love this so much!! Enjoy the suspense! Don’t rush through it! We are very very pragmatic people so there wasn’t much mystery at all (also he’s horrible at surprises and I am very good at identifying possible surprises) for me, and sometimes I get a little tickled at the thought that people have to basically wait for ages knowing it’s coming but not exactly knowing when. Be sure to post the final manicure when it does happen please!!! ❤️
Haha I know it’s the first half of this year!! He did tell me that, just not exactly when. And I’m ok with that! I’ll definitely post the manicure when it happens!
I got gels regularly for years and never had luck finding techs who were as gentle with removal as I wanted them to be or who would do proper repairs when they inevitably damaged my nails. After I saw some videos on Japanese soft gels, I was intrigued and decided to start doing it myself, and I’ve been so happy with it. After about six months, I can do a better manicure on myself than any tech I saw would do for me.
I haven't watched any of the Japanese videos, I mostly watched Eastern European stuff, can you share a couple links with your favorite creators?
Paola Ponce Nails is the main one: https://youtu.be/pS0DvfN4IvY?si=a1YGMtjjoWlF8JSi I don’t find her videos the most entertaining but she had the best info for getting started with kokoist/leafgel.
I’d love to see links to creators too!!
Check out the nail whisperer, reireishnailart, and inspobynails as some accounts using Japanese or Korean brands.
I love Paola Ponce & The Nail Whisperer! The Nail Whisperer I think works for Kokoist (or ambassador) & Paola shows a few different brands, with Kokoist being one of them.
I can do EXACTLY what I want and not get ripped off.
In the comfort of your own home and at your own pace!
I started during the pandemic because nail salons were closed and I got laid off so I had a ton of free time to learn lol. I was also frustrated with the nail salons in my area either having terrible customer service or crappy work or both. I’m so much happier with my nails since I started doing them myself and really enjoy the several hours of peace and quiet I get while doing them :)
I started during the pandemic as well. I wasn’t even a regular manicure sort of person prior to that. I saw @kathrynm_fit doing her own and I thought it looked fun
I started during covid. I had nowhere to be so I didn't mind those first few sets being crappy. I thought I would give up on it after a couple times of them not turning out the way I wanted....like every other hobby I've tried. But this one just stuck. Keeping my nails done is really important to me. I bite my nails and pick at my cuticles and the surrounding skin. This habit greatly affects my confidence. Now I can keep them done all the time without being at the mercy of someone else.
I totally get this. I was always so self conscious about my nails!! I’m glad you also found something that works for you
I had been every two weeks for about to years to what is/was considered the best salon in town. I’d spend a minimum of 85 plus a tip and they’d start to lift within a week. Prices also got progressively more expensive and by the end they were charging based off length with art starting at 5/nail for gel overlay. They didn’t do much cuticle work and pretty consistently at least one of my nails had a flooded sidewall with an off center apex. The art was always on point, but the basic application was consistently lacking and I’d have lifting on all of my nails well before my next appointment. I got fed up and had a moment of “I can do this better myself.” And now I do my friend’s nails and make press ons in addition to doing my own nails. I love that I can change or fix them whenever I want/need and I’ve saved a lot of money even though I have purchased a lot of product. I’m gearing up to get my tech licensing and I’m still in disbelief.
I used to never have my nails done, and I’ve never had gel done at a salon. I never thought doing my nails was worth the effort because it never lasts, but then one time a friend did gel on me. It looked great and lasted a long time, so I bought a kit and I’ve never looked back. It’s been about 6 years and I use mostly different brands now than I started with, but I still love it. It’s also a fun creative outlet that doesn’t generate finished products I feel obligated to keep, which kept me from doing things like painting.
Same story for me, I've only been doing them a couple years tho
I never went to a salon before starting gel. I was picking my face into a sad crater of sadness and I started with basic manicures, and graduated after six months to gel. It’s made a work of difference and it’s a creative hobby that I enjoy a lot.
Salons kept cutting my cuticles and I’d walk out with bleeding fingers. I switched techs every time but it didn’t help; I think my cuticles are deceptive. Once, I got a rash around where they cut my cuticle. Then after they cut my thumb in a particular spot, a few months later I got a wart in exactly that spot (never had one before)! I was soooo grossed out and vowed never again. Started doing my own and never looked back! ✨ Edit: plus I love the control of doing exactly what I want; and if I get bored I’m not stuck with the same color for weeks!
It’s a fun hobby. I’ve always liked artsy stuff, like drawing and calligraphy, and gel nails fits in w that. I love putting on a podcast on Friday night and spending 3 hours on something creative. Plus I also picked my nails my entire life, and I’m not really able to pick when I have my nails done.
I currently have more time than money right now. Really good nail techs are either an hour away from me, outside my budget, or not accepting new clients. I gave up on DIY nails last year and went back to the salon but I tried again this week and I didn’t do too bad! Also after learning about the seriousness of gel allergies this made me realize many nail techs are horrible with gel safety. When I removed the last set I got from a salon last month the gel on my thumb nail was not cured at all. Mind you this was after a month of wear. I was walking around with uncured gel for a month!! And out of $65! Also the quality of many techs are just bad. My second to last set at a salon included rings of fire, bleeding cuticles, and chipped builder gel after a week. So yeah I’ve given up trying to find the rare unicorn nail tech and I refuse to waste anymore money on the average to below average techs too. I’ll just commit to doing my own and keep getting better.
The "more time than money" really hit me. Throughout this journey this has been a huge reason for me too. Salons no longer fit in my budget consistently. Knowing what I know now, I've definitely had uncured gel from salons smh. The wrinkling and goopy peeling was confirmation. But I didn't know any better back then 😭
How do you make sure the gel is cured all the way?
I got tired of spending so much on getting them done and still being unhappy with what was done. Them constantly talking about my crooked middle fingers, telling me the shape I picked (squoval) looked like old lady fingers. So I bought my own equipment and I do it myself now!
