I presently have gel french tips and I love them. Nice and glossy as I like them. My toes were black for Halloween but now they are naked. I will probably just put clear on them unless I get the urge and head to the store. Any color suggestions?

Quote from: enigma on November 04, 2013, 12:58:07 PM
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Lately I've switched to Gels, love them. Got a great kit as Costco for $48, included 4 colors, LED light kit, bonder, and topcoat.

-Sydney
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Quote from: angiegurl on November 05, 2013, 10:12:37 AM

I presently have gel french tips and I love them. Nice and glossy as I like them. My toes were black for Halloween but now they are naked. I will probably just put clear on them unless I get the urge and head to the store. Any color suggestions?

So on the topic of Gel nails.
I've been looking around at a few home kits but a friend was telling me not to waste my $ on it, that after the different polishes and hassle I'd be better off just getting them done a few times a year for special occasions. any truth to this? or am I able to save?
Also I've seen some salons have LED lamps for curing do home models come this way? I'm a bit concerned about harsh chemicals and the UV issues.

even in male mode i add a little pink to clear
gives my nails a shade that looks natural.
but i can see the difference

Quote from: Mercedés on November 05, 2013, 11:33:14 PM
So on the topic of Gel nails.
I've been looking around at a few home kits but a friend was telling me not to waste my $ on it, that after the different polishes and hassle I'd be better off just getting them done a few times a year for special occasions. any truth to this? or am I able to save?
Also I've seen some salons have LED lamps for curing do home models come this way? I'm a bit concerned about harsh chemicals and the UV issues.

The nail kit I purchased at Costco was nailLuv and was $48 on sale at the time. I've been very happy with it and have added lots of colors from other brands of gels. (They are also available at Nordtroms and Macy's.) My only complaint about Gels is there is a lot less selection of color available, but I'm sure that will change with time. The LED curing lamp works great, it only takes about 45 seconds to cure each layer (you need at least 4 layers, base, color, usually another color, and the top). No smudging or fuss.

I have found that regular polish topped with a UV cure Top-Coat gives 90% of the durability and life of a full gel polish system and is easier on the hands to remove.

I have also tried the home kit from Gelish, works fine but the tiny LED cure light is so slow.......zzzzz......zzzzzz.....
I ended up getting bigger LED lamp.

I have not tried the Costco one.

If you are hard on your nail polish or tend to wear the same color until it chips or wears at the tips then Gel-polish will last the longest. The best Gel polishes are a three step system, bottom/bonder coat, color coat, top coat, curing each layer with UV light.

Removing the Gel polish system is a bit harder on the hands, as it takes an long acetone soak to remove them.

Removing the UV top coat is just a little more work that removing regular nail polish. Use a nail file to scratch up the top coat before using the polish remover (if you file most of the top coat down to the regular polish layer they remove easily.

I haven't seen convincing information on the safety of the UV lights (good or bad). If you are concerned, either use gloves that don't have the fingertips covered or use a a full spectrum sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection (keep sunscreen off of your nail and cuticle).

Best Wishes
-Cindi

I'm a lot like Emily, where I'll tend to go more for the red or pink colors.  Nice color on your toes Willow!  I've also tried the press-on nails once or twice, but nothing beats coloring your own nails!  And I do like polishing my finger nails with a clear coat, because I too like the way it glistens when the light hits it! 

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 10, 2013, 08:52:01 AMNice color on your toes Willow! 

Aww thanks
GO GREEN! *waits for Shaina to reply with GO WHITE!*
Unfortunately my shower yesterday started peeling the polish off. Time to do it again soon. Maybe I'll choose blue, or purple. But I really like this green too. Descisions, decisions /femaleproblems

I tried OPI's a Million Sparkles yesterday. It's OK but not worth $8. Kind of a purple/blue with lots of sparkles mixed in. Guess greens, purples & reds in solid shades are more of my colors

black on the fingers, black on the toes

loving it!

I wear red all the time need to expand

Hey Willow, if I were you, I'd put a fresh coat on every second week just to keep it looking fresh.

You're my kind of girl Gwynne. I can't see having a diffrent color on my fingers from my toes.

I've never tried the sparkle Francis Ann, but one of these days I might try it. Yikes! At $8 I'll be using it very sparingly!

Right now I have both my fingers and toes painted blue. But they are different shades. My fingers and toes were black for a while, and then I did my toes metallic blue. My fingers were purple with blue glitter on top. Then I did my nails bubble gum pink glitter for halloween.  Now they are teal. next they will be orange. The toes are still blue, but I might do them orange too.

