Caleb Foster
Soft gel nail tips are a quick and easy way to create natural-looking nail extensions that are lightweight, flexible, and durable, offering a convenient and stylish solution for achieving flawless nails at home. Before applying soft gel nail tips, it is important to prep your nails properly to help the extensions stick on more effectively and last longer. This includes sanitizing your hands and nails, pushing back your cuticles, shaping your nails, removing any shine, and cleansing your nails to ensure they are spotless and free of any old polish or oils.
How to prep nails for soft gel tips
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sanitize hands and nails | Use a nail sanitiser spray or soak hands in warm water |
| Push back cuticles | Use a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick to push back cuticles |
| Remove shine | Use a 100/180 or 200/280 buffer block or a fine nail file |
| Clean nails | Use a lint-free wipe and alcohol or a nail cleanser |
| Remove dust | Use a lint-free wipe |
| Apply nail dehydrator | Use a dehydrator/pH-balanced solution |
| Apply primer | Use a primer gel or acid-free primer |
| Apply adhesive | Use a gel base coat or soft gel tip adhesive |
| Apply soft gel tips | Use a rolling motion to apply soft gel tips to nails, ensuring a close fit and maintaining pressure to create a seal |
| Cure nails | Use an LED/UV lamp to cure nails for 60 seconds |
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What You'll Learn
Sanitize your hands and nails
Sanitation is a crucial step in the process of preparing your nails for soft gel tips. It ensures that your hands and nails are clean and free of any dirt, oil, or bacteria that could interfere with the adhesion of the gel tips. Here is a detailed guide on sanitizing your hands and nails properly:
Firstly, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove any visible dirt or grime. Pay special attention to your nails and cuticle areas, as these areas can harbour bacteria and dead skin cells. You can also use a soft-bristled nail brush to gently scrub your nails and ensure they are clean.
Next, dry your hands and nails completely. Moisture can affect the adhesion of the gel tips, so it is important to ensure that your hands and nails are fully dry before proceeding. Use a clean towel to pat your hands and nails dry. If needed, allow some extra time for your nails to air-dry fully.
Now, it's time to sanitize your nails. Use a nail sanitiser spray or a similar product specifically designed for nail sanitation. You can find these products at beauty supply stores or online. Spray a generous amount of the sanitiser onto your nails and cuticles, and use a clean cotton pad or ball to wipe each nail and ensure thorough sanitisation.
After sanitising, gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher. This will help expose more of your natural nail, providing a better surface for the gel tips to adhere to. Be careful not to be too aggressive with the cuticle pushing, as this can cause pain and damage to your nails. Simply apply gentle pressure to push back the cuticles.
Finally, clean the nail plate by wiping away any excess cuticle or dead skin cells that may be present. Use a clean, dry cotton pad or a soft cloth to gently wipe each nail, ensuring that the nail plate is free of any debris. This step ensures that your nails are completely clean and ready for the next steps in the soft gel tip application process.
By following these steps, you will effectively sanitise your hands and nails, creating a clean canvas for your soft gel tips and promoting better adhesion and longevity for your nail enhancements.
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Push back cuticles
Pushing back your cuticles is an important step in achieving healthy and beautiful nails. Cuticles act as a protective barrier for your nails, preventing infections and other common nail problems like hangnails. By pushing back your cuticles, you expose more of your natural nail, allowing gel nails to adhere better and last longer. Here is a step-by-step guide to properly pushing back your cuticles:
Soften Your Cuticles: Start by removing any existing nail polish with an acetone-free nail polish remover. Then, soak your nails in warm soapy water for about 5 to 10 minutes. You can also add moisturising soap, jojoba oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil to the water for extra hydration. This step softens your cuticles, making them easier to push back and less prone to tearing.
Choose Your Tools: Select a suitable tool for pushing back your cuticles. The most common options are an orange stick (also called an orangewood stick or cuticle stick) made of soft wood, or a cuticle pusher, which comes in metal or wood varieties. If you have sensitive skin, wrap the tip of the orange stick in cotton for a gentler experience.
Moisturise: After pushing back your cuticles, it is crucial to rehydrate your nails and cuticles. Apply a generous amount of cuticle oil, such as coconut oil, or a special cuticle remover to your nails and cuticles. You can also use a rich hand cream or lotion. Massage it well into the skin surrounding the nail plate to maintain suppleness and prevent cracking.
