▶︎▶︎▶︎VERY IMPORTANT◀︎◀︎◀︎ In this video, I talk about using pure acetone to clean my brush. Unfortunately, I did not realize doing so ruins the brush over time. So please DO NOT use pure acetone to clean your brush. I mention it in PART 2 of 2: ua-cam.com/video/JZGFwrzGsfc/v-deo.html - How I do refills using IBD Hard Gel...
I love IBD hard gel! I started out with tips and gel. After 4 months, the tips have grown out and my own nails are as long as they were with the tips on. I'll be keeping this on my own nails forever. I was a die hard acrylic and tips fan for 25 years, and a licensed nail tech. I finally made the switch to gel, it looks so much more natural, I still have the nice curve in them that I like and I haven't broken one nail yet. I use the IBD Pink builder gel, in-fill every 2 weeks, file a bit off the whole nail then do the cuticle area and the whole nail, finish with a sealer coat and I'm good to go. I still use regular polish, I change it every week. IBD is the best hard gel that I've found so far.
Reading your comment you could have been talking about me and my experience (apart from being a nail tech!) I’ve had acrylics on continuously for YEARS (I’m ashamed to admit how many) then came COVID 😳 I ended up soaking my acrylics off at home and resigned myself to “no nails” until salons reopened. I was HORRIFIED to see the state of my nails beneath the acrylic and vowed not to get them re done until my nails had grown fully out and were healthy again (which took months) and salons were still closed. I then fell head first down the UA-cam rabbit hole and watched endless fantastic videos showing gel and builder gel application this combined with watching the nail tech’s methods doing my nails for years made me think 🤔 I could just give it a go and see how I get on which is what I did and I haven’t looked back since!! I’ve found that IBD works really well for me and it suits my nails with the bonus being it saves me a fortune! I noticed in your comment you said you finish with a sealer coat, is that a separate different product that you use or do you mean just putting a thin coat of the IBD clear hard gel (this is what I do simply because my nail tech used to do my full set of acrylics then she’d brush on a thin coat of IBD hard gel, after she started doing this I hardly got ANY lifting and it gave a great really hard shine so I’ve just carried on!). I’m happy with the look and performance of the thin coat of IBD hard clear as a final top/sealer coat but if there’s a better option I’m happy to give it a go!! xx
I have invested in so many different types of nail art “stuff” and it always looks like shred did my nails. Well I went into a little gal, just out of school who has a mother who is a highly respected nail artist. I was one of it not her first client. I had always had acrylic tips applied. I am 50. I watched this young girl do exactly what you just showed. It was evident it was her first few appointments and then it hit me. Every single item she used I own. Here I am ready to tackle my first self applied set tomorrow and until just now I was truly scared. You made a light bulb go off inside my head. I am serious. Thank you so much for that. I am grateful and I am now a new subscriber
Just wanted to update you to say I purchased the items and did my own nails! They are beautiful and I have gotten tons of compliments asking where I got my nails done already! The only issue is I had to refill after 1 week because it started lifting. I think I am getting too close to the edges and my cuticle but practice makes perfect. I'm happy with one week of beautiful nails that take no time at all anyway lol. Thank you!
You are very welcome and thank you very much for the update. I love when I get updates from my wonderful subscribers! Yes, you got too close to the cuticle which if fine, but apply very thin layer around the cuticle so it won't lift and catch on anything. I've been traveling and haven't done my nails for 3 weeks now. I'm going to post a pic today on Instagram of what my nails look like after 3 weeks - - packing/unpacking 10 times!!! I used gel nail polish because I knew I'd be gone for a while. I had no chipping, lifting or anything except you can see a gap between the cuticle and the gel color.
This tutorial is amazing! Thank you! I applied gel overlay for the first time on my own today and they turned out great. Normally I pay around 110 usd to get them done at a salon for the exact same result. Im so happy! ❤︎❤︎❤︎ Why havent I tried this before? God I have lost a lot of money lol. Thanks again for the easy tutorial :) love it
Thank you Kate! $110!! OMG!! Think of all the shoes you could've bought. 😂😂😂 I'm so happy you found this video and I'm even happier because you just saved a lot of money! Happy shopping! 😉
You can either soak them for about 5+ minutes then file the remainder of the gel, but be very careful not to file the natural nail or file them off and also be careful not to file the natural nail. I'll be doing a video on how to remove them soon.
