Noah Sinclair
Filling gel nails is a great way to save time and money and keep your nails looking shiny and new. The process involves infilling the nail growth with new gel, instead of removing the gel manicure entirely. This method not only saves product but also protects the natural nail bed from damage. The first step is to file down the existing gel polish, removing around 80-90% of the product, before moving on to cuticle care and prep. After this, you can apply a new layer of gel polish, curing it under a UV or LED lamp. The final step is to clean the nails with acetone to remove any dust or oils.
How to fill gel nails at home:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | File the nail to remove the top coat and some of the gel. |
| Step 2 | Use a softer file to gently go over your natural nail to remove the shine and any product that is lifting. |
| Step 3 | Push back your cuticles and remove any dead skin from the nails with a cuticle pusher. |
| Step 4 | Depending on your gel system, apply a base gel first and then a builder gel. |
| Step 5 | Starting at the cuticle area, place the gel carefully on the nail and drag it up to the tip. |
| Step 6 | Once the whole nail is covered, apply more gel by placing it in the middle of the nail and letting it float to give a nice curve. |
| Step 7 | Cure the nails under a UV or LED lamp for the time specified in the gel instructions. |
| Step 8 | Wipe over the nails with acetone to remove the sticky layer and to neaten up the shape. |
| Step 9 | Apply a top coat, cure it, and clean it. |
| Notes | It may take some practice to get the process right. |
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What You'll Learn
File down existing gel polish
Filling your nails is a great way to save time and money, and it's simple to do at home. It's important to follow the process correctly to ensure your gel manicure looks clean and lasts a good few weeks.
The first step is to file down your existing gel polish. You want to remove the shine from the gel and take off around 80-90% of the colour. You can use an electric nail file or a hand file, starting with a coarse file (180) and moving to a softer one. Be sure to only file the gel and not your natural nail, using a back-and-forth motion with the nail file, applying enough pressure to remove the gel without damaging your nail or skin underneath.
Once you're satisfied that most of the gel has been filed down, you can move on to cuticle care. After a few weeks of wearing gel nails, your cuticles will likely have grown back, which can cause the polish to lift and peel. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the skin, being firm but not too harsh. You can also trim any dead white skin to neaten your nails, but be careful not to cut live skin, as this can lead to infections.
Buffing your nails is an important step to ensure the gel adheres properly to the nail plate and your manicure lasts longer. You can then move on to applying your new gel polish, but be sure to prep your nails first. Take some acetone and clean your nails with a cotton pad, then run them under water with soap and a brush. Apply a dehydrator and primer to the natural part of your nail to help with the bonding of the gel.
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Cuticle care and prep
After a few weeks of wearing gel nails, your cuticles will likely have grown back, which can make your nails look messy and cause the polish to lift and peel. Cuticle care and prep are essential to achieving a neat and long-lasting manicure.
Firstly, use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the skin. Be firm but not too harsh to avoid causing damage or irritation to the skin. You can also use cuticle nippers to trim any dead white skin and neaten up your nails. It is important to only trim dead skin and avoid cutting live skin, as this can leave your nails susceptible to bacterial infections.
Next, you'll want to buff your nails. Buffing creates a rough surface, which helps the gel adhere better to the nail plate. Without this step, your manicure won't last as long.
Once you're done buffing, it's time to clean your nails. Use acetone and a cotton pad to wipe down your nails, removing any dust or residue. You can also rinse your nails with soap and water, then finish with another wipe of acetone to remove any remaining oils.
Now that your cuticles are prepped and your nails are clean, you can apply a dehydrator and primer to the natural part of your nail. This will further enhance the bonding of the gel to your natural nail. It's also important to remove most of the previous gel manicure (80-90%) to prevent over-prepping your natural nail.
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Buffing the nails
Buffing your nails is an important step in the gel polish application process. It helps the gel adhere better to the nail plate, ensuring that your manicure lasts longer. Without creating this rough surface, the gel will not have a good grip, and your manicure won't last as long.
Buffing your nails is especially important when doing a gel fill, as it helps the new gel layer adhere to the existing gel manicure. This process is gentler on your nails than fully removing the gel polish each time. By leaving 10-20% of the gel manicure on your nails, you create a strong protective layer that prevents over-prepping your natural nail. This protective layer also gives the new gel something to grip onto, allowing your nails to grow without breaking.
To buff your nails, use a nail file to remove the shiny top layer of polish and most of the base gel. You can use a 100-grit file or start with a coarser file (180-grit) and then move to a softer one. Be sure to apply enough pressure to remove the gel, but be careful not to damage your natural nail or the surrounding skin. Use a back-and-forth motion with the nail file until you have a neat surface to work with.
After buffing, you can move on to cuticle care and prep. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the skin, being firm but gentle. Trim any dead white skin to neaten your nails, but be careful only to cut dead skin and not live skin, as this can lead to infections. Once your cuticles are prepped, you can continue with the gel infill process.
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Apply a new layer of gel polish
To apply a new layer of gel polish, start by filing down your existing gel polish. You want to remove around 80-90% of the gel, including the shiny top layer and most of the base gel. Be careful not to file your natural nail or the surrounding skin. Once you're satisfied with the amount of gel removed, it's time to move on to cuticle care. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the skin, being firm but gentle. Trim any dead white skin to neaten your nails, but avoid cutting any live skin to prevent infections.
Next, you'll need to buff your nails. Buffing creates a rough surface, which helps the new gel polish adhere better to the nail plate. After buffing, you can apply your new gel polish. Depending on your gel system, you may need to apply a base gel first, followed by a builder gel. Carefully apply the gel to your nail, starting at the cuticle area and dragging it up to the tip. Once the nail is covered, add more gel to complete the application. Repeat this process for each nail, curing them under a UV or LED lamp according to the instructions on your gel product.
After curing, wipe your nails with acetone to remove any sticky residue. Examine your nails for any bumps or imperfections you may want to smooth out with a nail file. Finally, apply a top coat if desired or required by your gel system. Cure and clean your nails, and you're done!
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Cure under a UV or LED lamp
Once you have applied all your gel, it's time to cure your nails under a UV or LED lamp. Check the instructions on your gel bottle for how long to cure your nails for. Typically, curing under an LED lamp takes around 60 seconds.
After curing, take your nails out from under the lamp and wipe them over with some acetone to remove the sticky layer. Inspect your nails for any bumps or imperfections you want to remove. If there are any, gently file your nails until you are happy with their shape.
If you are happy with the shape of your nails, you can move on to the top coat. Cure the top coat under the lamp, then clean your nails. Some gels don't need a top coat, so be sure to check the instructions for your chosen product.
Repeat the process on your other hand, and your nails will look and feel brand new!
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to file down your existing gel polish, removing around 80-90% of the gel. You need to remove the shiny top layer of polish and most of the base gel to give you a neat surface to work with.
After filing your nails, you should move on to cuticle care and prep. Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the skin, being firm but not too harsh. You can also trim any dead white skin to neaten your nails.
Buffing your nails is the next step. Buffing is important as it gives the gel better adhesion to the nail plate.
Depending on your gel system, you may need to apply a base gel first and then a builder gel. Starting at the cuticle area, place the gel carefully on the nail and drag it up to the tip. Once the whole nail is covered, apply more gel. Cure the nails under a UV or LED lamp for the time specified in the gel instructions.
