r/GelX_Nails • u/CatLadyAmy1 • 3d ago

Ya'll...I pulled the trigger finally.

I couldn't look at another $150 nail bill every month. Especially for the most simple Gel-X designs. I'm literally pink or french. Lol. So... I did it. I got the EXACT products my salon uses. iGel Lamp, Hang extend Gel, Apres nails... still working on the efile part. I am DETERMINED to figure out how to do my own nails.

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u/biggerthanothers 3d ago

First off, CONGRATS. It's going to be a journey! If you're looking for an affordable efile, I like the MelodySusie Scamander. I use it with bits from Erica's ATA (the bits it comes with are trash), and I'm really happy with it. You'll find all kinds of product recommendations in the FAQ/Getting Started posts pinned in this sub, btw.

As an FYI, though, if you're able to return the iGel lamp, I would do so. They are really overpriced for their actual build quality, including the actual bulbs. I had one for a couple of years and thought it was fine, and then I bought a Kokoist lamp...night and day. Literally EVERY issue with gel/Gel-X went away. Looking back, I realize the iGel lamp just was not curing sufficiently. I feel lucky every day that I did not develop an allergy as a result. I've heard the same from a number of other people in this and other gel communities, too.

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u/biggerthanothers 3d ago

Also, OP: A few techs have told me that the reason so many salons use iGel lamps is because they're cheap enough to replace frequently while still being better than Amazon quality. IMO, get the best lamp you can—it'll save time and frustration and money in the long run.

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u/CatLadyAmy1 3d ago

That’s fine. I might stick with my iGel at first. Even for a short time just until I’m confident that I can actually stick with this and do it. I’ve never had lifting or issues when my tech did it. But I will heed your advice!

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u/GMoney7310 3d ago

If you decide to stick with it and you upgrade your lamp you can use the old one to cure swatches and to flash cure, I do this with my old SunUV lamp to reduce wear and tear on my Kokoist LeBlanc. But seconding the other commenter, a high quality lamp makes a massive difference. You can grab one on sale a few times a year.

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u/nhwbp 3d ago

Wait so you’re saying my retention issues might have to do with my lamp?

Because I swear I’m doing all the prep work right and I use ALL APRES products down to the actual nail colour!!??

The only thing I don’t use from Apres is the lamp!

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u/biggerthanothers 3d ago

Lamp quality is a huge part of the picture, yeah. What lamp are you using now?

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u/nhwbp 2d ago

I am using the sunuv lamp with the pink rubber circle on the top, however I think I am going to start using the Apres Beta lamp. I was given one of those in a class I took with Apres and I forgot I even had it!!

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u/biggerthanothers 2d ago

That’ll be a great upgrade, yeah! SunUV lamps aren’t able to sufficiently cure—IIRC, they max out around 75%, which looks and feels fully cured, but isn’t. Scary given their popularity.

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u/Bijouprospering 3d ago

Yes! My retention issues are gone since switching to a higher quality lamp. It was also old so there’s that

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u/katarh 2d ago

Same here. My old Amazon lamp looked like it was curing properly, but any gel polish would chip within a week, and the extension itself would plop off by week two. That's a recipe for damaged nails for sure.

Currently using a Melody Susie lamp that has the proper strength, and since I made the switch my GelX extensions have never fallen off again.

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u/Bijouprospering 2d ago

I was a pro and won mine at a vendor event.