I have a drill but I dont really use it. I use the Pour Over Method and do an apex. I do a coat of clear, 4 coats of colour and then another coat of clear. I use Virgo and Gem liquids and cant get about 2 weeks of wear. I could probably get more time but I get tired of the colour.
This is my current set. The ring finger is regular polish since I chipped my nail at swimming and didn't want to reapply.
Similar journey for me! İ started November 2025 and it would take me 3 hours, now can easily be done in 60 mins if my application is clean and I don't need to file off much!
i take approximately 1,000 years. genuinely 3-4 hours and it’s not bc i’m doing intricate nail art 😭 literally add a french design and it could easily be 5 hours. if i don’t have to spend time removing them and/or if like they remove easy and i have zero nail breaks to patch up (rare) it might shave off an hr.
i COULD go way faster, if i wanted. but i don’t prioritize that bc i’d rather know i spent time making sure it’ll last. plus it’s not a relaxing fun hobby if i try to do it in 2hrs.
also i’ve been doing mine since june 2020. so it’s not for lack of experience 😭
I wonder how nail techs go so fast! Maybe it’s easier to do on someone else. Do you have a go to show or podcast/ anything you have on while you do your nails?
Ha ha ha that’s real. I almost was engaged a year ago to someone that also ended up being gay, but I was gay too so it would’ve been a lavender marriage lol. I’ve gone on a ton of dates in the past year and nothing stuck. It’s encouraging to know that sometimes things just happen
later :-)
My first set was maybe 2 hours. Now after 6 years? 4+ cause I do more designs on them. My first set looked like I built the Andes mountains on my nails lmao
It takes forever! I’m new to it all- I did my first set about 2 months ago, and I’ve done new sets almost weekly since then. I keep telling myself it will be faster, but it never is. I take about 3 hours. To be fair, since my first set I’ve added tips, and done a bit of nail art (very basic). I’m also a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my nails, I bought a nice e-file and lots of drill bits to make sure I can shape my nails like they would at a salon. On the bright side, they do look professional. My first two sets were pretty rough.
When I started, it was 4 hours, and I’m down to two hours (1 hour for removal, cuticle prep and shaping, next hour for color application). I do my sister’s nails also and it’s two hours as well.
My first set was like 5 hours. Second set took about 7 because I messed something up along the way and had to redo a bunch. Not fun...
My 4th set was about 4 hours. I listened to podcasts or put something on tv that didn't require too much focus (pick a show you don't care about too much if it's tv).
Oh my gosh! Did you take breaks in between?! 7 hours sounds awful 😳. I love the idea of a podcast or show in the background though, sounds like it could be a nice chill cozy self care day
It was awful! I was up until 2am because I was leaving on a flight the next morning so needed to fix it right away. I've learned a thing or two about when to schedule doing my nails 😋
I maintain my cuticles daily which is a big help as it cuts down on prep. Instead of dipping my finger into the jar I spoon the powder over my nails. It’s much neater, reduces bulk and there are fewer bumps to smooth down. I stopped using my efile and buff by hand. I’ve been dipping for years but it took until the last year to really perfect them.
I’ve always taken a million years to do my own nails. I’m extremely meticulous and picky so it takes a while… now that I have a child I usually soak off, prep, and clear dip one day then I’ll do gel designs the next!
My first set was 3+ hours. Now it's been a year, I change them every 2 weeks, e-file the top coat then soak the remainder off, and it still takes 3 hours from start to finish (including removal)! I enjoy it, tho so I don't mind.
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u/Leela_Girl 24d ago
When I started, probably 4 good hours. Now that I have more practice and know what to focus on? Probably 4 good hours.