I talked about this gel manicure kit back in December and heard from so many of you that you got it for Christmas! I thought I should share a few of my favorite products to use when I do my at-home gel manis and also walk you through the steps!

I’ve had the most success with Gelish pH Bond, Foundation, and Top Coat. The brush sizes are easy to work with and the products really work. For color choices, I’ve enjoyed using Gelish, OPI Gel and CND Shellac. Depending on the color I can usually get away with only 2 coats, but the lighter, more sheer colors require 3 coats. OPI Taupeless Beach and CND Shellac Romantique have been on repeat this winter season!

The steps I take in order to prep the nails before applying the polish are almost MORE important than applying the color itself. I’ll walk you through each step and explain what I do so you can have success with your home gel manicures as well!
Remove all existing nail polish with acetone nail polish remover.
Apply cuticle remover (this is my favorite product).
Push back and trim cuticles so the bed of the nail is completely clean from any skin, flakes, or cuticles.
Shape nails with nail file, trying to only file in one direction versus sawing back and forth.
Using a buffer, buff the nail enough to take away any shine, this will help the product adhere a bit better.
Wash hands with water but without soap.
Dry with a washcloth so no fibers from paper towels or tissues get onto your nails.
Apply pH Bond t...