I use this stuff on 95% of my clients. Love it! My question is. Why does it burn , the first few seconds coming in contact with light? I’ve email IBD 2 months ago and no reply.
Thanks for this post I started using builder gel but it's not strong enough bcz my nails are thin I've watched a few hard gel tutorial and this one explains things very easily
Hi! Are you prepping the nail and using a primer? Prepping the nail is the key for long last mani. Sorry for the delayed response. I took a break from YT, but I'm back. :D
Seems like a great option to use instead of the powder. I was confused about the end as you said to use top coat and color of your choice. I thought the top coat goes on top of the color for a glossy finish.
Thank you for this video. I started doing my own nails due to covid and I realize it's much harder that one thinks. But as u said practice makes perfect. Great video, great tips, thank you for sharing.
Hi i prep my nails prior to applying the gel and i also use gel polish. When my gel polish peels off, it takes off the hard gel as well. What am i don't wrong 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
Oh my gosh you cleared up so many questions I had in just this one video! I got my first hard gel a few weeks ago and have buffed it down and shaped it with my dremel (don’t do unless you have experience with a rotary tool) - just generally had to learn to maintain it on my own because I can’t find a salon in Chicago near me who does hard gel! It hasn’t really caught on here yet. I’ve planned on doing it exactly how you and many people do, just do fills and keep the gel as “my harder stronger nail” under any polish, so thank you!
Thank you so much for this video.. I've been using dip powder to keep my nails hard. Just did my nails with IBD hard gel and I'm amazed how much easier it was and less messy. Cut my time in half... Thanks again... Great Job!!!
Thank you very much and you're very welcome! I've never tried, and will likely never try, dip powder for the reasons you mentioned. I love hard gel! It's so easy to work with and always looks amazing on the nails.
Hey I am also planning to use the ibd hard gel but I only have a mini UV LED lamp of 9W soo do you think it will work with the hard gel? What wattage is your lamp?
I’m having difficulty for some reason after i put my nails under the LED light after the first coat of gel or second coat of gel is wet. Isnt it supposed to be dry?
Did u find a solution for this? I just started using it too and my nails don't feel dry I've cured my nails like 10 times and I'm late for work imma be serving food with gel smell on my hands!!!
How do U get my nails to stop breaking? When I had tips and acrylic my nails didn’t break as easily and as often. I did my nails two days ago and have already lost two nails. I’m so sad because I finally got my natural long and then they broke
question. My gel keeps chipping. I follow your prep work and even use the exact same products. I did my nails Tuesday, got large chip on L.Thumb Wednesday, top half of r.pinky nail chipped Thursday, and 3/4 of entire r.thumb chipped right off Friday. I dont think I do heavy manual work. I notice though that after curing the gel seems to slightly pull away from the tips of my nails even if I seal it with gel. Any tips??
It could be several reasons... Your natural nails are fragile/thin/brittle. Certain medications can be the cause as well. You probably still have oils on your nails - - prepping is very important; otherwise, lifting/chipping will occur. A couple of tips: Do not apply gel on freshly wash hands and/or don’t soak nails in water. Nails are very porous. When they touch water, the nails expand and it takes a long time before they are completely dry. So after they're dry, the gel/polish will peel or chip. This also applies to regular polish application. After prepping the nails, lightly wipe the nail beds with pure acetone using a lint-free cotton ball. I hope these tips help and good luck.
Mine is not curing... not sure what I am doing wrong, I pretty much did all the steps but when I tried to Cure it for over 3 minutes still soft as when I applied it.. any recommendations?
I use a base coat before adding any gel product to adhere to and add a layer of protection to my natural nail. I didn’t even think you could apply straight to nail even with a bonding product 🤷🏻♀️ I’m not a trained technician so what do I know lol just intrigued that’s all 🙂 thank you for taking the time to share 💅🏻
@@kayrichardson4378 Hi Kay, I wasn’t aware of that or seen on tutorials. It’s interesting and confusing! I don’t know how I’ve managed being self taught because it is a mind field of products and methods/procedures. It’s so good that people like yourself share information to help. I’m so grateful, thank you I will watch out for that 🙏🏻☺️
I've applied this hard gel with and without a base coat and honestly, I didn't notice the difference. One less step for me. :D I think it's all about prepping the nail and using a good bonder. I've been using this several years now and still loving it.
