Caleb Foster
Prepping your nails before a gel manicure is important to prevent the gel from lifting and to prevent damage to your nails. First, shape your nails by trimming them to the desired length and then filing them into your desired shape. Next, push back your cuticles and remove any dead skin around the cuticle area, being careful not to nip any live skin. Then, buff your nails and cleanse your nails of any dirt, oil, or dust. Finally, dehydrate your nails to remove any remaining oil or shine.
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What You'll Learn
Shaping and cutting nails
Shaping and cutting your nails is the first step in preparing your nails for gel polish. You can use a nail clipper to trim your nails to the desired length. Common shapes to consider are square, round, and almond. After cutting, use a nail file to gently buff and shape your nails in one direction, preventing the nail from splitting.
Once you have achieved your desired nail shape and length, it is important to push back your cuticles. This can be done with a gentle cuticle remover, followed by a cuticle pusher or wooden stick. Be careful not to nip any live skin as this may cause bleeding or infection. You can tell that the skin is dead and safe to remove if it is white in colour.
The next step is to remove any dead skin around the cuticle area. You can use cuticle nippers to clean up the area, but be careful not to overcut the cuticle and cause damage to your skin.
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Pushing back cuticles
Pushing back your cuticles is an important step in nail care. Cuticles act as a protective barrier for your nails, preventing infections. Overgrown cuticles can make your nails appear shorter and may impede their growth. By pushing back your cuticles, you are clearing away dead skin cells, allowing nail products to seal more easily.
Before pushing back your cuticles, you should prepare your nails to prevent any pain or damage. First, remove any existing nail polish with a non-acetone nail polish remover to ensure there is no oily residue, which can make the process slippery. Then, soak your nails in warm soapy water for about five to ten minutes to soften the cuticles. You can add a few drops of moisturising soap to promote softening. Alternatively, you can put avocado oil or cuticle oil on your cuticles and leave it for two to three minutes.
After soaking, gently push back the cuticles in circular motions using a specialised cuticle pusher or a wooden orange stick. Avoid sharp or forceful movements, as this can cause injury to the delicate skin around your nails. You can also push back your cuticles with a soft cloth, a cotton swab, or even your fingers, but a cleaner look can be achieved with an orange stick. If you have sensitive skin, wrap the tip of the orange stick in cotton before use.
Once you have pushed back your cuticles, it is vital to rehydrate your nails with nail oil, a thick, rich skin cream, or a cuticle balm. This will prevent your cuticles from cracking and bleeding.
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Removing dead skin
Soften the Skin
Start by softening the skin around your nails. Soak your hands in warm water for a few minutes, which will help to hydrate and soften the skin, making it easier to remove any dead skin. You can also apply a thick moisturiser or cuticle oil to the area and let it sit for a few minutes to further enhance the softening effect.
Push Back Cuticles
Using a wooden or metal cuticle pusher, gently push back your cuticles. An orange stick, a pointed manicuring stick, can also be used for this purpose. Be careful not to push too hard or too far back, as this can damage the cuticle and nail bed. Soak metal cuticle pushers in isopropyl alcohol before and after use to ensure sanitation.
Remove Dead Skin
With manicure nippers or manicure scissors, carefully cut away any loose, soft, and translucent dead skin around your nails. Ensure that you only remove the dead skin that has grown out over your nail and avoid cutting the skin that surrounds and protects your nail, which is your upper cuticle. Your cuticles act as a barrier against germs and bacteria, so leaving them intact helps prevent infections.
Moisturise and Protect
After removing the dead skin, it is important to moisturise the area to promote healthy skin and nails. Apply a generous amount of cuticle oil or petroleum jelly to your cuticles and the surrounding skin. This will help to hydrate and protect the area, reducing the risk of dryness and irritation.
Sanitise and Degrease
Before applying gel polish, sanitise your nails by wiping them with a lint-free nail wipe soaked in a cleaning solution. This step helps remove any remaining dust or dirt and ensures that your nails are free of oils and moisture, creating the best base for the gel polish to adhere to.
Remember, it is important to be gentle and careful throughout the entire process to avoid any damage or injury to your nails and skin. By following these steps, you will effectively remove dead skin and prepare your nails for a gel manicure.
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Buffing nails
Buffing your nails is an important step in achieving a perfect finish. It helps smooth out ridges and leaves your nails with a glossy and healthy look. However, it should be done with care to avoid overdoing it and causing damage to your nails. It is recommended to stick to buffing your nails around once a month.
When buffing your nails, it is important to use the correct tools and techniques. You can use a nail buffer block, which typically has four sides: file, buff, polish, and shine. If you haven't filed your nails already, use the most coarse side of the nail buffer block to file the tops and sides of your nails to your desired length and shape. Remember to always file in one direction to avoid damaging your nails.
After filing, you can move on to the buffing step. Hold the buffing side of the buffer block parallel to your nail and stroke it across each nail in an X shape. Avoid buffing side-to-side as this can create heat and cause damage to your nails. You want to slightly roughen the surface of your nails to help the gel adhere better. Make sure to buff the free edge, or the top end of your nail, as well.
In addition to smoothing out ridges, buffing also helps remove any leftover polish or flakes that may be stuck to the nail plate. This is important because any residue can prevent the gel from looking smooth when applied. It is recommended to use light pressure when buffing to avoid thinning your nails.
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Cleansing nails
Cleansing your nails is a crucial step in the gel manicure process. It helps remove any oils, dust, or dirt that may prevent the gel from adhering properly and lasting as long as possible.
There are several ways to cleanse your nails. One way is to use a product like Prep & Wipe solution with a lint-free wipe. Soak the wipe and then wipe it over your entire nail surface, making sure to clean the entire nail. You can also use ready-made cleansing wipes, such as Mylee’s Prep & Shine Wipes, which are pre-soaked with the solution. Using a lint-free wipe is preferable to a cotton pad as there will be no lint or fluff left around the nail when it comes to painting.
Alternatively, you can use alcohol or a nail cleanser to remove residue. You can also use nail prep pads like Le Mini Macaron's Nail Cleanser Pads and Butter London's Nail Scrubbers.
It's important to be careful if you've applied cuticle remover or washed your hands with soap and water before applying gel polish, as this can leave residual oils on the nail plate. You should also be mindful of getting all the skin off the edge of the nail bed – even the tiniest flake of skin can cause your gel to start lifting.
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Frequently asked questions
Shaping your nails is the first step. You can use a nail clipper to trim your nails to the desired length before using a nail file to achieve a shape that suits you.
Push back your cuticles and remove any dead skin. Be careful not to nip any live skin.
You can use a cuticle remover to soften the dead skin and then gently push it back using a cuticle pusher. You can also use cuticle nippers to clean up the area.
Buff your nails with a nail buffer.
Cleanse and dehydrate your nails to remove any dirt and oil. You can use a prep and wipe solution on a lint-free wipe and wipe it over your entire nail surface.
