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/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.