You're going to ruin your brush by cleaning it so often especially with acetone. It's okay to leave gel in the brush- just put a cap on it so it doesn't accidentally get cured by the sun. ❤️
Hi Chandra! Unfortunately, I already did! :(( I mention it in part 2: ua-cam.com/video/JZGFwrzGsfc/v-deo.html. I recently started leaving the gel in the brush and it works like a charm. Yayyyy!!
Hi, I purchased hard gel as when I was using soak off it was coming off when I removed my normal nail polish and I wanted a gel overlay that would stay on. Can you please advise why my hard gel is coming off! I though none soak off was only meant to come off with filing? Please help thank you
Manual filing does take a VERY long time. I've done it so many times and I finally gave up and decided to get an e-file. I can file off the gel A LOT faster. I'm on my second one e-file. The first one I used stopped working after a year and after tons of research, I decided to buy this one: amzn.to/3lwqgjy and I LOVE it!!! I keep saying I need to do a video about it. 😬 If you're not used to using an e-file, please be careful and don't over file. With practice, you'll get the hang of it.
Oh and you'll also need sanding ring bands: amzn.to/3nHNB3K I tend to use the medium size the most. Tip: watch YT videos on how to use an e-file if you're not sure. There are plenty of videos out there. Good luck!
@@StyleByZaza thank you. I tried doing this for the first time last week and I was amazed at how easy it was after your excellent tutorial. In fact, my nails look better than they ever have, and I've been doing my own gel nails for years. I'm a little bit nervous about the next step, of removing the color and filling in the growth area then redoing the color. I'm hoping it will be as easy as the initial application. I have viewed both of your tutorials on this topic (part 1 and 2 of diy hard gel) numerous times, and have found them to be extremely helpful. I searched the web before I found you, and you are the only one that I found who actually taught how to do this to enhance the look of your natural nails instead of adding tips. Thank you so much, great job. Someday I will watch some of your other tutorials. At this point I have only watched these two on how to do the hard gel on the natural nails.
Awww you're so VERY VERY welcome! You made my day! I bet your nails look fabulous!! TIPS: Use a file to remove the color. It's quite a bit of work but so worth it. If you see some lifting around the cuticle area, lightly file it down to the natural nail but be careful not to file the natural nail. I prefer filing over using clippers to remove any lifting. With practice, you'll definitely get the hang of it. Also, when you do filling, remember to apply thin coats. Hope this helps.
It could be because the area where it's cracking is too thin by the free edge or ?? If it's only a crack without any lifting, I personally would lightly buff the area and apply gel over it. If there's lifting, then I would remove the gel and start all over. But make sure the gel is not too thin.
I recently bought this gel lamp on Amazon: UV LED Nail Lamp, SUNUV Gel Nail Light for Nail Polish 48W UV Dryer with 3 Timers SUNone, and loving it! This is the one that you recommend, and it's great, and for a great price.
Hi. I've just tried to use this gel over natural nails but when I've gone to wipe off the tacky residue the whole lot comes off. Can you advise? Thanks, Gill
Gill Groves how long are you curing them and what kind of light are you using. You may need to cure longer.UV is usually 60:seconds per cure and Led 2-3 minutes for each cure.
Hi, my nails are very weak and have started using ibd gel on my natural nails. after prepping them I use bonder, cure for 30 seconds, then 2 layers of ibd gel curing 1 minute between layers and then wipe off. the next day the tips of my nails are still weak and flaky. can I put a 3rd layer on the next day to strengthen the tips. also I find nail polish doesn't stick to the ends of my gel ovelays.
Hi! You shouldn't have to apply a third layer unless you applied extremely thin layers then I don't see why not. Are you lightly filing the surface to remove all shine before applying nail polish? If not, polish won't stick to the gel. Also, I recommend giving your nails a break and/or take nail vitamins to help strengthen your nails.
