There’s something about a perfectly manicured hand that can elevate an outfit and make you feel really put together. So that’s why I thought I’d give you a simple guide on how to get the perfect at-home manicure using GelMoment.
More people than ever are joining the stay-home salon club by learning to perfect the services they’d normally pay for. And as your number-one nail pal, I’m here to show you just how achievable a stunning at-home mani can be, without all of the confusing bottles, soaking tubs, and small-talk. Speaking of soaking, it’s actually a big no-no. It will inflate your nails before they shrink back to their normal size as they dry out, and this can cause splitting and cracking of your mani – disaster!
Not only is your DIY-style set to be as polished as the professional ones, but our low-tox nail polish formula will also leave you with healthier, happier nails. At GelMoment, we’re well-versed in saying ‘no’ to nasties and ‘heck yes’ to nice-ies!
Our flagship product is a “DIY One-Step-5 FREE – Gel Polish.” Create salon-quality results in minutes, saving you the cost of a professional manicurist. Our polish does not require a base or top coat, cures in 45-60 seconds depending on which of our specially formulated LED lamps you use, and will provide a high gloss finish that lasts at least 14 days.
Our European-based lab meets the highest standards of production while at the same time maintaining a high level of eco-friendly awareness. We pride ourselves on being 5-free, gluten-free, vegan friendly, non-toxic, lead-free and cruelty-free. With a gorgeous selection of colours to choose from and an easy removal system – Flake Off Gel Remover – that is non-damaging to the natural nail; creating beautiful nails has never been easier.
Since GelMoment only often requires only one coat of product and does not need any base or top coat, it becomes far easier to remove, and in fact, anecdotally we have heard from many of our customers that they have felt their nails becoming stronger and less brittle after trying the GelMoment experience. This too is the reason why it is far easier to remove and actually leaves no damage to the nail as no drills or harsh buffing are required. Even when using the GelMoment nail pusher, it is just the polish that is removed and the nail is left intact.
With GelMoment, you can experience a beautiful gel manicure from the comfort of your own home, without the hefty price and time loss of going to a salon.
· It’s SAFE
Our easy removal system is non-damaging to your natural nails, allowing for easy colour changes as often as you like. Our gel polish is also safe to use on children with the proper supervision!
· It’s 5+ FREE
Eco-friendly, non-toxic, solvent-free, lead-free, latex-free, cruelty-free, and 5+ FREE (No Toluene, no Dibutyl Phthalate, no Formaldehyde, no Formaldehyde Resin, and no Camphor).
· It’s BEAUTIFUL
We have a large selection of gorgeous colours to choose from. Whether you’re going out on the town with the girls, heading to the beach, or staying in with your special someone, we’ve got the perfect colours to suit your mood!
· It’s EASY
GelMoment offers a DIY, One-Step gel polish application concept from the comfort of your own home, saving you the time and cost of a professional manicurist.
· It’s FAST
With no top or base coat required, our gel polish cures in just 45 to 60 seconds, depending on which one of our LED lamps you choose.
· It’s DURABLE
Our GelMoment Polishes aren’t just beautiful, they’re durable too! Our gel polish lasts up to 14 days, depending on your nail type.
· It’s VEGAN-FRIENDLY
Our Gel Polishes are free of any animal by-products and never undergo animal testing.
And now for the long-awaited ultimate at-home manicure in 5 steps:
1. Shape and/or trim your nails
If you’re an at-home manicure veteran, you probably already keep your nails regularly trimmed enough that you only need a good nail file for this part. If you do need to give your nails a trim, get onto a good pair of nail clippers – we promise you it makes all the difference in not damaging your nails.
After you’ve trimmed them, use a nail file to shape your nails to your heart’s desire. Square, oval, squoval, almond, stiletto – your nail shape will come down to personal preference but remember a slightly shorter simple shape will also help them last a lot longer – less room for chipping!
Step 2. Prep
This is where we get a little bit more technical, but trust me when I say this will make all the difference between a clean at home manicure and a messy one. Whip out your cuticle pusher and start gently pushing your cuticles back using the curved end. Remember to be gentle and avoid metal pushers as they can often be too harsh.
While salons and some people would reach for a cuticle remover (see tip below) at this point, we’d recommend going straight for your nail buffer. Go ahead and gently buff your nails to help smooth out any ridges so that the nail polish will have a smooth surface to apply to. Once you’re done, take your buffer down to your cuticles and use the edge of it to very gently buff at the skin that you’ve just pushed down. So essentially the edge of the buffer should meet where your nail meets your skin. The messy part of the skin should just come away.
Brush away any leftover dust from buffing. This is an important and often overlooked step in the manicure process. Nails are made from keratin and, like your hair, can become oily. Cleanser removes any natural oils without drying out your nails, to create a clean surface for your polish to stick to; resulting in a longer-lasting manicure.
Tip: I receive plenty of questions about cuticles; should you push them, trim them, stuff them under the bed when no one’s looking, etc. The truth is, your cuticles protect your nail bed from damage and infection, arguably very important things! So, while you mightn’t love them, it’s important that you retain some cuticle integrity for the health of your nails.
3. Paint and polish your nails
So now we’re up to the fun part – painting! Pick your colour, put on your favourite playlist, and let the fun begin!
GelMoment polishes don’t require a base or top coat so you can get straight into the pleasurable part of applying colour.
Start from just under your cuticle and push up to create a ‘wave’ at the base of your nail (this will prevent flooding your cuticles with polish). Now pull the brush down to the tips of your nails in a very thin coat. Two coats of colour tend to be the magic number – or I like to go for three if it’s a lighter colour.
If you need to clean up the edges a bit as you have polish in unwanted places, use your thumbnail (you’ll be painting and curing them last so they’ll be easy to clean up before you finish) or an orange stick to remove the residue.
After applying each coat, cure under your LED light for 45 or 60 seconds (depending on which lamp you have).
Step 4. Let the love in
To complete your ritual, apply one coat of GelMoment Serum to your cuticles, gently massaging them in small circular motions moving towards your hand.
Our Serums are packed with antioxidants and nutrients from a wide range of vitamins, and you will be supplying your nails with protection that will help prevent cracking, dryness, and breakage. They’re also available in a range of gorgeous fragrances so check them out for your favourite.
Do your nails a favour and treat your cuticles to this oil daily before bed, to really allow the potion to work its magic overnight.
5. Hydrate your hands
Now that you’ve paid all this attention to your nails, let’s get your hands in order!
Find a good hand exfoliator and rub it in gently. This will remove any dead skin cells that will stop the absorption of the hand cream you are about to slather on them! Look for a rich emollient preparation that will plump up the skin and remove those pesky, ageing fine lines. My favourite is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula which you can pick up at most chemists.
Voila! Your hands and nails are now ready to be shown off to the world – make sure you flap them around madly to draw attention to your works of art!
I’d love to hear if you have any of your own tips for a great at-home mani!
Love, light & blessings 😘💜✨
Katie
P.S. For the sake of transparency, some of the links provided on this blog are ‘affiliate links.’ Although I may be paid a commission if you use these links to make a purchase (ie. Younique), I am totally committed to high standards of integrity and quality. I DO NOT promote brands or products I do not believe meet these standards, and I only promote brands I purchase myself. In essence, if I don’t love it, I won’t be linking to it!
Ladylike Magick 