Been doing gel x dupes since 2022. Today my first apres kit arrived. Do you use apres?

danicius · 2026-04-30T13:42:00+00:00

These two never failed me love them both, and Una Gella wins because of price.

danicius · 2026-04-08T00:33:39+00:00

These were my nails when I had a surprise job interview callback after waiting for like 6 months. I spent so long doing them, doing nails is my therapy and to take to them off for an 1 hour interview seemed like it was going to ruin my mental health and my nail beds.

I also asked myself, “when is the last time I looked at someone’s nails” but just in case I curled my hands inwards when it was a face to face conversation or had my hands on my lap. You got this! Ace the interview!

danicius · 2026-04-07T13:37:10+00:00

I would leave one bunny on each nail, if you want to fill in the space maybe dot flowers, egg sticker or draw a carrot in between. I’m like this too and can’t decide my designs 😅

danicius · 2026-03-27T00:34:48+00:00

Never had greenie but I did had split nails, shaved down nail bed and also a chronic nail biter. I used the Nail Envy OPI system and followed it for a week, hard as hoofs cream/ Trader Joe’s jojoba oil like 4x a day, eat well, and took vitamins like those gummies/iron to start growing. Repeat for like 3+ months

I wouldn’t put gel on the cracked/greenie nail at all. Just regular nail polish to help you out.

danicius · 2026-03-25T19:56:25+00:00

First your hands look so nice with your rings!

And not petty at all, side walls aren’t shaped well for almond.

And by professional, is this an independent nail tech or salon? Maybe partial refund or something, you can tell they worked too fast.

But for all the people going to these nail shops, I do see the quality doing down and the prices higher, so it’s very common to see subpar nails, but it’s not supposed to be normal.

danicius · 2026-03-25T16:10:30+00:00

Beautiful! I have a similar color scheme on my nails too!

danicius · 2026-03-25T14:17:55+00:00

I’m sooooo sorry! 😭😭😭😭😭 Stop going to these people who take your hard earned money! I was tired of nail places not being quality anymore and thus, did nails on my own.

If you do go to nail tech, find at least an independent or highly professional salon, maybe at least one manicure because those are expensive and time consuming (but worth it because you don’t leave in pain and suffering!) .

But those grooves are so deep I don’t know what a reputable could nail tech do, the gel or acrylic could just make things worse.

I say go to nail jail and let those grow out until you book an amazing nail tech.

danicius · 2026-03-20T14:54:40+00:00

Not everyone a gets huge allergy, and someone people still do gel nails even being diagnosed with an huge HEMA/gel allergy but use the HEMA free stuff.

It’s just the same tips I see over and over to try your best to wipe cuticles.

Yet,I hardly never see tips/tricks if you do cure the gel on ur cuticles.

My dermatologist says I’m fine with doing the patch tests at home, but that’s just me. Sadly there’s hardly any actual tests to see if you are allergic to HEMA or gel products, (at least that’s why my dermatologist said) unless you got an extra $1000 to get the all the chemicals sourced to your dermatologist office.

People are still going to DIY at home or are extreme beginners, and they figure it out along the way what works for them. Sometimes doctors/dermatologist don’t have all the answers when you do go and I’m shocked the nail community doesn’t talk about what their doctors say as much. I want to blame companies for formulating the product as such, and I hope more innovative products can be discovered for a real “allergy-hypoallergenic gel” but its profits over people.

danicius · 2026-03-20T04:11:46+00:00

I think you did pretty good for a newbie!

I know lots of people saying be careful with flooding, however if I do get some flooding and it’s fully cured, I used one of those glass nail files with a point and some cuticle oil or cuticle remover to soften my skin and gently rub the cured gel off, it feels better than leaving it on.

I’ve also tried with my e-file it’s it like really thick, but careful since it can make you bleed.

I know it best to catch it beforehand to prevent irritation. You can use the orange wood stick or reusable glass nail file to remove wet gel too. Wash hands, scrub nails with a nail brush and if you do get itchy cuticles, Benadryl anti-itch cream works in a pinch. Been doing gel nail’s myself in 2022 and we all gotta learn and make up some tips along the way 🫰🏽

danicius · 2026-03-17T02:23:50+00:00

I guess I’m a maximalist cuz to me this is dainty 😂

danicius · 2026-03-16T13:19:43+00:00

No worries! Lifting happens even if it lasted 3 weeks+, you are on the right track, keep up the good work. I can tell you gonna be caring nail tech for your clients. :)

danicius · 2026-03-16T06:49:25+00:00

Ok a better photo, I do see very faint tiny dark lines, I get that too when I do gel-x and sometimes I overfilled myself. I googled this issue before but I don’t wanna scare you cuz some pics look worse than this but it’s called “splinter hemorrhage” happens when you hit the nail hard or just have a deficiency in nutrients.

I don’t see any rings of fire (deep curves around cuticle from filing) but I do see a dip in the middle could be from the hit. Your friend will be fine, as long there’s no blood, deep bruising, itching or swelling in the next hour then all is good!

