I have been teaching myself to do Gel nail manicures and I gotta tell ya it is kind of fun. I have a UV curing lamp and i have been using IBD hard gels. Not the soak off kind. I still have problems with lifting after about a week a week or so but that is my problem with the application. I have also been experimenting with different polishes and colors. Thus far I prefer Opi polish for the quality and depth of color. I have tried the cheaper polishes and they just don't seem to cut it for me. I seem to prefer deeper purples, reds and pinks or shades there of. I have also discovered a product from Orly which is a top coat that speeds up drying times. I plan to move on to Gel colors in the future but I like trying different colors and regular polish is more convenient.
*** My dislaimer - I am not affiliated with any of these products nor am I trying to sell them. I am simply passing on information.