Gel Application

[kirsty_nails]

Hi there,

I'm new to this whole forum thing but hope someone can help me!

I am in the process of doing a gel course through essential nails and am managing everything perfectly other than the gel!

Firstly i am applying a thin bonding layer and curing for 6 mins, i then apply the building layer which is thicker at the crown of the nail and cure for 5 mins i then apply the final layer thinly and cure for a further 5 mins.

The problem comes at the end when i wipe the sticky residue away.... the whole lot of gel seems to wipe away and its really dull!

i have tried curing for longer with still the same outcome, can anybody help?

mant thanks

 

[geeg]

Hi there,

I'm new to this whole forum thing but hope someone can help me!

I am in the process of doing a gel course through essential nails and am managing everything perfectly other than the gel!

Firstly i am applying a thin bonding layer and curing for 6 mins, i then apply the building layer which is thicker at the crown of the nail and cure for 5 mins i then apply the final layer thinly and cure for a further 5 mins.

The problem comes at the end when i wipe the sticky residue away.... the whole lot of gel seems to wipe away and its really dull!

i have tried curing for longer with still the same outcome, can anybody help?

mant thanks

It sounds as if your UV Lamp is not curing the gel. You will need to change the bulbs. If it is a new lamp, then you will need to return it as faulty. Make sure the lamp is a part of your system and not any old lamp.

Most gels cure in 2 minutes. I confess I did not know that EN gels recommended a 5-6 minute cure time???

In any case the problem is not with you but with your equipment.

 

[Trixy]

hi kirsty

dunno if this helps,wen i started doing gel nails-I didnt do my 'wetting' layer application quite correctly-was holding my brush at the wrong angle and putting too much gel on the nail....after all the effort to complete the nail,I wipe off the sticky layer and all the gel comes off....

 

[kirsty_nails]

hi many thanks for those suggestions, have just double checked the course book and it deffinatly says 6 mins for first layer and 5 for the other two layers. The lamp is a new one but it could be faulty - think i will try another one and see how it goes from there! its really annoying!

Thanks again for the help x

 

[geeg]

hi many thanks for those suggestions, have just double checked the course book and it deffinatly says 6 mins for first layer and 5 for the other two layers. The lamp is a new one but it could be faulty - think i will try another one and see how it goes from there! its really annoying!

Thanks again for the help x

I'm sure you are correct, it just seems very odd a 6 minute cure time!! I think you will find life allot easier with a higher end product .. no one could work commercially with a cure time of 6 minutes!!

 

[tracey louise]

I'm sure you are correct, it just seems very odd a 6 minute cure time!! I think you will find life allot easier with a higher end product .. no one could work commercially with a cure time of 6 minutes!!

i was also thinking the same thing.
im sure you are right but i was very suprised by the curing time being so long.ive never heard of a gel taking that long to cure.
i also agree about the lamp,i think its worth checking it out.
good luck.x

 

[kirsty_nails]

hi there,
have just checked and its not a very powerful lamp so i think my first step is to try a new more powerful lamp -now i just need to navigate the endless possabilities of lamps on the market!

Many thanks x

 

[marioned]

You should always use the lamp which has been designed for your system. The wattage doesn't tell you what the actual UV output is, and the placement of the bulbs also affects the curing. I'd get in touch with Essential Nails and get some advice from them. xx

 

[suzie49]

6 minuites is a long time to cure the gel, EN give that time because it's on the hand trainer,always seemed to long to me.
Do you efine and buff the nail before you apply the final layer of gel?
I sometimes had the same dull finish if I applied the last layer to thickly.
Try buffing to a shine ....:hug:

 

[LaBelle]

Hi,

The problem sounds familiar to me. With a new lamp from EN and applying the gel according to the textbook and video, I also ended up loosing some of the layer when wiping off the sticky residue. I solved the problem by applying a thicker ( yes! ) layer of the final layer, and very carefully wiping off the residue. I sure learned how to apply the gel into a very smooth layer without any lumps or bumps

 

[shell28]

I'm sure you are correct, it just seems very odd a 6 minute cure time!! I think you will find life allot easier with a higher end product .. no one could work commercially with a cure time of 6 minutes!!

The dream gel requires 3mins cure time but they tell you 6 in the dvd due to you being new and to make sure you cure the gel properly.

 

[Bagpuss]

The dream gel requires 3mins cure time but they tell you 6 in the dvd due to you being new and to make sure you cure the gel properly.

How bizarre !! if it takes 3 mins then it takes 3 mins...whats being new got to do with anything...if it takes 3 mins to cure then leaving the nails in for 6 mins isn't going to make any difference...

Thats like saying chips takes 15 mins in the oven at gas mark 3...but if you haven't cooked chips before leave them in for 30 at gas mark 3...:lol:

 

[shell28]

They say because its on the nail trainer thats why it requires longer curing time.

 

[Bagpuss]

They say because its on the nail trainer thats why it requires longer curing time.

I could sort of get my head round that if using L&P but not gel...

(sorry shell, its not YOU i am questioning...:hug

 

[shell28]

I could sort of get my head round that if using L&P but not gel...

(sorry shell, its not YOU i am questioning...:hug

Dont apologise hun i see where you coming from im just saying what they say.

I never cured my gel for that long tbh but then i hated dream gel!! i changed to NSI and had no probs after that!!

 

[marioned]

The only difference I can think of is that I think (correct me if wrong) that natural nails are reflective and the UV waves bouce back, and so cure the deeper layers of gel. The trainer nails are probably not (them being lumps of plastic!), and so maybe need a longer cure time to fully cure the gel. Can anyone confrm this?

 

[magpie]

I am doing the EN Gel course and I find it does take 6 mins.... however I am new and my gel is still very lumpy bumpy.... it is more than likely your light....

 

[Nailz73]

I am too doing the EN gel course, and also having the same problem. Have just tried one on my own nail but curing for 3 mins, again my last layer is dull on wipe off. Have re-buffed and re-applied, i ended up with a small dull patch right in the middle. Have followed everyones advice given.. it is still doing it ...

it is frustrating....

 

[geeg]

Whn you work with a better quality product you will not have these issues, believe me.