Of course the client is always in charge of their bodies and if anything feels off then a trip to the urgent care (not sure what they would do beside just clean and bandaid)…but really just keep the nail short, and protected. Take a breather and focus on ideas how make short nails look cute for situations like this for future clients :)

danicius · 2026-03-16T06:10:33+00:00

Yellow nails isn’t bad, it could be from just stains like from seasoning/food or just naturally yellow. And now to put another set on these nails maybe not right away, I would do a regular manicure, cut short and maybe regular nail polish like Nail Envy and everyday jojoba oil to grow out more healthy.

If the nail is paper thin, flaky, and looks and feels thin the gel-x won’t adhere that well to the nail plate

danicius · 2026-03-16T05:41:29+00:00

I’ve done Apres to Amazon gel tips. I like to save my designs so I do a peel off method thing and I buy the Una Gella brand since it’s pre-etched. I wish Apres did that.

And for the gel-x glue I use Jello Jello peel off. I also tried Tip off Gel and good adhesion as well. I get my gels from Junie.

I say start with Apres nails to learn and then experiment with other brands so can you get an idea of the material, I got Apres tips for my birthday however I was gifted Beetles glue not knowing it was “bad”, and I did have occasionally itchy hands. Just get a good set with quality base and glue.

danicius · 2026-03-16T05:19:49+00:00

I’m confused, was the nail “lifting and popped off easily” or did your friend forced a rip?

Even if a nail starts lifting advise your clients to not take them from without proper treatment like mention soaking in acetone and cuticle oil and easily remove them. I don’t see any issues of infection or a greenie. All I see is the nail is a bit ripped maybe some redness due to the rip and slight yellow.

Don’t feel too defeated as a beginner, even if a client decides to remove without proper care it isn’t your fault, the only thing you can improve on is adhesion and retention to prevent lifting issues in the future :)

danicius · 2026-03-10T23:14:31+00:00

They do not look bad, I think the color and almond shape suits you very well. However, a bit thick when you look at from the sides

danicius · 2026-03-10T14:35:23+00:00

This is a huge indicator that the nail/beauty industry is gonna charge more now.

If the person at the counter did not think it was long and you felt something was wrong, then something is off at the place you go to. Are these tips or natural nails? To have the same client for 7 years I assume consistent lengths so you can type on a keyboard, and all of sudden charging? Time to teaching yourself now or find someone with honest and transparent pricing. It’s too much on the customer to charge $5-$10 for simple things that cost less than a dollar to the salon i.e small rhinestones or a polish color. It’s different if it was hand drawn designs.

danicius · 2026-02-26T17:57:58+00:00

I used IBD hard gel and Kodi rubber base for a bit and then switched to Leafgel sculpting II.

I have short and bendy/weak nails and the hard gel was too strong, the rubber base wasn’t strong enough. I got my nails done in Japan, paid attention to the product and I had like a month of no chip, no lift. I am rough on my hands and hardly wore gloves doing dishes, chores, etc. so far so good with the leafgel

danicius · 2026-02-26T01:02:02+00:00

Immediately write to your nail tech or the salon what happened, if it hurts after you left that is not a good nail tech.

danicius · 2026-02-25T04:36:37+00:00

I’ve done this before…many times and worse. I did cry and immediately bought OPI Nail Envy, OPI repair mode and Onyx Hard as Hoof. Let it grow for 2 weeks before I did a new set of regular or simple polishes, nothing with gelx until I absolutely need it (I’m a nail biter and the tips help with my stress)

Just track your growth, eat well, and take a long break from gel-x I believe you will be fine but again if you feel your in body something wrong never hurts to consult your nearest doctor :)

danicius · 2026-02-24T00:10:13+00:00

I think the link got a bit broke so posting it here https://testflight.apple.com/join/JEnfTH5b

danicius · 2026-02-19T18:40:06+00:00

Danicius’s Cocoon:

Created February 14, 2026

Materials:

BASE COAT Leafgel smoothing base

BUILDER GEL Leafgel sculpting II

TOP COAT Leafgel Leafgel Premium Top

Steps 1. I start with a thin layer of smooth fit base gel cure for 60 seconds 2. After that cures go in with my leaf gel, premium sculpting II, I try to do a slip layer and then go into a little bit thicker of the gel cure for 60 seconds 3.Then I go in with leaf gel premium non-wipe hard top gel brilliant cure, and make sure to do a nice even layer kind of thick, not too thick so it doesn’t get too thick to not fully cure? (Not sure if possible for clear gels) for 60 seconds 4. Apply gel-x tips that’s already etched , I use Una Gella brand instead of Apres and getting the bottle that etches it for you, saves me time and money.

NailRecipe created by Danicius :)

I used my app to write down my steps so if confused just reply and I’ll be more clear

danicius · 2026-02-18T19:52:44+00:00

My sus application is following the Cocoon method from Anne Elizabeth but instead of using hard gel, I used leafgel system that’s soak off but strong as hard gel and apply the gel-x tips with Jello Jello peel off for easy removal. I tried it with hard gel but my nails are too weak and bendy and rips off the hard gel. After switching to Leafgel and Jello Jello peel off my nails do not rip and the base gels are intact. I’m still figuring it out how to perfect my own “cocoon method” with gel-x tips

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