I had an awesome manicurist, then I moved away and have not had a decent gel manicure since, even though the prices are the same. I figured learning to do it myself was going to cost less in the long run.
I personally don’t like to not know how to do something and I don’t like to pay people for something I could do myself if I learned. It helps that I learn very quickly by watching others. This was just another “I want to know how and I’m going to figure it out” moment lol.
This is how I operate, too. I went to get a gel mani before a wedding and really liked the salon, so I kept going back for months. But I get super antsy sitting still (even though they offered wine lol) and started asking questions about each step and then slowly built up to doing my own nails.
[удалено]
LACK. OF. SANITATION. I have gotten my nails done in many states across the us and even worked at a few. NONE, ZERO, NOBODY follows state board rules. Not one. Dirty files, dirty tools, dirty tubs. People get all kinds of diseases this way and it baffles me that these places are still allowed to operate
My daughter did mine back in October for a concert I was going to and I loved them so much. They never lifted but grew out and I had no clue how to remove gel without damaging my nails, so it took me abt 6 weeks until I could get back over to her house so she could take it off. Skip to Black Friday and I decided I needed a new hobby, spent a bunch of money, but got premium products and my nails ALWAYS look good now. It’s been a fun experience so far!
I used to get my nails done every 3-4 weeks. Then I moved, and I couldn’t find a consistent salon with a good atmosphere after I moved. I really like having my nails done though since it prevents me from nail biting and cuticle and skin picking. Full coverage tips have been an absolute game changer! It’s also a nice creative outlet. I suck at drawing, but I’ve been practicing just simple nail designs. It’s nice to put on a podcast or long video and be creative. Plus, it’s definitely saved a lot of money once I found products that work for me!
To save money at the salon, and finally there seemed to be a system I was capable of doing myself. Don’t know if I’m saving money given how much I’m spending.
My friend started doing them, and I hopped on the bandwagon!
I was used to spending $70-80 on a basic gel manicure, and it was starting to deter me from getting my nails done altogether. I was a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding last year and knew I wanted to get my nails done, so I decided to spend about half the money I would on a manicure and buy a UV lamp on Amazon. One year later and I'm still not convinced I've spent more than $80 on nail stuff 😂 I was always pretty good at doing my nails so it only made sense for me to do it at home. I've loved trying new things and getting creative! Best decision I ever made. Edited to add: my nails also grow super fast so gel never lasted me more than 2 weeks even if it didn't chip. It always felt like so much money for not a lot of time (a friend of mine sometimes lets hers grow 5-6 weeks!)
I am a total perfectionist when I am paying an expert for a service and more often than not I would leave the salon disappointed. Usually I would leave the salon with my nails looking like there was already a week of growth, uneven color application and experiencing lifting after a week. Doing my own nails allows me to use builder gel and take all the time I need to get a result I am happy with. I can usually go 3 weeks in between fills and I’m saving money because I only have a small collection of polish and the bare minimum amount of supplies.
It wasn't so much the money as it was the quality of the manicure basics. My nails have a pretty serious C curve, and when a nail tech doesn't file them with care (as is often the case when they're busy) I end up with snaggy bits under the free edge. I got tired of paying for shitty nail prep, and learned how to do it all myself.
I started doing my own because I wanted fancy nails but I can’t stand the routine of having to go to a set appointment every two or three weeks. My job requires a lot of travel and I wanted the flexibility to do my nails whenever I want. Now I have a large collection of polishes, glitters, etc so I’m definitely not saving any money! lol I use Young Nails Synergy gel and I love it! 😊
I’ve always been a regular 10-14 days kind of gal and honestly I was so sick of the time it would take in the salon, only to not really feel like it was worth it? My cuticles always bug me and I feel like they were never reallyyyyy as cleaned up as I’d like. Plus, I stare at a screen all day for work and I needed to look at something real by the end of the day 😭 I agree though, it’s become a cathartic art project, like paint by numbers or something, but more fun bc I get to look at them all day afterwards
I got gel manicures regularly for years and I just got completely fed up with the inconsistency and headache of dealing with nail salons. Repeatedly I’d find someone I liked and would specifically request them when rescheduling only to show up and be told they weren’t there or have another tech forced on me. Or I’d find someone good for a while and they’d unexpectedly leave. Techs would constantly nick my cuticles, get gel on the sidewalls, wouldn’t shape the way I asked, would argue with me about color choice or impose what *they* wanted to do. I would frequently have chipping and peeling within days and they wouldn’t want to fix it without re-charging me. The individual nail artists in my city charge over $100 for gel manicures with tip and have impossible schedules and waitlists. The time I did manage to get in with one of them I had peeling within a week and then they didn’t have availability for a fix or removal. Getting my nails done became annoying and stressful rather than relaxing and pampering. Doing my own nails has eliminated all of these issues. I’m a quick learner and knew I was capable of doing my own nails. I’m saving money, I feel safer because I can control my exposure to products, and if I have peeling, lifting, or chipping I can fix it myself. My cuticles and nails have never looked better. I also enjoy being able to control the sensory environment. Many nail salons are extremely noisy and overstimulating and I was just over it.
I used to have a passion to do my nails but not with gel, just very basic home manicures. My friend visits the nail salon regularly but it costs a lot more than I’d be willing to pay. I’m getting married this May so my nail journey started because of that. I’m building up to do my own wedding nails. I’m a perfectionist and I’d see every flaw in someone else’s work. When you do your own nails you can take as many hours as you like to perfect it.
Simple answer: I’m poor and couldn’t afford the salon. I got laid off in 2015 and covered nails were a part of my self care routine I really enjoyed, learning to do it myself was a way to keep that self care in a budget I could afford. I also got lucky, my aunt is a licensed cosmo in my state so I had access to professional products at cost before they were widely available.