Believe it or not it happens. It can be caused by over filing the nail plate and/or applying thick coats. When this happens, take your hand out of the lamp for few seconds, then put it back in and you should be good to go.
@@StyleByZaza happened to me at a nail salon with a nail repair. The hard gel chipped at the tip, then my nail under it before I could get to nail salon. She repaired it with a acrylic instead of just the hard gel which I didn't like because she was in a rush. I did just that because it felt like it was on fire to the point I was forced to pull my hand out, but when I put it back in, it stopped.
Lisenced nail tech here. Hard gels have heat spikes because the molecules are rushing quickly to cure. You can relieve the heat spike by allowing the nails to rest in front of the light (instead of inside the light) for the first few seconds, and also by tapping your fingers carefully while inside the lamp.
@@TrepidHen I felt the heat before, the first time I went, which was like a 3 maybe 4, second time barely noticed. The person who normally do my nails was not available, and the lady that did the repair I would say heat went to 10 to the point I screamed out.
@@nightshade1621 if you were in that much pain, I would say it's likely that you may have had damage to your nail bed. I'm sorry that you had to experience that. :( I know your pain, I've been there before. Before obtaining my liscence, I went to a questionable salon and had a negative experience with the e file.
It seems filing after hard gel would just file one of the gel layers right off . Is this the professional method I wonder? So polish doesn’t stick if you don’t file like that? Just curious, I’m new here 😊 God bless
Hi Noel, as I type this response, I'm thinking if I've ever done that. lol I don't believe I have. Over regular nail polish, it may not last - over gel nail polish it'll probably last longer but either way, there will be lifting. I guess one way to find out is try it on one nail. Sorry for the delayed response. I took a break from YT, but I'm back. :D
Sooo theres no need to use base coat polish?... I don't use IDB cause I'm allergic to it but I use the same type of gel and mines only last 2 days tops ? What am I doing wrong?
Hi Amei. I never use base coat polish. It's all about prepping the nails. Many think it's the product's fault but honestly, not prepping the nails is the cause for most issues.
I’ve been using this for a week and some pop off my nail. Sometimes it’s just pieces break off but other times the whole gel nail comes off. I’m using a dehydrator and primer, what am I doing wrong?
Hi Gonzalez-Valedz! Do you mean ibd clear hard gel? If so, very similar. clear is thinner viscosity and the builder is a bit thicker. I've used both on my natural nails and haven't noticed much of a difference.
Hi Gladys! To smooth the surface before applying nail polish. If you don't file/buff it, nail polish will look bumpy and uneven. Stop filing when nail surface is smooth and even.
Do they lift? I Use IBD also butnI use the ibd bonder that is meant to be used with the hard gel. Just trying to figure out if gels need primer! Im fresh out of school and never had issues until one client. Wondering if i need to add double dehydrate and primer (which I never use) along with the bonder.
Hi Jacquelyn! For me, I think I've had 2-3 nails lift by the cuticle area once or twice during the last 3-4 years and that's because I applied thick coats (watching TV and not paying attention lol). I've been using both a dehydrator then a primer. I've also used a bonder before and honestly, I didn't notice a difference. Your client may have weak or very oily nails, etc. You can also try using a lint-free wipe with either 91% alcohol or pure acetone and wipe the nails after filing then dehydrate and prime before you apply the gel. And apply thin coats; especially, the first coat. Hope this helps. :)
Hi Rose, I would tell you but it'll take forever :) so here are couple of videos that hopefully answer your questions: ua-cam.com/video/St-Da8MuCOc/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/v7uu76Jhj3Q/v-deo.html
Hi Cookie Nookie (love the name)! You're thinking of polygel which needs slip solution or 70% rubbing alcohol as an alternative for slip solution. Don't use any type of solution with hard gel. Hard gel is meant to be used on it's on. The brush will be sticky so when you're done, you can gently clean the brush with a little bit of alcohol and place a cap or wrap it with saran wrap to keep bristles from getting damaged.
