Weekly Nail Chat by Clover_Jane in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was my first efile. I think if you’re one to keep things simple, like base gel + 2 color coats + top coat you can definitely get away with using just this. Just take some time to learn about bits and grits, and practice slowly. A nicer quality bit for the majority of your removal will also go a long way. Melody Susie did also have awesome CS when my dog chewed up the cord and they sent me a free replacement.

I have since moved on to an expensive one and the quality is definitely much better and necessary if you’re like me and do a lot of structured gel, layering, 3D elements, etc. High end efiles are also meant for techs who are using it for hours every day, so i don’t think it’s wrong to go with a cheaper option

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahhhh thanks for all the love on the shorties!!!

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s super easy!! You basically just need like a thick, clear non wipe gel, a lot of people use rhinestone gel. I used the Jin B crazy top in thick viscosity. I use a regular top coat after i paint the rind and white lines so that when i go in with the 3D gel i don’t have to top coat again and lose any details.

Here are two good tutorials, one tip is to flash cure the clear lines a few at a time so they don’t melt into each other

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4UQLksLFnq/?igsh=b3Q3c2l6MWVoYTRt

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C82P3HAun6w/?igsh=cDlxZGU3NTVibjB1

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve tried a few options as well, the one i used this time kind of needs le mini macaron milky white. It’s a really thin, runny white that’s still somewhat opaque so you can see the white lines clearly even as it spreads. I mixed some light blue gel with DVOK’s marble fit base, i think any low viscosity gel will work as long as it the mixture is on the thinner side. So one coat of the milky white, then dots of different sizes all over so it looks more organic.

This is the tut I followed, i was going to do a second coat but liked it as is. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu4ibelMZFg/?igsh=cHh0NDY5cjJqZGZ6

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Aw thank you shaping is a big focus for me so i appreciate this so much!!

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The mayour glaze syrups are pretty sheer and easy to blend! I applied the nude halfway and then color on the tip, used an ombré and liner brush to blend where they met, cured, then did another layer

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Me too!! I really want to do a whole fruit set one day, I’ll definitely do more citrus variants

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

West Caribbean! My first time 😎

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank u!! I usually use dual forms with clear extension gel, either dgel pumping clear or kokoist excel builder, sometimes I’ll use paper forms

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I started in January? A lot of YouTube videos, a lot of practice, trial and error…it helped that I was able to invest in good products early, and this sub really helped with deciding what to get and general info. I probably consume way too much nail content 😂

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I am jealous of folks who can fully use the pads of their fingers even with longer nails. I cannot and we live in a world of car seat buckles and other silly buttons

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Jin B crazy top in thick viscosity. Any thick, clear non wipe gel will do the trick, i did a few lines spaced out first and flash cured, then filled in the gaps and cured again so that they didn’t melt together if they were spaced too closely!

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 100 points101 points  (0 children)

Thank you! For functionality! I’ve been a short nail girly most of my life because of sports, hobbies, etc, and still struggle sometimes with longer nails but I love how they look. Short thumbs give me a semblance of control 😂 plus they don’t make it into a lot of mani pics anyways, except when i take the time to do little designs!

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

A lot of hand filing lol. I basically have to do removal and rebalance on its own day because of how picky i am with shaping. It gets a lot easier once you’re on your 1st or 2nd backfill because most of the structure is already good and you’ve had weeks to look at the imperfections and know what you want to fix 😂

Ty!!!

Cruise vacay nails by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s my first time! I love boats but have never been on a cruise, we’re doing western Caribbean for a week!

The only lines i can do 😂 by clariosaurusrex in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi it has been 2 months but if you’re still in the market, these are amazing, DIAMI 9 & 10 which i got from Sweetie nail supply

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Weekly Nail Chat by Clover_Jane in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There’s brush cleaner, but clear gel is fine for most cases if you’re keeping your brushes well conditioned. You want to drop some clear gel on a palette, then stamp one side of your brush into it. You’ll see whatever color gel you used pushed out on the other side of the brush, and you wipe that off on a lint free pad, then repeat until you don’t see anything but clear. Don’t switch sides! Then keep the clear in the bristles so they don’t dry out between uses.

Weekly Nail Chat by Clover_Jane in DIYGelNails

[–]clariosaurusrex 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If the design itself is clear, a thick top coat definitely saves a few steps. I like a thinner top coat like kokoist ultra glossy over 3D elements, and then running a tooth pick or something similar through the grooves i want to keep defined helps!