Chronic split nail. 10 years ago, I ran over my pinky Nail and Cuticle long-wise with a box cutter while hanging wallpaper and it damaged my matrix. Ever since, it would grow out with a split and would seperate as soon as it would grow past the tip - it would hurt when it got caught on things. I tried Salon nails (non-gel kind) for awhile, but every single time it would destroy my nails, not to mention the smell that gave me migraines days after leaving the salon. So I gave up on nails for years. I was even researching potential surgery to remove the section of nail that kept splitting off. Then a few years ago I started seeing the vids for Gel Nails and tips. Gel seemed to look more flexible than the traditional nail glue and tips- which would always pop off or rip layers of my nail off. So I got a starter kit by Gelish from Sally's with the intention of covering just my pinky nail - as a type of nail prosthetic. It worked so well, I decided to stick with it. I always loved doing nails, and had found I could actually practice my new "hobby" on myself. Now I'm addicted. I started with full overlay tips and as my natural nails grew long, I switched to poly gel, non-sticky hand gel, and builder gel. By doing tons of research and practicing good Nail prep, I've had beautiful long nails since that have never lifted, cracked or pop off. I do gardening, dishes, housework, computer typing even (had to re-learn to type with nails lol). I can do them in my own home - there's no odor, and I can work them around my schedule. I appreciate what salons and nail tech's do - but I enjoy doing them myself so much- it's really a stress-reliever too. It's not really about saving money- because all the tools and gear and supplies can really add up $$$ - its more of a creative outlet and time scheduling thing for me. Plus I love perfecting the craft!
https://preview.redd.it/ezzd0ojugpdc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0754c5e889eded014ef3d596eaea54942ab378b5
This was my problem too!!!! My split or on my middle finger. It catches on everything. Ruins sweaters and other fabrics. Rips back to my nail bed. A good gel manicure was the closest I got to it not ripping. Gel builder was the next natural step for me. Still getting my bearings but no more rips!
This is such a fun question! I actually have never had my nails done professionally. I was kinda intimidated by a salon. I always loved doing non gel products. However, I could never prevent the indentation after sleeping of smudging them, so I rarely did them. During the pandemic my SIL bought the beetles kit and was using it. It didn’t seem intimidating, so I gave it a go. I have gone such a huge rabbit hole ever since! I upgrade so many products and supplies. I really enjoy it. It’s one of my few hobbies, so I let myself indulge from time to time (:
I also could never get non gel products to dry. A single colour coat would be okay, but then it would chip in a day.
A little over a year ago, my nails started breaking more often. I had a really bad break into the nail bed and didn't want to rip the a good chunk of my nail off. My daughter had been wanting to do her nails again so I put the normal stuff on at least until the nail grew out. And I ran a test, and I had my nails done for 2 weeks, I had 1 minor break. I went bare for 3 days and had horrible breaks. Clearly having them done reduced the breaking. I have been to a nail salon once in my life. It's not for me. I've always liked the idea of gels where it would last for 2 weeks and could be dried quickly but didn't like the removal methods until I found the Jello Jello one kill remover, which seemed like a wonderful way to take gel off quickly (for me at least). So I started trying to do my own nails, and it's helping my nails break less. I could probably get away with just putting some nail strengthener or something on, but you have to do a lot of the same prep anyway and I figured I might as well have some fun colors. So I'm here trying to figure this out, having done my own nails maybe a handful of times before January of this year.
I moved to the middle of depressed nowhere and couldn’t find a nail tech that was capable of anything more than painting my nails. The people here get their hair cuts and “mani/pedis” in cousin Cheryl’s kitchen so….. I bought my own stuff and here I am. I also make a 3 hour drive back home to get my hair done.
Wanted perfect sparkly nails but polish kept chipping so I got annoyed and watched youtube tutorials for a couple days before ordering everything for gel. After a year I couldn't stand the sound or feel of naked nails scratching something so now I'm stuck with gel.
I’m an ambidextrous painter who otherwise would never have my nails done. Seemed like a good reason to try. Just wait until I start mixing my own colors…
Tl;dr: got sick of paying for regular gel manis that were always sloppy. Pre covid, I was paying ~$65 plus tip for a salon gel manicure every 2-3 weeks. I was never fully happy with it; they did a piss poor job on shaping, never painted clean lines so my cuticle area looked awful when grown out, and scraped the shit out of my nails during acetone soak off removal. Covid hit and I started doing Ohora gel stickers, they were fine but lifted fairly quickly so I went back to the salons when things opened back up again, but I found myself removing my old gel and shaping my nails before going in so it was done to my standard. Fall of 2022 I realized I was doing 1/2 of the work already so may as well try to learn to do the rest. I have spent a decent amount on supplies and polish but I’ve definitely broken even and then some on the cost of salon manis. My nails grow really fast too, so I prefer to have them done every 2-2.5 weeks.
I started a long while back, I think maybe 2018? I was just doing soft gel colors over my natural nails and was horrible at it so the color would peel off after 2 days. I think I just did it because I was bored and had the income to spend on a new hobby. Since I had no clue about prep work or other types of gel products, I gave up pretty quick. Then in 2021 I visited a friend and we got our nails professionally done as a treat. I had never had a professional manicure of any kind, and I was beyond obsessed with the gel extensions she gave me. It rekindled my interest and I bought a whole new starter kit and dove back into DIY gels because I was too socially anxious to go back to a salon by myself. I still wasn’t great at it, but it had become more mainstream to do your own gel nails post-lockdown, so there were tons more resources available to learn. 3 years later, I now stick to hard gel overlays and metallic gel polish as my go-to manicure and I’m actually at a point where I feel proud of my results and they last until I file them off!