(already chipping off)


And when the toes were black

Well said Mercedes hun I couldn't agree more.

Emily.T xx

I have thought about getting a good kit from ebay. But I have not decided. The lady that does my nails says her customers prefer the uv over led because the led gets to hot to fast from the chemical reaction of the curing process. I do need to go in next week for a fil. I am paying attention to what is done because I think I can do it myself. I do it admit that it is much easier to just go to the salon and 30-45 mins it is done. No fuss no muss.... I guess I have another decision to make, I hate when this happens.... 

Quote from: RavenMoon on November 11, 2013, 02:52:12 AM
Right now I have both my fingers and toes painted blue. But they are different shades. My fingers and toes were black for a while, and then I did my toes metallic blue. My fingers were purple with blue glitter on top. Then I did my nails bubble gum pink glitter for halloween.  Now they are teal. next they will be orange. The toes are still blue, but I might do them orange too.

(already chipping off)


And when the toe were black

Cool girlfriend. You have nice hands & toe nails. Ever try purple?? It's such a pleasant color. OPI is great but expensive. My nails are always painted, toes purple for weeks now, too much work to change them.

Wish I knew how to post pics here. I have a 100% female Facebook site that I post lots of pics. Most all women love nice nails, I sure do.

Have fun, be cool, Francis

Quote from: RavenMoon on November 11, 2013, 02:52:12 AM
Right now I have both my fingers and toes painted blue. But they are different shades. My fingers and toes were black for a while, and then I did my toes metallic blue. My fingers were purple with blue glitter on top. Then I did my nails bubble gum pink glitter for halloween.  Now they are teal. next they will be orange. The toes are still blue, but I might do them orange too.

(already chipping off)


And when the toe were black

Hey RavenMoon, I really like that blue color nail polish. What's the brand and exact color of it? I may buy some for myself. It's got a nice shine to it.  Never been to crazy about black. Kind of reminds me of the gothic generation.

Quote from: FrancisAnn on November 11, 2013, 10:01:28 AM
Cool girlfriend. You have nice hands & toe nails. Ever try purple?? It's such a pleasant color. OPI is great but expensive. My nails are always painted, toes purple for weeks now, too much work to change them.

Wish I knew how to post pics here. I have a 100% female Facebook site that I post lots of pics. Most all women love nice nails, I sure do.

Have fun, be cool, Francis

Thanks! I have l pretty long fingers, but wide hands from playing bass and guitar since I was a tween. I have Flintstones feet, and unfortunately my daughter inherited them instead of her mom's dainty feet and hands. but at least I only take a woman's size 10 shoe.  Not too bad. (I'm very short)

Quote from: Gina Taylor on November 11, 2013, 11:05:19 AM
Hey RavenMoon, I really like that blue color nail polish. What's the brand and exact color of it? I may buy some for myself. It's got a nice shine to it.  Never been to crazy about black. Kind of reminds me of the gothic generation.

It's Wet n Wild Fastdry. The color is "Teal or No Teal." Don't you just love the names? lol I think I bought it in a supermarket. Nothing fancy. Probably cost $1. it matches my patch of blue hair.

It covers well. I gave it two or three costs and it's been on since last Saturday.

I started with black because I'm not presenting as female yet, but dress very androgynously. I'm a musician so my hair is shoulder length too. I am into the goth thing a bit and wear lots of black. So black nails didn't seem to attract as much attention as brighter colors.

I have some purple I'm going to do soon. Blue and purple are my favorite colors. 

RavenMoon, Cool again, I wear a size 10, you have nicer hands & longer fingers than I do. All I can do is let my nails grow. I'm 3 months HRT & live 90% fulltime as a woman. I'm ready to go fulltime as soon as I can finish electrolysis of my remaining facial hair. OPI & Revlon are nice but expensive & really hard to remove. I've just started Hard as Nails brand. It is good polish, in lots of shades & so much easier to remove.

Good to share, have fun GF.

Thanks FrancisAnn! I'm not crazy about my hands. I have to keep my nails short because I play guitar, but I always liked short nails on girls anyway.

You are lucky! I'm pre everything. I can't wait to start HRT and have my facial hair removed. I swear I wish I could snap my fingers and be done with the whole thing!

But I waited this long, so a little longer won't kill me. I hope.