Gel Polish Guide
GEL POLISH GUIDE
- 60 SECONDS UNDER A UV LIGHT.
- 120 SECONDS UNDER LED LIGHT.
- SHAKE BOTTLE WELL BEFORE USE AND PERIODICALLY (WHEN NOT IN USE) TO MAINTAIN GEL POLISH. NOT UP AND DOWN.
- TURN BOTTLE UPSIDE DOWN AND SHAKE IN A "Y" MOTION FOR 20-30 SECONDS
APPLICATION GUIDE
1. Gather your gel base coat, gel top coat, gel color, UV/LED lamp, and cuticle oil.
2. Prepare nails by cleaning the nails or removing old nail polish. Push back the cuticle and clean the surrounding nail plate.
3. Remove any dust from nails and wipe clean and ensure no oily nail beds.
4. Apply a thin layer of base coat to nails. Do not allow base coat to touch cuticle. Wipe away any product on cuticle or skin.
5. Cure (by placing all fingers) in the UV Lamp for 1 minute or LED lamp for 2 minutes.
6. Apply the Gel Polish Color in a very thin application from cuticle to free edge. Be sure to seal the edges. Place hand in an UV light for 1 minute for or 2 minutes for LED lamp.
7. Repeat step 6 to ensure desired full coverage and opaqueness. Can be repeated a third time depending on color or preference.
8. Apply a thin coat of Gel Polish Top Coat from cuticle to free edge. Place hand in UV/LED lamp for 2 minutes or 3 minutes for LED light.
9. OOO Polish Gel Top Coat doesn’t require wiping. Once cured, you’re good to go!
10. Apply cuticle oil and show off those gorgeous nails!
REMOVAL PROCESS
You can follow the process described below OR purchase our Gel Polish Remover available HERE.
1. Be sure to head to a ventilated area of your home.
2. Gather acetone, a nail file, cotton balls, cuticle oil (or a thick moisturizing cream), wooden nail stick.
3. Gently file of top layer of gel polish with nail file. You don’t want to buff too much just enough to remove the shine of the top coat.
4. Apply your cuticle oil or cream to the surrounding skin to prevent drying out your skin.
5. Gather any brand of foil and tear or cut into squares that are 3x3 inches.
6. The key to removing gel polish is to soak your fingertips in acetone. You can do this in a small bowl filled with acetone and and two drops of cuticle oil, or you can use a soaked cotton ball on each nail. Cotton balls method are preferred because they're closer to your nails' size and shape and cotton balls are able to hold on to the acetone better as your nails soak. Saturate the cotton balls with acetone, way more than you think you need.
*We recommend avoiding formulas with moisturizing ingredients (even though they're tempting) since they tend to slow down the process, leaving your fingers soaking for a longer amount of time.
7. Begin to wrap your fingertips in the squares. Place an acetone-soaked cotton ball on your pinkie nail and use the foil to secure the cotton ball in place. Start with your non-dominant hand to make things easier.
8. Repeat this process on all fingers. It will be a little tricky if it’s your first time.
9. Soak for 10-15 minutes. Then carefully check the progress. The gel polish should be lifting and falling off the nail.
10. The gel polish should be able to be removed with little to no pressure and should wipe off with the cotton ball. If not, soak for another 5 minutes, and repeat.
11. If there are some stubborn areas, use your wooden nail stick to gently lift the gel polish off of the nail.
12. Please ensure the wooden stick (if used), cotton balls, and foil are disposed properly.
TIPS & THINGS TO KNOW
- Do not keep the bottle open for an extended period of time.
- During the application process, open the bottle to apply the gel onto nails. While the nail is curing, we recommend you to close the bottle or at least place the cap back over the bottle to cover it. This will minimize the amount of air and light that can get inside.
- If the bottle is open, don’t set it too close to the LED/UV lamp, as any exposure to the LED/UV light may affect the gel inside the bottle. It’s better to either keep the bottle closed or farther away from the lamp when the LED/UV light is on. Never shine the light directly onto an open bottle.
- Store gel polish bottles in a dark place or inside a drawer, away from windows or other light sources. Do not store in the refrigerator. Always keep bottles at room temperature.
DO
- Be sure to file BOTH the surface and edge of each nail. Filing the surface allows the gel to adhere better and filing the edges helps keep the gel from chipping.
- Make sure the first coat of gel polish is VERY thin (barely there). This is extremely important to ensure that the base layer is not too thick, which will affect the lasting. You can remove excess gel polish from the brush (before applying) by wiping it along the opening of the bottle. This will help in ensuring a thin first layer.
- Make the 2nd coat slightly thicker with even strokes of gel polish. This will create a nice, smooth top layer, which can last longer.
- "Cap" the tip of every nail by running the brush along the edge. This will also protect from chipping by providing a thicker layer of gel along the nail edge.
- Close the bottle of gel polish when not in use, and while you are waiting for each curing cycle if possible (or at least set the cap over the bottle while you are curing to minimize the amount of air and light that enters the bottle). This will prevent the gel from drying out, as gel reacts to both LED light and also natural light. Avoid having the LED lamp shine directly on an open bottle of gel, as this will also dry out the gel.
It is likely that the pigment to gel ratio has become imbalanced. It is important to shake your gel bottles regularly and before every use (even if you used it the day before).
Also, ensure that each layer dries completely, wrinkling can also occur from applying layers too thick. Thin coats should solve the issue.