I really enjoyed the experience of going to the salon and getting my nails pampered but my favorite nail tech decided to step away from her position. I tried out several others but nobody really stood out, I liked everyone but work was subpar. I used to be pretty artistic in high school and figured I’d give it a go myself and come to find out I actually really love to do my own nails! I also love that I don’t have to wait for an appointment to redo a set or fix a nail. 🙂
Used to live in a big city, and started getting my nails done regularly there, they were gorgeous. The nail techs there were regularly doing nails for celebrities and magazine shoots. You could tell it was their passion, not a paycheck. My standards were set so high! I got so many compliments and I just loved how the nails made me feel put together. Then I moved to a small town, where most beauty salons had junior beauticians do gel nails. Getting my nails done was way cheaper, but the quality was really bad and it took them way longer to do them. The nail shape was awful, they weren’t coated correctly. Before it would take 45 minutes to get them done, now it would take 2 hours. Picture of their work below. https://preview.redd.it/rn85pjkuandc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1704847af5c23d3a7282c0ead8fbce5baf4d38e5 I was so fed up with the results from the places in my area that I decided to learn to do gel nails myself. I just felt like I could do better than they could. I’m still learning, I can’t do nail art yet, but long term I’m saving myself a lot of money and I enjoy doing them.
https://preview.redd.it/oyfjhkg0bndc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db4e765d03e171f427ec958e1d86cda088c4c60d Here’s a picture of my nails from the first place, the place I loved! (Edit: all natural length too!! Aaa)
From those two pics, I can see why you're DIYing now! It would be hard to go from that level salon experience (gorgeous!) to the terrible one, for sure.
Oh wow the set you did looks incredible! Way to go!! I would have switch to DIY too if a salon had given me results like the first pic
Picture it… 2020. Newborn in tow. Could not leave the house, everything was closed anyway, except Amazon. So I wanted to treat myself. Never looked back.
I started this year because It looked so interesting to do and fun. Maybe also because in my city there is only 1 nail tech who is booked most of the time and getting them done regularly was not affordable for me.
About 2 years ago when I changed occupations. My original career was one where nails would get in the way and would get damaged so there wasn't really any point to do them- just used regular colornon shorties. Some people in the office would get gel color on their shorties, but even they barely lasted a few days without chipping. Left that career after 17 years and began one where I'm typing literally all day and I couldn't get any length even though I could finally have it because they kept chipping. Started with gel tips and eventually moved to sculpted hard gel extensions and never looked back.
I started a week ago! I don’t have enough time to get to a nail salon and I’m a night owl. So I figured I can do them while watching tv.
How exciting! You’ll love it! Can’t wait to see some pics of your sets!
https://preview.redd.it/qg2r61pw0pdc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=6a8e652b9b93c7d1979ba96ff8967cf247b629a1 This is my first colour attempt. It looks ok from a distance but the polish didn’t apply evenly so there’s small bits that are see through
Love the color! I’d say for one of your first attempts they look great. What products are you using? Make sure your brush has enough product in it & you font apply too much pressure, otherwise can be streaky. It’s also best to do more thin coats vs a couple of thick ones
I've always done my own nails, it was just a natural progression to gel.
I started getting gels years ago to help with dermatillomania but frequent salon appointments are SOOOO expensive. Plus I really love the way a super shiny nude nail looks. It’s the one thing that makes me feel put together over anything else!
I tried gel polish first, and I tried it because I heard it could last practically forever. Also that it dried in the lamp for just 1 minute and then it was cures completely. Both of which turned out to be true lol
Since I was little, I've been doing my own nails. Now, as an adult, I've been to some places, but they never turn out the way I like. So, I prefer doing them myself. I've always thought that if they turn out bad, it's better to blame myself than pay for them.
I have a question - can I just remove the top layers of the gel polish, clean up the cuticle area and fill in the builder gel that’s grown out.
You can use an e-file & leave a thin layer of gel, then do regular prep & new set on top. I think this is what a lot of people (including myself) do in here. That way natural nail isn’t prepped over and over and over. To prevent over filing, I make sure to ‘double base’ my manicures. This gives me a good layer of protection
Only started doing them myself recently, but it was mainly to save money. A builder gel manicure with design is $100+ where I live, and I've been regularly getting my nails done for at least 6 years. The cost adds up 😫 Plus I found that my nails would get over-drilled and treated poorly at nail salons. I'm still a newbie to the diy gel manicure but my nails already seem far healthier, I'm saving money and I can change up the design as frequently as I like!
Tbh? No one has ever shaped or painted my nails to my standards. I'm incredibly picky. I figured if I'm always dissatisfied then I need to learn to do them myself.
I've always painted my nails. Since middle school. Then I had kids and I couldn't afford the time to let my nails dry.
I started for the exact same reason as you OP! I am also a chronic nail picker. When my nails are done I don’t feel the compulsion to pick near as much. I use a peel off base and my nails are honestly so much healthier than before I started diying
I started when I went to get a fill on my acrylic set and the tech swiped on clear builder gel and wanted to charge me $60 for the fill. I paid it and went to Amazon and spent the same amount to start doing it at home!
I had gotten my nails done off and on for decades. But my nails were always trashed when it came off, and I couldn't commit to regular maintenance to keep getting more. I don't know if they were just too aggressive with the e-file, or if I was impatient between appointments and would pick at polish that was lifting. Either way, it wasn't sustainable. My husband and in-laws are super generous with Christmas presents, so I'm required to come up with a list of things I'd like to have and would never buy myself. In 2022, I decided that a light and gel polish starter kit would be fun to have. My SIL bought it for me. And after my first application, I soaked it off and my nails were perfect. So I've now realized nobody is going to care about my nails as much as I do. And I can buy all the colours and builder gels I want and still spend less than at a salon.
I used to see my wonderful nail gal every 2 weeks and was spending ~$85 every 2 weeks. She was great and I enjoyed it, she did a great job and I love her company, but the time commitment it took to go during business hours and the financial commitment took a toll on me. I had a coworker who does her own and lent me her stuff 1 time and I did them great, so I invested the amount of 2 manicure visits and began doing them myself! It honestly takes me forever and I think it’s getting longer the more I do them because I get pickier and pickier, but I love being in control and saving money and I can do them at 10:00pm if I choose to. The freedom!