Remember, cuticle maintenance is an important step in nail care. By properly pushing back your cuticles, you can enhance the health and appearance of your nails while also reducing the risk of infections and other nail issues.
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Remove shine
To prep your nails for soft gel tips, you'll need to remove any shine from your natural nails. This is an important step because it helps the gel adhere better to your nails. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:
Start by cleaning your natural nails with a nail file to remove any existing polish or shine. You can use a regular nail file or a fine nail file, depending on your preference. Gently buff your nails until they look matte and feel slightly rough. Be careful not to over-buff, as this can thin your nails and cause damage. If you have very thin or weak nails, you may want to use a finer-grit buffer to be more gentle.
Once you've buffed your nails, wipe them with a lint-free pad and alcohol to ensure a clean and oil-free surface. This step is crucial because any remaining oil or residue can interfere with the adhesion of the gel tips. Make sure your nails are completely dry before moving on to the next step.
After buffing and cleaning, you'll need to shape your nails. Use a nail file or a buffer to shape your nails into your desired shape. Common shapes include square, rounded, oval, and almond. Shaping your nails will help the soft gel tips adhere better and look more natural.
Next, you'll want to smooth out the nail surface. Use a buffer or a fine-grit nail file to gently smooth and refine the nail shape. This step helps create an even surface for the gel tips to adhere to. Make sure to remove any dust created during the filing process by brushing or wiping your nails with a soft cloth.
Now, your natural nails should be ready for the application of soft gel tips. Remember, it's important to follow the instructions specific to the brand of soft gel tips you are using. Additionally, you can refer to nail care guides or seek advice from a professional manicurist for further guidance on nail preparation and soft gel tip application.
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Cleanse nails
Before applying soft gel tips, it is important to thoroughly cleanse your nails to ensure that the gel adheres properly. Start by gently pushing back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher. If you have overgrown cuticles, you can soften them by soaking your hands in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes before pushing them back. Exposing as much of your natural nail as possible will help the gel nails last longer.
Next, trim your nails to the desired length with a pair of nail clippers. You can then shape them with a nail file, such as a 240/240 thin wooden file, and smooth out the nail shape with a buffer. This will also help to gently remove any shine from your nails. It is important to ensure that your nails are spotless and free of any old polish, as this will help the adhesive tabs stick securely.
Once your nails are shaped, you can clean away any dust on the nail surface using a nail cleanser. Allow your nails to dry completely before moving on to the next step. It is important to note that you should avoid applying any cuticle oil at this stage, as this can prevent the polish from sticking properly.
After cleansing and drying your nails, you can move on to finding nail tips that fit your nails correctly. It is important to ensure that the nail tips cover both sides of each nail for a secure fit.
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Apply primer
After sanitising your hands and nails, pushing back your cuticles, and shaping your nails, it's time to apply the primer. Primer helps the gel adhere to your nails and ensures the manicure will last longer.
First, apply a thin coat of a nail dehydrator to your nails. Once this is dry, apply a thin coat of an acid-free primer to your entire nail. You can also use a pH-balanced solution as a dehydrator. Allow the primer to dry.
Next, apply a thin layer of "bond" to all your nails. Cure your nails in an LED lamp for 60 seconds or 2 minutes under a UV lamp. You can also cure your nails for 15-20 seconds with a Spectra Flash Cure UV/LED Lamp.
After this, apply a thin coat of primer to the inside of the nail tips, using the brush to scrub the product into the tip. You can also apply primer to the underside of the soft gel tip that will be in contact with your natural nails.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by sanitising your hands and nails. Then, push back your cuticles with a cuticle pusher and trim your nails to the desired length. Next, clean your nails with a lint-free wipe and alcohol to ensure they are spotless and free of any oils.
The next step is to push back your cuticles. You can do this by soaking your hands in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften your cuticles. Then, gently push back the thin layer of cuticle skin with a cuticle pusher.
You can remove the shine from your nails by using a nail file or a buffer block. This will help the colour polish or gel topcoat stick better.
A nail dehydrator helps to remove any remaining moisture from your nails, ensuring that the soft gel tips will adhere properly.
Soft gel tips are a type of nail extension that is applied to the entire surface of the natural nail, whereas regular nail tips only attach to the free edges of the nails. Soft gel tips are also more flexible and durable, offering a convenient and natural-looking solution.
