I want to state RIGHT OFF THE BAT:

The techniques I am about to share are NOT Creative supported techniques, they are techniques shared with me through trial and error through another master technician that I learned over the weekend while in a Brisa Gel class. Use em, or don't use them, it's all up to you. I am well aware of chemical structure and compound, and am not looking to argue as to why this does or does NOT work- cause it WORKS, and BEAUTIFULLY.


So for all of you geeks that have been talking about colored gels, we want colored gels why doesn't Brisa use colored gels wah wah wah.... Well I have a solution for you until that fateful day when Brisa Color Gels exist.

All you need is a bottle of high quality enamel, and Brisa clear sculpting gel.

Get a good load of clear gel either into a pot, or just on the back of a plastic pad ( I used the plastic backing of my hands down towel), then add a few drops of your enamel, and then mix. It's really that simple.
There are 2 very important things to remember here though:

1. Make sure your UV Gel brush is already thinly coated with clear sculpting gel, so the color won't stick to your brush hairs.
2. (AND THE MOST IMPORTANT) The viscosity of your gel when you are mixing must remain the SAME. The gels thickness should NOT change whatsoever with the addition of enamel, or it will NOT CURE. If the viscosity has gone from sculpting gel to finish gloss, add more sculpting gel.

Thin layers should be applied to make sure the UV cures the gel thoroughly, since there are extra pigments getting in the way, to get to the color you want. AND you must STILL apply a BASE layer of gel, buff the final layer of sculpting gel, and apply finish gloss. I believe this is all very similar to color gels out on the market currently.

Just a quick tip: I applied my base layer of gel in soft white, it gave me better coverage when I applied color.

This is totally a trial and error technique for you to play with if you choose to, just play with it until you figure it out. I am taking pictures and working up a short tutorial if you guys are interested...

Have fun!!

well i am going to give it a go on myself

Sounds very cool Heather ... I'm off to play at once.

sounds interesting heather...sure it will prove useful for those wanting coloured Brisa/gels..

I went through a fad of using coloured gels but they didn't go down to well with my clients...(french die hards)...also they would get bored of the same colour for 2-3 weeks..and they/I got sick of soaking off every 2-3 weeks..(i was using a soak off coloured gel)....

Now i just use enamel over my finished enhancment/overlay....

its cheaper

its quicker to remove and apply

they can remove and change the colour when they like at home

no soaking/buffing it off

last ages over enhancements/overlays

larger colour choice

so its enamel all the way for me....

xx

Hey Angie- you can play with just your enamel and give them a "beach ready" finish too: After you have finished applying your enamel, top coat and all, ask them to stop in briefly the next day- It will be VERY BRIEF! (and an extra $20 in your pocket btw) VERY lightly swipe the nail with scrub fresh (this is to remove oils and dirt), then apply a layer of finish gloss, and cure.

They won't be able to chip their polish, can leave in gloves or sandals or whatever if they want to, and as you know, being a Brisa user, the shine can't be beat.

ANDDDD, it's SO fast to buff off that finish gloss! Not nearly as time sucking as filing off sculpting gel (even though thats pretty quick for me too thanks to some very useful filing techniques lol).

Thanks for the tips Heather!

this sounds quite cool, i have tried very sheer pink gels as i love the "neglegee" look on myself, but can never find a gel that is that exact colour, so may have a go myself

great tip heather

thanks alot

i will have a go when my nail trainer arrives

Not a gel person myself but this sounds really cool!

I'm guessing then that you gel peeps should be able to do some custom blending using this technique?

Then again I may be totally wrong!

nope- you are totally right- but there was already a Custom Color technique too for Brisa: mix french pink cool or french pink warm with soft white until you get the right coverage.

So the swipe with scrub fresh wont spoil the enamal....?

that sounds fab x

This sounds great
What I wondered was could you add Mosaic or Metro Powders to clear Gel to make a coloured Gel?

One thing you might remind your clients

Gel polish will NOT "wear away" from the edges of the enhancements like regular nail polish does as it's protected by a gloss/finishing gel/etc..
SO what they can do is purchase a matching nail polish to fill in the regrowth area in between appointments SO they won't have any argument about the regrowth area.

I've made custom colours many times, but never tried with nail polish.
Will be sure to try it tomorrow with my EZ flow.
Certainly makes for a larger collection of colours, doesn't it?


I like gel polish BUT to have soooooooooooooooooo many pots.... that last soooooooooooooooo long... collecting dust? I much prefer making custom colours in the small quantities that I need AS I need them. Takes less space and less waste if you buy a colour no one likes
I no longer buy gel polish
BUT now that you've presented this idea.... I can see it taking off and I can see my nail polish sales going up too.

Why don't gel companies make "kits" so we can make our colours as we need them, to match whatever nail polish they sell, kwim? That way we don't end up with more than what we need, and make as needed.

Instead us crazy folk are adding polishes, acrylic paints, pigment powders, food colouring, powder makeup, acrylic powders etc etc to our gels.....
LOL ( I think polish is the only thing I haven't tried yet lol)


GREAT INFO HEATHER


Thanks for sharing

yeah id have to say ive heard about almost everything but this is a new one thank heather and v yes great way to retail the polish color


hey heather what are your quick filing techniques for gel removal or wait ill start a thread ... thanks for the idea

i heard of this a while back (from the geek secret circle lol)

I would love to wear a file off colour ( i always wear a FILE OFF GEl FRENCH)

I'll give it a go thanks heather