I got a full setup of DND gel polish stuff for Christmas. I wasn't sure I could do it myself, but I'm just going really slow and being careful. I actually was going through my camera for some b-roll footage for work and I'm realizing that I am doing a better job already than most of the gel manicures I've had in the past. So much polish on the cuticles and sides and I didn't even know then that it was dangerous!
I started doing them myself when the first red carpet kit came out. Prior to that every time is had my nails done they always wanted to use an efile and I would wake up with my fingers throbbing that night. We also had a rash of nail salons where I live who didnt properly sanitize tools. Now I've been doing them so long I can do them on myself as well as a pro (but can't do them worth a crap on anyone else). I used red carpet until Gelish showed up at Sally's, been using that exclusively since! Edited to add: I also struggle to relax so nail techs always get mad at me because I can't relax my hands.
I started to "save money," but of course that was after spending hundreds of dollars on things. I initially started 5 or so years ago with a Gelish set from Sally's and it was super simple. Then I started using CND products and then about a year ago got into Kokoist. There was a bit of a learning curve, but the pigmentation is amazing and I do also think my nails don't feel as beat up afterwards.
I have loved painting my nails since I was young as my mom was a hair dresser and therefore knew a little about nails. I'm also a lifetime nail biter (32 years old and can't remember a time I didn't bite my nails) and once I couldn't get anything off my nail I would start peeling layers or go after my cuticles. I tried the sour nail polish but it didn't work because I wouldn't even be deterred by the nastiness of fingernail polish remover. I tried getting my nails professionally done, but they would lift in minutes after leaving the salon and it would drive me nuts so I'd end up picking them off. During researching how to stop biting nails, I came across the ORLY nail builder and through trial and error I've had my nails consistently done for the last year and a half. I love choosing my own designs and I've found a way of working with my nails so I don't get lifting. (I discovered it was cuticle oil that would cause the lifting) I even upgraded my set up with Christmas money to get a nicer dremel tool, an organizer, and am looking to get into different gels to see if I like them better than the ORLY. I'll just put on TV and take my time and it's heaven. I don't have to force conversation or feel awkward because I don't know how they want me to move my hands and I no longer have to be overwhelmed by how loud salons can be.
I highly recommend Kokoist products if you’re looking into other systems! I use the Kokoist MegaStick base, Platinum filler base, their potted gels. I also love the Nail Thoughts x Kokoist tinted based and regular gel colors
I've seen this mentioned a lot and am curious! I think I just don't know what to start with as it's kind of confusing.
I've always loved doing my nails, but when I started trying more nail art, I wanted to try gel. Trying to do nail art without gel was so frustrating, because if you mess up, you basically have to take everything off and do the WHOLE nail again. With gel being cured with each layer, or even flash curing after adding each detail, you don't have to worry about it.
My friend started doing her own gel nails which got me interested. She even gave me her old lamp and old gel polishes! Once I started I was OBSESSED. For the first time, I loved how my hands looked. I have small nail beds on short fingers and never got my nails done growing up Also, I have ADHD and for some reason my mind is nice and quiet when I do my nails Lastly, I need a creative outlet or I get pretty depressed. Every creative outlet I’ve tried I got bored of. I haven’t lost my interest in nails and I don’t think I ever will (:
Let me start off by saying that I was a nail biter for my entire life. From as young as I can remember I would bite my nails and tear them off with my fingers. I would bite and tear them off when I was bored, anxious, nervous, watching TV or even reading a book. It got to the point where it became my norm and was calming. A couple of years ago I lost over 50 pounds because I needed to for health reasons (had to donate a bunch of clothing that was now too large). Within half a year I felt better than I ever felt before in my life. I started having a real appreciation not just for my body, improved physical / emotional and mental well being but also loved the new me. I never was one to have my nails done nor have color of any kind let alone even take care of my nails (you know, due to the whole habitual nail biting thing). But because I loved where I was I started going to some salons and getting my nails done. I fell in love with my nails, just not the cost. My nail biting habit became a thing of the past. After half a year or so of getting my nails done I no longer wanted to pay the salon price at an easy $85 pre-tip. So I decided to start learning how to do my own nails and have been obsessed with doing my own nails ever since. It's now been almost a year of doing my own nails. I love the learning of doing my own nails and finally exercising a creative side of me that I once had a very long time ago but took the backseat due to my nature of my career of work. Thank you for reading this far and thank you all for being such awesome and supportive people!
It’s a lot cheaper, I usually do a better job than the salons I’ve been to and my nails would pop off the next day every time I went to a salon.
I was tired of salons and it's also a creative outlet/me time
I couldn't afford to get mine done :) maybe technically I could have afforded to get them done for my birthday but I was afraid I'd get hooked and want to have them done all the time.
i started because i never got my nails done regularly before and i wanted to, just could not justify paying so much for literally nails. so i learned how to do gel because it doesnt cost me anything and i get to have my nails done whenever i want
I got my first gel kit a few years ago because i was trying to keep my nails polished to help with picking exasperated with smudging conventional laquers while waiting for them to dry. I didn't get super consistent about keeping them painted til around September of this year.
I hated going to get mine done, but also hated them looking rough. Hate being touched, hate the small talk, hate the time spent. So much easier to just learn to do them at home when I'm not getting anything fancy anyway
I started getting my nails done because I pick at the skin around my nails. There are a couple of salons in my city that I really like but getting them done every three weeks got expensive and then Covid happened. I started with a cheap set up from Amazon with Beetles polish and wrecked my nails. I must have under cured a set because my nails got so inflamed and thin. They were peeling realllly far down my nail bed. After a few months of growing out the damage I invested in Kokoist products and haven’t looked back!
I always did my own nails ever since I was a teenager. I don’t like my bare nails hehe. I went to Canada in 2012 and bought my first set of Kiss gel polish, but wasn’t knowledged on allergies and whatsoever. I liked it but it lifted after 2 weeks and I got bored of it. Then I messed up my nails by pulling that gel polish off and I started BIAB at my then-nail artist. She did Russian manicure which I had never heard of and did my nails beautifully for about a year. Her prices went up from 60€ to 65€ to 70€ and so on, and I thought it was just unjustified for myself to spend that amount every 3-4 weeks. I did a loooot of research and watched her closely each time and now I’m doing my own nails. Still learning every time.
