I don't know about you, but I LOVE getting my nails done. It's 1 hour of ME time every 2-3 weeks. I usually always just get the gel polish, and it lasts me about 3 weeks until I go back and have to get a new color because the old one is grown out and sometimes they get chipped. On average, a gel mani costs between $20.00-$25.00 and I would leave a $5.00 tip. So this is $25-$30 every 2-3 weeks I would spend on my nails, and after a while this really starts to add up. Let's do some math. There's 52 weeks in a year, if I get my nails done for $25.00 (including tip) every 3 weeks, that is 52/3= 17 nail appointments a year. 17x25= 425... that means I am spending $425 a year just in my nails!!
Now, I know in the scheme of things, is $425 really all that ridiculous for a YEARS worth of nail appointments and pampering? No, I guess not. However, for young women, maybe high schoolers, college students, recent grads, or maybe someone who just doesn't want to spend over $400 just in nail polish a year, that is a pretty good chunk of money. Me, as a recent grad, I can tell you I am NOT trying to rack up $400 dollars just in nail appointments, and so I came up with this solution.... Hm, why can't do I do this myself?
I've started doing my own gel polish, I can touch up any chips that happen so easily because I have the whole kit, I can do it whenever I have the time, no lines, no charge, no tips, and yeah, it's certainly not the same as going to the salon and getting pampered, but saving $400 a year is worth it to me. For $42.99, I started my own little gel nail salon in my bedroom, and now I do all of my own gel polish and I'm loving it.
Here is the kit that I have, and for only $42.99 (the price of only 2 nail visits), this is everything you get... it's a steal.
It comes with everything from the UV lamp, the top and base coat, 4 different colors of gel polish, nail file, nail buffer, cuticle revitalizer, metallic tape, nail stickers, "swarovski" crystals, gel polish remover, and more. It's the BOMB, seriously.
Here's a more up-close look at all of the tools that come with the Gellen Nail Kit!
Basically this is how it goes, first I buff my nails out and make sure that there isn't any residue or oils on my nails to help the polish stay as long as it can. I apply a layer of the base coat, and put it under the UV lamp for 90 seconds. I then start to apply the color polish I want. I start with one coat, put my hand under the lamp for 90 seconds. I repeat that step until the color is as dark or vibrant as I want it, and then I finish by adding a top coat and then placing it under the lamp, again for 90 seconds. I then take a cotton ball, dip it in rubbing alcohol, and wipe my nails with it to remove any residue from the gel polish and I'm ready to go! It is so simple, and saves me a ton of money.
My biggest tip: Make sure not to get the gel polish on your actual fingers, because the polish hardens and you can't just pick it off or use nail polish remover! It'll take a few tries until you get good and comfortable with it, but it is worth it if you want to save some money on nails!
Also, this kit comes with 4 different shades of pink, but since the kit comes with the top and base coat, and the UV lamp, you can get different color gel polishes right off of amazon fairly cheap!
Hope this helps in your beauty routine, and to save a few extra bucks throughout the year!
xoxo,
Rachel
***Disclaimer: Now, NO, it isn't the same quality as going to the nail salon and having them done for you with professional equipment and skills, however, do I think that this kit works great for the purpose of having clean and polished nails without having them chip after 3 days? Yes! I love this kit, and have saved a significant amount of money! This is NOT sponsored, I just love this stuff :)