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Gel Nail Polish Storage Guide

Store in a cool, dark area 

Gel Nail Polish bottles should be stored in a cool, climate-controlled area away from exposure to natural sunlight. Don't leave them sitting out in front of a window or in a bright room that gets a lot of light. Ideally they should be stored somewhere dark like in a closet, box or drawer. Gel Nail Polish should not be stored in your bathroom, as it’s constantly heating up and cooling down because of your blow dryer and shower. Our bottles are black to stop sunlight from affecting them as much, however you should still store your bottles away from sunlight.

Avoid UV light

Avoid opening or using your Gel Nail Polish in very sunny areas, or too near to your UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp when it is turned on. This prevents your polish from undertaking any part of the curing process, as it cures in UV light.

Store upright

Store your Gel Nail Polish right side up to prevent it from drying out. Don’t store it upside down, as this can cause clumps and drying at the neck of the bottle.

Wipe neck and rim after use

After use keep the neck and rim of your Gel Nail Polish bottle clean by wiping it with a Lint Free Wipe. Wet the Lint Free Wipe with Nail Polish Remover if required. Keeping this area clean allows your bottle to close properly and prevent air from getting inside.

Close tightly 

Make sure your Gel Nail Polish lids are always screwed on tightly to keep them airtight. We recommend closing the lid tightly after each coat.

FAQ's

If you are a new user of Gel Nail Polish, please don’t be disheartened if your first few manicures don’t last as long as expected. There are many tips and tricks to applying Gel Nail Polish that make the difference between a long-lasting application and an application that doesn’t last long enough (i.e. chips easily or peels). Often, new users of Gel Nail Polish make small mistakes during the application process that cause premature chipping or peeling. Once you master your Gel Polish application you will get no peeling and may get minor chipping at the end of your manicures life. Practice really does make perfect!

Please be patient, read our Application Guide carefully, and take note of our tips and tricks.

  • Make sure you are using Gelous brand Base Coat, Colour Coat, Top Coat and Gel Nail Lamp. Gelous Gel Nail Polish and the Gelous UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp are designed to be totally compatible, with the UV LED Gel Nail Lamp operating at 365-405nm and the Gel Polish curing within this wavelength. Though we use a reasonably generic curing wavelength, we do advise against using different polishes with our lamps, different lamps with our polish, or different brands polishes with our polish as they may not be compatible. Incompatibility could result in under-curing which can cause serious damage to your hands or nails. 
  • Ensure your nails are strong enough for a gel manicure. If your nails are too weak, they can bend and cause the Gel Nail Polish to pull away from the nail. Nourish your nails with products such as Cuticle Oil, Moisturiser and Nail Defense to improve their strength, and consider trying a Builder Gel in your manicure.
  • Nail prep is very important and will directly influence the longevity of your mani or pedi. Before applying your Gel Nail Polish, gently buff the entire surface of each nail. Make sure to buff in one direction and remember, you are trying to rough up your nails, not make them smooth, so the whole nail should appear dull (not shiny) from the buffing. You need to be very thorough with the buffing, paying particular attention to the sides of the nails and around the cuticle, as this is where lifting may occur if they are not buffed correctly.
  • Make sure to clean your nails thoroughly after buffing, as any buffing dust, oil, etc will reduce adhesion of the gel and affect the longevity. Apply Nail Polish Remover to a Lint Free Wipe and thoroughly clean the nails, under the nails and around the cuticles.
  • Use Nail Primer before your Base Coat to prime and dehydrate the nails.
  • Don’t apply your coats of Gel Nail Polish too thick and make sure they are an even thickness. Pay attention to the cuticles and the sides, as this is where Gel Polish can get thicker if you have too much Gel Nail Polish on the brush. To achieve a thin application, remove excess Gel Nail Polish from the brush by circling it around the inside of the bottle neck, pressing it off.
  • Cap every coat of Gel Nail Polish by running the brush horizontally over the free edge of your nail. View capping diagram here. If you have shorter nails, start each coat by using a Nail Art Brush or the tip of your bottle brush to cap the free edge.
  • When applying, start in the middle of the nail then ‘push’ the Gel Nail Polish gently towards the cuticle without it touching. It is important to leave a thin gap between the edge of the Gel Nail Polish and your cuticle when applying. If the Gel Nail Polish is applied to the cuticle, it can separate and lift as your nail plate grows. Aim to avoid getting any Gel Nail Polish on your skin or cuticle, however if you do, remove it with an Orangewood Cuticle Stick, Nail Art Brush or Lint Free Wipe before curing. 
  • In terms of aftercare, avoid washing dishes or using cleaning products without gloves, use Cuticle Oil regularly to help your nails look fresh for longer and if you get a snag, file this down so it does not catch and cause further damage.

You can find our full list of FAQ's here.

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