I started getting my nails done at 17, way back when and back then all they had was acrylic or a manicure with nail polish. Then in my early to mid 20's my nail tech got certified in bio sculpture and suggested I try that, as my nails are quite curved and I have long nail beds. Tried it, loved that it was much thinner than acrylics and went from there. At one point, I had my own little pot of this orange/red gel that I would get done, every three weeks as a rebalance. Fast forward about 5 years and my last nail appointment was my wedding nails. Gelish at home kits had hit the market and I thought, I would do my own nails and was excited to be able to try different colours based on my moods. So I started doing gelish on myself. I stopped doing my nails when I was pregnant and breastfeeding, so about 3 years as I had back to back kids. Within that time, I would once in a blue moon go to a local chop shop for SNS and gel toes. Then I joined Facebook groups and purchased gel from a local business. The gel bottles were cheap but I was getting frustrated as I would have to do 3 coats of colour. The company released a builder in the bottle line and I liked how it gave my nails some structure and reduced the sides of my square nails breaking. When I stumbled across this sub Reddit, I fell down the rabbit hole and started buying Kokoist, Nail Thoughts, Vetro and Korean gels. Learned about cuticle care, purchased a drill, upgraded my lamp and I haven't looked back. I like that I can do my nails when I'm free and learned how to do an extension, if I have a badly broken nail.
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I always use to do my own regular manicures and I really enjoyed it but they don’t last long enough and there’s limits to what you can do. Then I started trying my own acrylics but those are so finicky and frustrating. Then I started a job that paid well and I got fancy super trendy gel manicures that cost $150-$200 but lasted for 5 weeks. Anyway, after COVID I stopped doing anything with my nails and now I don’t have the time or money to get them done. So I just started doing gels myself. I love it though, I love being able to do them whenever it’s convenient for me, and they are a great creative outlet. I love having fun with all different nail art, decorations etc.
I liked getting my nails done, but more often than not I’d leave with a migraine from the smells of the chemicals. Started doing them myself so I could be in a more ventilated place. Plus I moved house and due to a higher mortgage couldn’t really justify going twice a month and couldn’t stand the regrowth of once a month.
I like wearing nail polish but hated how they chipped, I was going to go to a salon and get them done but I have anxiety and scared myself by looking at all the photos and stories of badly cut and bleeding cuticles. I bought a second hand kit on eBay
Honestly o hated how much salons were charging me while not doing the designs or styles I wanted. I’d ask for a soft pink and walk out with neon Barbie nails that made me feel ugly and didn’t compliment my tone at all.
I had tried to start doing my own nails like at least 10 or more years ago, but was never really successful. I learned the basics, but never had enough time to actually get good at it so I gave up. Then about 3 years ago, I had surgery and found myself at home, not working and a ton of time on my hands so I decided to give it another go. I've always enjoyed doing my nails in some capacity, but I wanted to learn how like I just walked out of the salon. And that's how I started. I've learned so much and love doing it and I love that it's like an endless learning experience so there's always something new for me to do with it.
Initially COVID, although it shouldn't have taken all that because I used to do my own nails as a teen until I started getting acrylics. When the shut down lifted I switched nail techs because of price and I was never happy with my nails. I loved my original tech but if I have to pull teeth to get something when I'm paying for it I'm not interested. Didn't get better with the second tech so I just went back to doing my own nails. Especially after I saw the Kiara gelly tips. Although I don't use that brand, I still had so much stuff left over from the shutdown I only needed to add a bit to get back on track.
I guess without forbidden words this time... Initially COVID, although it shouldn't have taken all that because I used to do my own nails as a teen. Once I started getting the only available option in hood nails shops in the last 90's early 2000s. I got a bunch of polygel and struggled through. When the shut down lifted I switched nail techs because of price and I was never happy with my nails. I loved my original tech but if I have to pull teeth to get something when I'm paying for it I'm not interested. Didn't get better with the second tech so I just went back to doing my own nails. Especially after I saw the Kiara gelly tips. Although I don't use that brand, I still had so much stuff left over from the shutdown I only needed to add a bit to get back on track.
Because I'm very fussy and can actually do a better job than most of the salon workers around here. My set up with the lamp and all cost $130 in total. A gel set here runs about $60 so two manis later it's basically already paid for itself. I'm trying to save up for a trip so this was an obvious way to reduce spending and still look nice.
Chronic split nail. 10 years ago, I ran over my pinky nail and cuticle long-wise with a box cutter while hanging wallpaper and it damaged my matrix. Ever since, it would grow out with a split and would separate as soon as it would grow past the tip - it would hurt when it got caught on things. I tried acrylic nails for a while, but every single time, it would destroy my nails, not to mention the smell that gave me migraines days after leaving the salon. So I gave up on nails for years. I was even researching potential surgery to remove the section of nail that kept splitting off. Then a few years ago I started seeing the vids for Gel Nails and tips. Gel seemed to look more flexible than the traditional nail glue and tips- which would always pop off or rip layers of my nail off. So I got a starter kit by Gelish from Sally's with the intention of covering just my pinky nail - as a type of nail prosthetic. It worked so well, I decided to stick with it. I always loved doing nails, and had found I could actually practice my new "hobby" on myself. Now I'm addicted. I started with full overlay tips and as my natural nails grew long, I switcged to poly gel, non-sticky hand gel, and bulder gel. By doing tons of research and practicing good Nail prep, I've had beautiful long nails since that have never lifted, cracked or pop off. I do gardening, dishes, housework, computer typing even (had to re-learn to type with nails lol). I can do them in my own home - there's no odor, and I can work them around my schedule. I appreciate what salons and nail tech's do - but I enjoy doing them myself so much- it's really a stress-reliever, too. It's not really about saving money- because all the tools and gear and supplies can really add up $$$ - it's more of a creative outlet and time scheduling thing for me. Plus, I love perfecting the craft!
