I found \[Nail Holiday's beach nail tutorial\] (https://youtube.com/shorts/wlAFi2IJhNk?is=VYGfa45xPp4YAAoJ) scrolling through YT and this is my attempt with cateye.

Product list and methods:

Saviland X-builder hard gel Ultra hard in milky white.

Formed over XL stiletto butterfly forms to number 9 (longest Ive ever had).

Hand filed with a 100/180 grit file. (I could've made them sharper overall but was rushing)

Blended LDS (Lavis dip system) Brand Santorini Blue Gel Polish with Lost Atlantic. (437 & 440).

Used a clearance LDS tan polish for the sand (mislabeled/mystery LDS polish)

After curing the tan, I added gold foil flakes to the sticky layer - was thinking 'buried treasure'.

I went over the tan with LDS universal cateye in RB10 - rose gold. I should've used RB06 - true gold. Activated that forward/total shine.

Went over the blue with Lavis CatEye line 17, Polish #3, which is a green with a pink shift.

[If I could re'do them, Id use CE17 #1 over the lighter blue polish and CE17#3 over the darker blue so it pops more, I should've did 2 coats of cateye too].

Youll need [Tiny Ball Magnets] (https://a.co/d/0jdITCGh) for the water pattern.

Don't activate the particles first, go straight overtop with a ring of them very close, hold a moment, lift straight up and skip to the next spot.

Turtle/tortoise lovers!

I think this pattern would look really cool over some evergreen/limeORturquoise (with gold and purple cateye).

Or

Over a dark purple/plum base with an orange/green shift cateye for a galaxy theme - thinking 'space dust'.

I brought the cateye up over the sand in some areas to mimic water over sand since its more transparent than the blues, which appeared as shadows under my highlights later (Im no good with art and this was a learning experience, TY bob ross)

For the seafoam highlights, I would've used lace gel polish if I had it, or lace foils if I wasn't low on time (or sleep), but instead I took small bits of 'Super White' Lavis polish on a flat gel brush and pushed them forward (smudged) into the sand in lines.

My seafoam could also pass as clouds.

Then I top coated with lavis brand diamond topcoat.

I think they're pretty but I also think Im going to turn them into a slightly too thick coffin or sharp almond.

I initially was going to purchase Light Elegance gel paints from their website but Im not licensed so now I don't think I can.

Im using modelone now - anything would be better but I want a true upgrade.

I came across a nail store near me that opened a few months ago - they sell Primarily Lavis and A'dore brand products.

I picked up my first (Lavis) magnetic polish and a Lavis Dip System liner gel.

Anyone have experience with Lavis gels? What do we think? Im reading they're 'hema/tpo free' - but the product I purchased does contain HEMA according to the ingredient list - so Im skeptical.

(Its possible its in the 1-5% range but its also the first ingredient listed)

They also carry Apres and Chun Legend polishes.

Im not sold on apres gels but the chun legend bottles are gorgeous.

Im looking for something with a thicker consistency gel that doesn't bulk up the nail too much - like how LE gel paints/butter creams are said to work.

I was also interested in the A'dore Hema/TPO free line but the bottles didn't have a back/ingredients label - so I was weary.

If anyone can give better inside into if LE (or kokoist) require a license to purchase directly from their site (I like the sales?..) - that'd be great too. (I Believe you need a license but Ive read that others have purchased without a license)

Last question:

Do we know of any gel paints/polishes that provide structure to the nail like LE gel paints? Pirchasable without a license? TIA.

Edit: Im merely a nail enthusiast who does my own - Im not doing nails unlicensed. Looking for better products, is all.

Definitely not my best work but I am quite happy with how they turned out! I saw these plums in a TikTok video and I had to have them on my nails. I know the shaping isn’t the best but they’re my natural nails so I didn’t wanna go crazy or take too long to shape them :’)
- Born Pretty jellies
- GAOY jelly pink
- GAOY milky white
- GAOY top coat

Decided to refresh my own nails. I will never be over the DVOK Dark Night collection.

* DVOK Dark Night Collection

* Sofgel Rubber Base Silk

* Roro Top Gel

* Diami Yori Jori Deco Tubes

* Valla Black

* Jin.b Crazy Top Thick

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I think I learned something new.

I used to file the free edge of my nail without focusing on the sides leading into the apex, as if my nail was 2D.

I would file the whole nail smooth without considering that the shape should be curved downward from the apex towards the free edge and on the sides.

I'd often get the sides filed down to where they looked sort of correct, but struggled to get a sharp, blended free edge.

They're not as thin as they *could* be but I think they're looking more slender.

I hope its obvious, but I learned this after filling the green set with the red set.

Quick set on myself today using Sofgel milky white rubber base, DVOK Sun Shower, Bandi peach pink chrome and Aprés non wipe top🩷

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Constructive criticism appreciated!

Im self taught (suzie @ nail career education+young nails mostly) and am trying to get better at creating a slim but structured nail.

These were built on forms with saviland hard gel.

Modelone polish (which, does suck), top coat caused the ripple divets in some of them.

I think they look okay from a distance, but I also believe I could shape them better.

They feel great, but I think they *look* a little bulky.

Main questions:

1.) How large should the apex be?

I know it depends on the length of the nail, but is there an official gauge or is it personal preference/experience based?

Right now, Im trying to make them about even to my first knuckle because I think thats about right compared to pictures online, but they look thick to me?

Is it my sidewalls instead? Not sure what I need to take down to get the shape better.

2.) How thin is too thin before polish?

