Pink and white permanent French gel nails step-by-step w/photos

[DanaJ]

I had been sending this out as a PM to members here that wanted to see this, but I was asked to post it as a thread for anyone that might be interested. Myself, I am a nail nut and I think nice nails are one of the best femme accessories.

Now, when you are talking about a French manicure, this generally refers to nails that have a white tip with a pinkish base. There are variations too, including American and others tip shapes.

When "permanent" French (or "pink and whites") are referred to, there are several ways of doing this. One method, if the nails are short to start with, is to glue a white plastic tip onto the natural nail. Then, a pinkish (very subtle) acrylic or gel is then applied over the tip and natural nail. Another method is to do the nail as normal, and then airbrush the white tip on the nail, then cover with acrylic or gel.

My nail tech did a different method, and is explained starting in the next post...

DanaJ

[DanaJ]

This is a step by step guide of how my nail tech does pink and white permanent French gel nails. My nail tech is licensed, and has a master certification from Creative and Star products, plus she is an instructor, so she knows her stuff.

Gel nails are much more gentle to your natural nails than acrylic, but slightly not as strong. They remain super shiny all the time, so no polish is needed for a beautiful finish. Since acetone does not affect gels, the only way to remove them is to have them filed off - so they are sort of permanent.

First, I have had gel overlays on my natural nails for 4 months now, so that my nails had grown out a bit.

1) First, the gels are prepared like a rebalance is being done. That means, the nails are filed down a bit and any reshaping is done.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson1.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson2.jpg

2) Next, the nails are cleaned of all nail dust and a primer applied.

... continued in next post

DanaJ

[DanaJ]

3) Then, the white gel is loaded onto the brush and the nails are ready for the white tips to be added.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson3.jpg

4) The white gel is applied free hand to the free edge of the nail. Doing this free hand gives a slight variance to each nail and makes the nails look more natural.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson4.jpg

5) After all the nails on one hand are done, the fingers go under a special light that cures (hardens) the gel in 3 minutes.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson7.jpg

6) While the gel on the first hand is curing, the fingers on the other hand have the white gel applied to the nail tips. The two thumbs are done seperately later.

7) After all ten nails are finished with the white gel tips and are cured, a clear or pink-tinted gel goes over the entire nail.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson8.jpg

...continued in next post

DanaJ

[DanaJ]

8) Again, it is back under the light to cure the last coat of clear gel.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson9.jpg

9) We are all finished now, except for a nice application of lotion and a soothing hand massage (my favorite).

10) Total time, about 1 - 1.5 hours, my cost was $25. And these are the results:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/frenchlesson9a.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/460749/permfrench5a.jpg
The photo above was taken three days after the nails were done. You can still see the incredible shine that gel nails have, no clear top coat is necessary.

These French nails are very durable, and will not chip or break in normal use. They will maintain their look until a fill is needed (2 - 3 weeks). I had these nails on for 3 days plus, and I loved them! I was very sad when I had to have them removed :(

I would be happy to answer any questions anyone has, and my nail tech has also offered to answer any questions that I don't know. I hope this sort of thread is helpful and interesting, I was thinking about doing the same sort of thing during one of my makeovers.

DanaJ

[Tristen Cox]

Very instructive indeed. Good work Dana, I learned a few things from this. Hope others will as well. Glad you explained the UV light purpose to me, alas I'm still using the cheapo clear on mine. Fabulous nails! There's no way to do this yourself at home is there? Probably not guess I'll have to wait. ;)



Love
Tristen

[Wendy me]

girlfreind love them nails.......................yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy .......

[DanaJ]

Very instructive indeed. Good work Dana, I learned a few things from this. Hope others will as well. Glad you explained the UV light purpose to me, alas I'm still using the cheapo clear on mine. Fabulous nails! There's no way to do this yourself at home is there? Probably not guess I'll have to wait. ;)

Love
TristenDon't forget, nail techs go to school for many months to learn their trade, and a good nail tech makes it all look easy. Plus, the product that they use is usually available to licensed techs only. So, I don't think you could do this at home yourself. Anyway, I know I couldn't - I have trouble putting polish on straight :)

DanaJ

[DanaJ]

Very cool Dana. :) I had gel overlays myself for a little over a year.

Here is an article that was written by Katie Wright for DERMAdoctor.com (http://www.dermadoctor.com) that you many find interesting. She points out all the pros and cons of the various methods.

Article snipped, see above post for entire article
Wendy - many thanks! I was going to type a lot of this out myself, but you saved me the trouble.

One thing I would like to stress - be very careful about using an unlicensed nail tech, and make sure they use the latest product. That MMA stuff is very very cheap, and very hard on your nails. Most of the horror stories you have heard about acrylic nails damaging real nails have been using electric files (drills) and MMA acrylics. Real, licensed nail techs will not use MMA acrylic.

My personal preference is also to only use nail techs that do hand filing only. I've had my gels on now for a little over 5 months, and I am so used to them now I would feel naked without them.

DanaJ

[Sharon]

Dana and Wendy:
Many thanks for this very informative thread! I've learned more about nails in the past five minutes than I knew in total previously.
Some day....

Thank you once again to the both of you,
Sharon

[Julie]

Likewise Dana thanks for sharing this info, I'm sure it will be appreciated by more than who will reply to the thread.

JJ

[paulaN]

very good post dana, you have great nails I'd love to have mine done but it is too long lasting for me. must keep a low profile. good job posting the steps for all to see thanks a lot. and lots of love

[racquel]

Lovely hands you have my dear.great photo's.I'm amazed you can wear them to work,mine are all broken to the quick within four hours on the job.
I had a month off and had my nails looking pretty good and now they are at my fingertips again. :(

[Marlene4a]

Dana----Very nice photos my dear....You have lovely hands and nails

[Leslie(TV)]

Nice nails. BTW, I am a licensed nail technician myself. :D

[DanaJ]

OK, this thread is a few months old, sorry to bring it back myself :) I was just clearing out some old photos, and before I dump them, I thought there might be a few newer members who might be interested in these before I delete them.

DanaJ

[JoannaDees]

Well, Dana. I did it. I went to a salon and asked for gel nails. Of course, you know they were boobs and gave me acrylics, but I still like 'em. Thanks, babe for the push!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In two weeks they'll grow, I'll fill them, and they'll be longer! Woo Hoo!

Punches in the arm ... or kisses or hugs ... whatever ...


Joanna

[Julie York]

This thread deserves to be bumped to the top now and then. I'm sure a lot of the newer folk would be interested. Maybe you could put it on a website somewhere.


Good work DanaJ

[Holly]

Dana J., Thanks for bringing this back to our collective memories. Haven't done the gels yet but have been wearing acrylics for well over a month now... and loving it!