Color gel has been on the market for over 30 years, but it was a hard gel in a bathtub. The UV gel polish revolution happened when the first brands (there is some disagreement as to whether it was Relish or CND) changed the consistency (viscosity) and made it brush-in-bottle and soak-off.
Understanding the Difference: Pure Gel and Hybrid Gel Formulation
A “pure gel” is composed entirely of polymer, while a “hybrid” is a pure gel infused with a solvent. Both are penetrating, but the hybrid allows the acetone to penetrate faster.
The evolution of UV gel polish: from a glossy finish to a sophisticated, traditional look
The UV gel polish revolution has given the nail industry an incredible kickstart. That’s because it was new and its long-lasting and instant drying properties were well-received by consumers.
Originally, UV gel nails were very shiny, a little thicker, and had rounded edges. “Gel-like” traditional polishes were invented because it was a look that was preferred by many. Not everyone liked that “bulgy” look and preferred a smoother look of the manicure.
From spherical UV gels to smooth “lip gloss” finishes
Things have moved on, and highly skilled technicians are meticulously working to achieve a slim, sleek, and completely natural look. However, this requires more time and skill.
The “lip gloss” nail polish you see on social media is a great example of this.
I recently had my nails done by two artists and I absolutely loved the way they looked. So how do they do it?
Precision in practice: steps to achieve the perfect nail finish
I’ve seen it too, but if I were in a salon, I don’t know if I would have the patience. I don’t have the patience when doing my own nails.
- Perfect and accurate preparation.
- smooth base coat
- Applying a “slip layer” (a thin layer of uncured colored product before the main coat) will give the main coat some staying power before the sidewalls are flooded.
- The main coat is thin, but only apply two nails at a time to avoid movement
- Turn your fingers upside down and use gravity to pull the coating away from the sides, thinning it and creating a natural peak. To do this effectively, your nails should be parallel to the desk.
- then cure
- Finish the remaining two nails in the same way, finishing with the thumb separately.
- If desired, the color coat is finished with a fine buffer or block, but those who are skilled at this task do not need to do this step, as it is already perfectly applied.
- Remove debris and apply top coat
- The main attention is on the light lines, as they appear where the coating is uneven and needs correction.
This requires more time and advanced skill, but this is how you can up your game and get the best UV gel polish manicure results possible.
No more bulbous and uneven polished nails. Beautiful, natural nails that everyone envy.
For prime examples of this, we recommend checking out: drivebe instagram. We’ll show you how to best capture this type of nail design in photos.
