Watch me do my nails ~ Gel-X Nails Tutorial, by Andrea Tejeda on YouTube. 12 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 12 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Wash your hands and push back your cuticles. Buff the surface of each natural nail with a buffer to remove shine, then wipe with a lint-free pad so the gel grips.
Apply a thin coat of peel-off gel base coat to each natural nail. Cure it under the UV/LED lamp for the time your gel brand states, usually 30 to 60 seconds.
Pick a Gel-X tip that fits each nail side to side. Lightly etch the inside of the tip with a hand file so the extend gel bonds better.
Apply non-wipe extend gel to the natural nail and a little inside the tip. Press the tip on at a 45 degree angle, push out air bubbles, and hold for a few seconds.
Cure all five tips under the lamp. Repeat the same steps on your other hand before moving on.
Fit the 240 grit sanding band on the mandrel bit. On low speed, file the tip edges and the seam where the tip meets your nail until it feels flush.
Shape the free edge with the 80/80 hand file and smooth the surface with a buffer. Dust off your hands and nails.
Paint your base color in thin coats and cure each one. Add a second color or a cat eye layer if you want the design shown.
For the chrome accent, apply a no-wipe top coat, cure it, then rub chrome powder 27 over the area with a sponge. Brush off the excess.
Seal everything with a top coat and cure. Finish with cuticle oil and keep the drill on low speed near the cuticle.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the drill on low speed and never press hard near the cuticle, since the bit can burn or cut the skin.
Use thin coats of extend gel and polish, because thick layers cure unevenly and lift at the edges.
Check each tip for air bubbles before curing, since trapped air makes the extension pop off early.
Wipe chrome powder off the surrounding skin before top coating so the shine stays clean.
Questions
Do I need a nail drill to do Gel-X nails?
You can shape and blend the tips with hand files alone, but a drill saves a lot of time on the seam and edges. If you use one, keep it on low speed.
How long do Gel-X extensions last?
With good prep and no lifting, they often last two to four weeks before a fill or removal. Growth at the cuticle is the usual reason to redo them.
Can I remove Gel-X tips at home?
Yes. File the top layer down and soak in acetone or use the peel-off base coat so the set lifts without damaging your natural nail.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