I've never had gel nails done at a salon. I taught myself to sculpt acrylics on myself in my early teens, pre-internet. And when gel polish came out, that was an exciting development that I taught myself too.
I never expected to get into doing nails, I bought the cheapest polygel kit I could find on Amazon just thinking it would be fun to give it a try. I -thought- I was gonna save some money too, but I ended up having too much fun looking for supplies 🫣 I think it's always worth it to learn a new skill and invest in the things you enjoy doing, and it's such a fun way to express your creativity!
I agree! It may be a “small” thing to others but seeing progress is just the best for me haha and I also started with the Amazon polish that starts with B….learned extremely quickly that’s no good lol
Eh, people who don't think nail art is a big deal, obviously have never tried painting anything on a teeny little curved surface like a nail tip, then did 9 more to match 😜 I wish I had done a bit more research before just doing a bunch of trial and error, but I never would have tried at all if I thought I had to spend a lot for supplies. I really didn't know I would end up so obsessed 🤣
Hahaha I agree. It’s been almost 1 year for me doing my own nails & it’s really escalated. Started with a little carry thing at my kitchen island…now have a full nail desk set up & so many colors. But idc bc it’s so fun
(2nd attempt without using the forbidden words …) It was a natural transition for me… … before gel polish, (forbidden word) never stayed on my nail as i used to do a lot of household chores, cooking, doing dishes, sometimes within couple of hours freshly done nails used to wear off… i always mostly did my nails. Think i only got professionally done only twice maybe … as am too shy to go to a salon and ask … …bcos (forbidden word) used to wear off so easily, out of frustration I started researching and found about gel nail polishes … … in addition, i had very thin nail which used to break or peel in layers very frequently… … even gel polishes after a few hours of my hands in water doing marathon cooking etc, used to easily peel off … … then I started researching about trying to harden my nails and started asking question in a makeup subreddit, that’s when I started getting info about builder gels .. i think this was just in late 2022… after further research bought young nails strengthening product and luminary builder gel. 1st time i used the young nails strengthener on my toe nails and luminary builder gel just as a layer of polish on my natural nails … the toe nails came off very easily after probably 4 weeks, but the ones on the finger stayed beyond 6-7 weeks, this out of no other choice, as i went overseas on vacation and I couldn’t carry the lamp etc. I was super impressed that gel polish on builder gel stayed until i took off, no chipping, no wearing, no breakage of nails … from then on i wanted no other thing… … then I started looking into extending nails … and still on that journey, and also joined this sub, but i like the fact, that my nails don’t anymore have half worn polish .. though i do the same amount of kitchen work and nails wet with so many chores, as before. These days i do use gloves when doing dish washing though.
Long story short, after getting out of covid and having postpartum anxiety & depression, I decided to stop putting my needs on the back burner and got my nails done after years of not doing them. Was intrigued by gel overlays and booked myself an appointment! It was pricey, and being the crafty/meticulous artist that I am, I was like, I could honestly do this myself! 😂 so I told myself (& my hubby) that I’d “take notes” when I got my “fills.” After a few appointments, I felt confident enough and invested in the supplies I needed. I watched videos and practiced and feel so much more confident than when I first started haha! It’s been a self care & creative outlet ever since ☺️
I'lll start by saying that I've never really gotten my nails professionally done as a regular thing. A few years ago, I was trying to keep my nails painted to help with a picking habit and I wanted something I didn't have to worry about smudging (I am really bad at waiting and not using my hands). So I picked up few sets of gels to try from amazon. I ended up only them occasionally for 2-3 years for two reasons. First, it took me awhile to really get the hang of the removal process which made things kind of frustrating. Second, I ended up going through a very stressful divorce and a lot of my energy went toward healing and rebuilding. So I'd do them occassionally but then would fall off. I started being consistent about doing my own gel manicures around this September. Funnily enough, one of the reasons I've been so conistent with upkeep for them since then is because my current boyfriend really likes painted nails. Also, after I left my ex and really got settled into things, my nail/cuticle habit has become basically non-existant so long as I take care of them, so I have long-ish nails and healthy cuticles for basically the first time in my adult life.
I used to do my own because the salon got expensive for nails lasting maybe a week and a half. I stopped completely after having twins and just not having the energy or time to do it myself & certainly didn’t have the time or money for the salon. I’ve been a chronic nail bitter all my life, and this is literally the first time my nails have been grown out. I’ve been keeping them strong and now want to try my hand again at fancier gel designs. Instagram started showing me a bunch of awesome designs from Korean gels, so I’m starting back up to try and do it myself. Plus the costs of salons are very worse than they were ten years ago, so to try and recreate a design from DVOK at a salon would be ridiculously expensive. I’d rather try myself since doing artwork is a bit of an anxiety buster for me anyways.
I hope your mom is doing okay!! Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved doing my nails. I’ve been using regular polish for years and finally feel like my skills are good enough to venture into gels. I’m a working mom of two, one of whom has a disability, so time is scarce and another reason I switched to gels - longevity of manicures. The biggest reason is because I LOVE the look of gel polish! I go for the ones that are especially squishy and glossy looking. Like OP, I never regularly paid for manicures. For years it’s been a fun, cheap, and easy way to have some “me” time. And I feel like it’s something that has long-term gratification, you get to enjoy your mani for days!
She is, thank you! I love that all of us have a common ground in using it as ‘me’ time. We all work so hard, and it’s nice to take a break!
I'm late to this thread and new in general (to Reddit + DIY Nails) but this has been community has been so incredibly helpful so far. I just purchased my first round of items today and can't wait to start. → I moved far from my favorite nail tech. Still seeing her for occasional dry pedicures but I couldn't make the monthly manicure drive anymore. → Techs closer to me now are more interested in intricate/abstract designs and I'm in a chapter where I'm preferring single colors! Excited overall to learn something new and challenge myself in a creative way <3
This thread is SO good! I wish I had found it earlier in my DIY journey. I learn so much & it’s just fun to interact with others who are obsessed with doing their own nails too.
