Gel nail extensions: What do you need to know?

Hello! I am Nastya, and I know everything about tips!

Nail extension is a rather complicated process, but nail tips have made it much easier and, most importantly, faster. They are quite durable, yet thin and elastic.

Nail extension tips can be used from any brand. The only nuance is that I do not recommend choosing ones that are too thick, because, firstly, it is harder to file down the step, and secondly, the extension will look bulky.

Tips differ from each other in shape:

1. Ballerina;
2. Stiletto;
3. Square;
4. Oval;
5. Almond.

They also come in different colors, the most popular being: transparent, milky, nude. There are matte and glossy ones, with or without a contact zone, fully transparent and with a matte contact zone, but this does not directly affect the extension process itself.

For the extension, we will need:

1. Medium-acid base;
2. Tips;
3. Carbide bit for filing the step;
4. Tip cutter;
5. Mini UV flashlight.

Nail plate preparation:

1. The previous material must be completely removed from the nail plate, as leftovers will interfere with choosing the correct size.

2. We do a "partial" manicure. We remove pterygium remnants, adhered skin, and material – everything that can cause lifting.

3. We degrease the nail plate, apply dehydrator to the entire nail, primer (ultrabond) to the lower part of the nail plate, and cover with a thin layer of medium-acid base.

4. Next, we choose the size of the tips for all 10 fingers at once and proceed to the extension itself.

Apply the required amount of base to the tip.

5. Leaving a 1–1.5 mm gap from the cuticle and at an angle of about 30 degrees, place the tip onto the nail plate.

6. Then smoothly lower the tip until the base reaches the end of the nail bed.

7. At this stage, we will need the client's help: ask them to hold the UV flashlight until the tip sets (about 10 seconds, depending on the flashlight's power and battery status). After that, cure fully in the lamp for 1 minute.

8. File down the step, give the desired shape, finish the manicure, and cover the entire nail with a thin layer of medium-acid base (making a slip layer), then complete the extension process with the material of your choice.

Corrections can be done as many times as you like, provided that the nails have not started to hook downwards / curl, etc. Otherwise, it is easier and faster to re-extend rather than fix them. Personally, I like to re-extend every other time.

I hope my recommendations and step-by-step tip extension guide will help you create perfect nails!