In this post, I’ll be sharing my at home gel nail extensions kit and routine for a DIY manicure that lasts up to 2 weeks!
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I’m excited to share my latest nail discovery! If you read this post about my DIY/at-home gel mani, you’ll know I’m not a huge fan of going to nail salons, and always prefer to do my own nails – it’s almost a form of relaxation, or even a little self-care break, that makes me happy. ๐
Lately, I’ve been into wearing longer “press on” style nails (otherwise known as nail extensions), and although it does take me a while to do my own set, they have been lasting me OVER two weeks without polish chipping, falling off, or breaking.
I think the secret is this gel extensions kit I stumbled across on Amazon. At under $25, they turned out to be a great dupe for the pricier “Apres” brand nail kit, and so far I have nothing but great things to say about them.
The BEST at home gel nail extensions kit
(disclaimer: I’m not a nail tech or professional, but these are just the products and methods that have worked really well for me.)
What I use:
- This complete gel kit (it comes with basically everything you need to start doing your own gel nails at home, including the base and top coats.)
- This gel extentions kit (it comes with a ton of different nail extensions, plus the glue and UV lamp)
- 100 % acetone or a strong nail polish remover
- cuticle nippers
- cuticle oil
- a small bowl to soak off any old polish – keep it specifically for nails only
- a small hand towel or something to protect the area
- an e-file (electronic nail drill) – this is totally optional but I think it’s worth it!
And of course, you’ll need the gel nail polish color of choice. I have used the following polishes from different brands and can honestly say they are all great to work with and have really good lasting power:
- pink 110 by Aimeili
- peachy nude 119 by Aimeili
- red 064 by Aimeili
- pinky nude 022 by Aimeili
- cocoa brown by NYK1
The Nail Prep
In my opinion, NAIL PREP IS EVERYTHING. If you have issues with gel nail polish lifting, chipping, or just not lasting as long as you’d like, it’s most likely because your base (natural nails) have not be prepped properly.
Step 1
Start prepping the nails by removing any old polish or gel from your nails. Click here to read a more in depth process of gel nail removal.
Step 2
If you have an e-file, use a small tip to gently file down the areas of the nails near the cuticles. You can also do this with a regular nail file instead, but the e-file is super efficient and really gets into the perfect angle. Plus, I use it again later on in the process, so I do think it’s worth getting if plan on doing your own nails regularly.
Step 3
Using a 100/180 grit nail file, gently buff over the ENTIRE top of each nail. You are essentially removing all the shine from your natural nail and creating a more textured surface for the nail glue to adhere to. This step is SUPER important, especially when applying the extensions/nail tips, so really get into all edges and corners and make sure they look completely matte everywhere. Buff gently to avoid thinning out the nail too much.
Step 4
Gently push back cuticles using the metal cuticle pusher tool. I prefer not to cut my cuticles off, but I do clean up any loose bits here and there if needed.
Step 5
Use a brush to remove any excess dust. You can wash your hands with water only (no soap) to really get all the dust off. If you do wash your hands, make sure you wipe each nail down with a bit of 100% acetone on a small piece of paper towel after. This will dehydrate your nails again after rinsing them with water. You want your nails to look matte and completely dry before moving on to the next step.
Step 6
Go through all the different nail extension sizes and select which one fits best for each nail. (tip: size match each nail individually because both hands may have different sized nails.)
When sizing, you want to make sure the nail tip covers the full surface of your nail from side to side. Err on the side of larger because you can always file them down on the sides a bit for a more perfect fit.
Step 7
Once you have all your nail sizes selected and set apart, start filing and sizing each one to best fit your nails. Sometimes the nail extensions are too squared off or too wide on the sides. The key is to make sure you don’t have any gaps on the sides of the nail extensions to avoid any lifting. You also don’t want the nail extensions to touch any part of your skin on either side of your natural nail.
This part can be a bit time consuming but after a few times, it goes a bit faster.
Steps 8-9
ANOTHER SUPER IMPORTANT STEP: use an e-file or a regular file and buff out the inside of each nail extension. Again, this is creating a more textured surface for the nail glue to adhere to. You only want to file/buff the part of the nail extension that will be applied to your natural nail. It should look dull/matte.
I recommend prepping and buffing all 10 nails at once here before moving forward with the glue so they are ready to go.
Steps 10-11
Taking the nail glue from the gel extensions kit, apply a thin layer to the inside of the nail extension. I also apply a thin layer directly onto my natural nail for extra hold. (TIP: do this one nail at a time because, after each application, you need to cure the glue under the small UV lamp)
Step 12
Place the extension onto the nail using your other hand to hold it in place under the UV lamp for around 20 seconds. After 20 seconds you can let go of the nail and leave it to finish curing under the lamp for the remaining time. The light will turn off automatically, then you can move on to the next nail.
Step 13
Repeat steps 10, 11, and 12 with all nails.
Step 14 (optional)
This is a personal preference but I highly recommend cutting the nails down a bit. This will remove the size/number from the inside of the nail and also make the tip look a bit more natural.
Step 15
File the nails down to your desired shape. I also think this step is important and can help make the nails look more natural. I like to really file down the sides/edges of the nails so they look more narrow and fit the shape of my fingers and hands a bit better. This also gives them a more oval/almond shape which is my favorite.
Step 16 (optional)
This step is optional but I think it helps create a more seamless transition between the nail and the cuticle area. Using an e-file with a small tip, gently file the edges of each nail near the cuticles. This will also help the nails look more flush when they start to grow out and avoid that super thick edge on the nail extension.
Step 17
Now that all nails have been applied, cut, and shaped, you are basically prepping them for a basic gel nail manicure. Taking a file, gently buff over the tops of the nails (again to remove the shine and create a more textured surface, except this time it’s going to help the gel nail base/foundation adhere better.)
Step 18
Once your nails are completely buffed out, you can start with your standard gel nail polish application: Base coat, cure in UV light, color coat + cure, and then finish off with top coat + cure. I use a larger UV light (from this kit) to cure the nails for this part of the manicure… it’s faster and more efficient.
Click here for a more complete and in-depth DIY gel manicure routine.
And DONE!
The color I’m wearing here is by Aimeili in color 119. I only applied one thin coat for a more slightly sheer peachy nude color. But it’s definitely buildable for more opaque coverage if you apply 2 coats.
Always finish off every mani with some cuticle oil to rehydrate, and you’re all set!
These sets have been lasting me OVER two weeks… even while doing regular housework and normal life things. I tend to remove them after the growth becomes too obvious or I’m just bored of the color and want a refresh.
I highly recommend giving this a try and if you follow my routine, you should get similar results! ๐
For more beauty related faves, check out this post!
Click here to shop all my favorite nail polishes, tools, and kits!
This post was all about my favorite at home gel nail extensions kit. If you like this content, check out these posts below:
โ My at home gel manicure routine
– Moody Manicures | Fall Nail Lookbook
โ Colorful French tip mani + making swatch sticks
Xx Laura
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