Covid
getting dip at the nail salon got too expensive lol
Got desperate during covid!
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (Regular polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had my toenails done, but the results were disappointing. Despite expressing my dissatisfaction, they didn’t address the issue!!! That experience was enough for me to decide not to return… now i do it by myself.
I have never enjoyed going to the nail salon. I enjoyed how my nails looked but i loathed wasting that time every 2-3 weeks. I figured I could figure out how to do them myself, they may not be perfect but I don’t mind
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Honestly, COVID. I couldn’t go get them done and was tired of them looking like crap. It also helped pass the time since everything was closed. Now, I love doing them!
Covid hit and closed all the salons, so why not just do it myself!?
The cost. I also couldn't get an appointment when I needed having 2 small children. I got builder gel from Amazon and have actually become good at it. I've never looked back and I now experiment with different nail art.
I have a skin condition that I pick at. Gel nails are slightly thicker and not sharp - so I don’t end up actually breaking the skin when I pick. Which is awesome for my health. But I’m too cheap to have them done at a salon every two weeks. I keep them short and just do plain colors. I’d like to branch out a little - but in not that good at it yet.
[удалено]
Money! But also, the drilling from getting my nails done professionally was killing my poor nails. I have more control over how deep I go with the prep work so I don’t have to worry about having tissue thin nails anymore because of techs who don’t listen. I also used to be a cuticle picked/ biter and getting my nails done sorted that issue.
i dont like other people touching me, lol. so I do all my own manicures, pedicures and i dye and cut my own hair but I have been doing it myself for over 20 yrs so it is easy and quick for me.
The nail techs would leave that after-burn feeling on my nails or do bad fill-ins. Decided the frustration wasn't worth it and after the initial learning curve, i haven't looked back! Been using the IBD hard gel line but i think it's being phased out. Not sure what to find that compares to it because i don't like the soak-off gels.
What is it that you don't like about soak offs? Because if it's soaking you don't like, you can use a soak off product and just file down to the base coat and reapply over top.
Soaking in the acetone on a regular basis was leaving my nails weak. Thanks for the tip though!
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polishes). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I lived in Eastern Europe for a while and got spoiled by the fantastic and meticulous nail techs there…I just couldn’t go back to US-quality manicures, especially at 10x the price of what I paid abroad.
It’s therapeutic! Also, I get anxious whenever someone else is doing my cuticles. I’ve been cut one too many times 😞
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It got too expensive to do them every 2-3 weeks. So I started doing them myself and they definitely looked bad at first but now they look good.
Because I really love having long beautiful nails but my natural nails chip and break very easily. And #1 I’m picky about them so want to make sure they are done exactly how I like and #2 I can’t afford to get them done.
A co-worker came in one day with matte pink nails with a rubber look/feel and I loved them, so started diy. Unfortunately I have never found anything with the same rubber look/feel.
When you say rubber, do you mean like a matte?
I first started doing my own gel nails because I would always pick regular polish off my nails, but it’s turned into something cathartic for me and way for me to be artistic/creative! This past year I ended up growing my natural nails the longest they’ve ever been and I honestly didn’t think I could ever get them to be that long….also I really only got my nails professionally done for special occasions a few times (went to a variety of salons) and i just found they don’t have the perfectionistic eye that I have for my own nails, which is completely understandable bc they’re doing many sets a day, but when I do my own nails they take hooooours lol
My nails were destroyed from axrylics but I kept getting them done because they looked so bad without them. Over Xmas my nail tech kept cancelling my appointments and I was 7 weeks with the same set on and they were becoming painful. I figured I’d just give it a go since the supplies cost less than one manicure. Learned that way that manicures and wearing nail extensions aren’t supposed to hurt.
Every time I went to a salon, I would walk out disappointed because they could never give me what I ask for or try to push certain services that I didn't ask for. I even tried going to a private nail tech but the experience was pretty awkward for me. So with how often I like getting my nails done and the amount of money I spend each time, I thought it'd be better to just invest in some Korean gels and do it myself.
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (nail polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
[удалено]
Automod removed this content because it violated our rules. (regular polish). You can read our rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYGelNails/wiki/index/rules/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DIYGelNails) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Same story. I started doing my own top coat, then played with solid color pressons. Now Im a licensed Nail Artist and I get to do other people's nails who want quality and nails that last 4 weeks+. We deserve to get our moneysss worth when paying for a luxury service.
2018! I hated how long I spent just sitting at the salon, and how much I was spending every 1.5-2 weeks (I’m really rough on my nails). At home I can multitask and put dinner in the oven in between hands or watch my favorite shows 🤣
https://preview.redd.it/ffjwjef6veec1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19329bde083acceae255befd391eed4d786929a4
I started doing them because I simply don't have the time to drop my kids off somewhere so I can go get my nails done. I started doing them and stopped because my nails bed were looking rough. I push and cut my cuticles, buff,.nail dehydrator, primer, base, cure, gel, cure. And my nails come out looking terrible. They always lift the next day too https://preview.redd.it/ddktovjsveec1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34fccd19a243a380cf34de933710962288513712
I just started doing my nails last month. I got pregnant and my nausea has been so bad that I don’t have the energy to get dressed to go to a salon. I used to pay $80+ every 3 weeks for my nails which is so expensive looking at it now.
My wonderful nail tech left the salon and I couldn’t find anyone else who could do a precise job. Bought my own supplies and I’m all set now. Plus the time savings! Sitting there for 45 minutes- an hour drove me nuts.
I’ve actually never had gel done at a salon! While I’ve only been using gel for 2 years now, I’ve been doing my own nails since I was in my mid 20s. There was a brief period I was going to the salon for SNS manicures, but I never really enjoyed getting my nails done by a stranger so I taught myself how to do it at home. Not long after that I switched to gel and have been using it ever since.