The main difference is that gel polish does not air dry, it needs to be cured in a UV or LED lamp. Once it is cured however, your nails will be dry immediately - no more smudges!
If you've ever had acrylic nail extensions, you'll know that one of the key steps to adhere the acrylics to your natural nail is using a nail drill to file away the top layer of the nail. This can be a painful process, and once your acrylics are your removed, your natural nails are likely to be extremely brittle and weak. With gel polish, you get the benefits of beautifully long-lasting nails, without any harm to your natural nail - this is because it acts like a normal nail polish.
Trust us - we were too when we first started. You will improve with practice!
Prep your nails using the prep & polish liquid included in your Luxe Cosmetics complete kit with a lint-free wipe (or toilet tissue!) to ensure your polish lasts. Using thin layers of polish, start with the base coat and cure, colour coat and cure, and then finish with the top coat and cure. Depending on the shade of your polish, you may get the best result with three layers of colour coat instead of the usual two.
We would recommend curing each layer for 30 seconds, especially the bottom and top coat. However, the strength of our lamp should allow for 15 seconds of curing time, depending on the thickness of each layer.
The easiest way to remove the stickiness is to wipe your nails with prep & polish liquid and a lint-free wipe. Alternatively, you can try to cure your nails for another 15-30 seconds in the lamp.
If your nails are prepped and polish applied correctly, your polish should last for up to two weeks with no chips or lift.
After a week to ten days, you should be able to peel off the polish with a little bit of patience. Otherwise, use the foil gel remover wraps included in your kit. To use the wraps, peel them open and wrap them round your fingernails, and leave to work for at least 10 minutes. We've then found that the polish then removes easily using a cuticle pusher or teaspoon.
We sell full kits that includes everything you need to get started. You can also include additional polishes in your order. We're always on the lookout for the latest products, and in the future we hope you'll be able to buy all products (and more!) individually in case you need a refill, or want new colour polishes. If you'd like something specific, don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@weareluxe.co.