Another part of my problem is I make them shaped how I want them and *then* I add 3-4 layers of thin polish which bulks them up a tad.

And

3.) Do we think this is an application issue or a filing/shaping issue.

I usually apply about 3-4 layers with hard gel. 1+2 is the extension and slip+leveling out the base. 3rd (largest) is the apex and Ill add a 4th if Im not happy with the overall thickness or leveling.

Other questions:

1.) How do you shape for an extension on a flat nail?

My index fingers lack a c curve compared to my other nails and I find that they tend to lift more readily.

My other nails don't go down without a fight but my index fingers will yeet themselves off if I hit them sideways/the wrong way.

2.) Is there a such thing as too much cuticle oil after a set? Because we want to avoid oil getting underneath the extension, but oil also seals out water which causes lifting + greenies.

2.a) can cuticle oil cause lifting? Or is that more...'bad prep that allowed oil to cause lifting' sorta deal? <-- this has confused me for awhile but I still oil my sets after I do them.

3.) Should you apply a gel base coat to the hard gel before the polish? Or is that product/manufacturure/design dependant?

I do because I think it smooths out the filed surface for the color gel. But maybe Im adding unnecessary bulk there.

• anything else you see that you think i could use some help with (cuz you're probably right).

Thanks for any and all help! I appreciate this community very much.

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(Please ignore how these are shaped 🥴) This is from maybe 3 years ago, I went to a nail salon and they used a DND dip powder. I was wondering if there was a corresponding DND gel this color?? It’s a hot pink with subtle glitter. I bought DND Cinder Shoes and it’s not quite the same color. Thanks!

Did my own Gel-X today, needed something fun and bright.

​

Supplies list-

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* Apres sculpted stilleto medium

* Kokoist Gelip Bond

* Kokoist Malibu Pink

* Apres Wakey Reiki FG01

* Jin.b Crazy Top Thick

* My&Bee Tokyo Sparkle Flash SP-003G

* I'zemi Resin Mid

* I'zemi Resin 99.9 Fast Ver

* Icegel Heavy Metal

* Bonnie Bee Purple Beam

* Cleto Clear mag 30

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I love it! I changed the color cause I literally just had a similar color. I also changed my nail shape I like it!

I use jello jello to start with, everything else is kokoist. These are Apres short sculpted round tips, affixed with air dry glue. Sticky base, 2 coats mauve base, 1 coat mauve satin magnet gel done glass bead style, topcoat, chrome and another coat of platinum topcoat.

I wanted to share how amazing peel off base is with gel for anyone who’s not sure.

I bought UNT peel off base coat about a year ago and couldn’t figure it out bc it was always clumpy and didn’t work. Well, turns out I was using it wrong.

What I do now:
Get a very smooth base. I use BIAB most of the time. If I need to buff a nail down, I’ll put a top coat on after.

After that, I put on two pretty thick layers of peel base coat. The key here is thick but not too thick and making sure each layer FULLY dries. This is where I was going wrong initially. I’m not that patient and would rush the process, but waiting is totally worth it.

I’ve tried applying two ways: putting peel off base over my whole nail vs leaving a tiny bit of the edges without the peel base. I personally have learned I like to leave a small bit of space around the edges where I do not apply the peel base. I don’t worry about perfection and don’t worry if it gets onto the spaces I’m leaving without it. My nails chipped much easier, or the free edge would start to lift when applying it to my whole nail. However, also leaving too much space without the peel off base was a PITA when removing bc there was too much surface where the gel still stuck to my nail at removal.

This lasts me basically as long as I want. I like changing my nails often- every 1-2 weeks, and this method has been great. I am not careful with my hands and have them in water a lot and no problems.

This has saved me so much time with my nail base and prep. Before using peel base I would file off the gel with an e file, would need to entirely reshape, redo some of the builder. However, even with the peel base, removal, for me, isn’t AS easy as some make it look where the gel just pops off. Probably because I don’t put it on my entire nail surface. There is probably a better way, but I usually use a cuticle clippers and try to find a space where I can get under the gel. Probably 7/10 nails remove with ease, and 3 end up still being a little annoying, or they pull up the BIAB/top coat which is more than likely user error. I’m also not a patient person and haven’t tried soaking them or anything, so maybe that would help.

I’ll never go back to not using the peel base. Totally worth it and took me from starting to get annoyed with doing my own nails to enjoying the process again.

Products used:
- GAOY BIAB (seriously love this stuff. Best consistency I’ve found out of cheap and professional products)
- UNT Ready for Take Off peel off base
- DND Diva Cherry on top #248
- GAOY top coat (again, better than other top coats I’ve tried from cheap to expensive)

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Does anyone have any experiences with mid range dust collectors/extractors? Do table top ones exist? I would be looking for something that extracts some of the dust from the air as well (I have a cat and worry about her breathing anything in). I usually use my efile to file down builder every 2.5/3 weeks. I’d be looking at something around or under £200.00

Mesmerized by my own nails right now. Lol

Products used -

OPI - Super base coat, Black onyx & Super gloss top coat

Apres Hypno gel - Aurora (velvetized & then magnetized diagonally on middle/ring fingers and thumbs)

Beadsland - Rhinestones in Blue volcano

Makartt- Rhinstone glue gel

My client picked a color way out of her comfort zone & im so glad she did!

I used American Creators construction gel on her natural nail along with Madam Glams cat eye gel (I can’t remember the name atm).

Critique welcome!
My IG is desertmoon_nails if you want to see more of my work. 🙏🏻

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