The dos and don’ts of a DIY gel manicure

How amazing are gel manicures? That glossy, 3D finish simply cannot be beaten, and it’s even more satisfying when you nail a flawless one at home. But besides having a spectacularly steady hand, there are a few things you can do to ensure better results. With the help of Sally Hansen Nail Expert, Alison Bowhill-Hayes, we’ve compiled some dos and don'ts to help you to score your shiniest, glossiest and most long-lasting DIY gel mani yet.

DO prepare properly

For an at-home gel mani that truly rivals the salon’s, preparation is crucial. Alison suggests clipping all nails to an even length, then filing and shaping each edge until smooth. This will ensure that the edges of your nails don’t snag or catch on anything, which can lead to chipping. Alison then recommends finishing with a light buff to eliminate ridges and create a smooth surface for painting.

DON’T worry about a base coat

One our favourite DIY gel systems is Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ and we love the fact that you don’t have to apply a base coat. To ensure best results, Alison recommends simply running over your nails with some polish remover to make sure they’re free from any leftover colour. Thanks to the advanced formula of Miracle Gel, your manicure will be long-lasting and won’t cause any nail damage, even without the use of a base coat.

DO apply two coats

To give your mani the best chance of lasting, apply two even coats of your favourite Miracle Gel™ shade. Not three or four, just two - that’s enough for a high colour pay off. Each colour is easy and fast to apply, thanks to the gel formula.

DO use the Miracle Gel™ Top Coat

Once you’ve applied your colour coat, Alison recommends applying just one coat of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ Top Coat to activate the curing. Unlike a regular at-home top coat, this one has a new and improved formula that not only locks in and protects your nail colour for longer-lasting results, but it also provides a volumised effect (which means nails look dramatically fuller!) and gives your nails a glossy finish and mirror-like shine, to really take your mani to the next level.

DON’T use a lamp

Unlike salon gel top coats that require a lamp to cure, with the new and improved Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ Top Coat, you can just sit back, relax and let the natural light do the curing. It’s that easy – two steps and you’re literally done! No lamp, no visit to the salon and best of all, more money left in your pocket.

DO remove as normal

When it comes time to remove your Miracle Gel™ mani (probably because you’ll want to try another amazing colour from the range!), Alison recommends removing it in the same way as you would regular polish. You don’t have to go to the effort of soaking or wrapping - your standard nail polish removal will do the job.

Have you seen the 11 new shades in the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™ range? We tried them all out with the new and improved Top Coat, so you could see exactly what they look like on the nail. Check them out here.

Have you tried Sally Hansen Miracle Gel™? Do you like the idea of such an easy at-home gel mani?