If you find the gel is lifting then I recommend using both, but you don't have to use a dehydrator if you use a primer. Dehydrator dissolves the oils on the nails and the primer help bond the gel to the nail plate. Hope this helps.
great video can you also use this as a thin layer top coat to protect the color underneath? i used to get my nails done at walmart and they used this product as a top coat to protect the acrylic. I want to do exactly what you did in this video and just add a thin layer on top of the color to make it last longer with no chipping. Im interested in keeping the color on my nails for a while!
Hi and thank you! I've never tried using a thin coat over regular nail polish. It's a great idea though. Have you tried using gel nail polish? It lasts much longer than using regular nail polish - - between 10 - 15+ days.
Hi! I need help. Once I finish applying my primer and the thin coat of gel, it starts burning really bad once I put it in the lamp. The weird thing is that the moment I feel the burning and take my finger out, it’s already cured? It hurts really bad for a bout three seconds and spreads throughout my nail. Do you know what I’m doing wrong?
Hi Stephanie. It's called heat spike. It usually happens when you have weak nails and/or you over filed your nails. You did the right thing by taking you hand out of the lamp. When it stops hurting (usually a second or so) then put it back it until it's done curing.
So if using sculpting gel like this, we prep nail, put bonding on before putting sculpting gel on. 1) Does it need to go in UV lamp after bonding but before sculpting gel? Or after bonding the next step is to put the bead of sculpting gel on? 2) after the sculpting gel is cured, you wipe off the nails before applying color. Can we use gel polish on top of the sculpting gel (vs regular polish) and do we need anything on the hard-gel’ed nail before putting on gel polish color? Like a base of anything? Or after wiping off the hard-gel’ed nail, we apply gel color, no base or bonding....3) I assume we put nails in uv lamp after each gel polish color layer? Trying to learn this in face of covid
Hi Alana, neither. Just like acrylic, this hard gel is a nail enhancement. It feels more natural. It has no strong-smelling fumes, it's shiny and more flexible.
You're very lucky! :)) No, this gel does not damage the nails. In my next video, I will explain how to remove and do refills without damaging the nails.
The builder gel adds that extra layer of protection. Nail salons use the powder which require you to file the nail beds. (bad idea) It makes the nails thin, weak and dependent of future fills for strength. I believe that years of this caused damage to my nails. Good thing the nails always grow back.
Hi Sha'Brea! Yes, absolutely! I recommend you mix enough amount to cover all the nails on a small mixing tray or in a small plate/bowl you no longer use. I would apply the first coat without the glitter (thin coat) and apply the 2nd coat with glitter. Also, don't add too much glitter right away when mixing. Start with a little bit and see how you like it, if you need more, then add more. It'll look so pretty. I would also lightly buff the surface and top it off with a top coat. It'll look stunning!! Another idea, you can mix your top coat with glitter as well.
▶︎▶︎▶︎VERY IMPORTANT◀︎◀︎◀︎ In this video, I talk about using pure acetone to clean my brush. Unfortunately, I did not realize doing so ruins the brush over time. So please DO NOT use pure acetone to clean your brush. I mention it in PART 2 of 2: ua-cam.com/video/JZGFwrzGsfc/v-deo.html - How I do refills using IBD Hard Gel...
StyleByZaza I have used alcohol to clean my Brush is that not ok either?
Hi! I'm soooo sorry for not responding sooner. I didn't see this until now. Yes, alcohol works fine.
Walhat would you suggest in replacement?
I love IBD hard gel! I started out with tips and gel. After 4 months, the tips have grown out and my own nails are as long as they were with the tips on. I'll be keeping this on my own nails forever. I was a die hard acrylic and tips fan for 25 years, and a licensed nail tech. I finally made the switch to gel, it looks so much more natural, I still have the nice curve in them that I like and I haven't broken one nail yet. I use the IBD Pink builder gel, in-fill every 2 weeks, file a bit off the whole nail then do the cuticle area and the whole nail, finish with a sealer coat and I'm good to go. I still use regular polish, I change it every week. IBD is the best hard gel that I've found so far.
How do you properly remove ibd hard gel?
Mary Liberato I’m guessing like how you would remove acrylics
Reading your comment you could have been talking about me and my experience (apart from being a nail tech!) I’ve had acrylics on continuously for YEARS (I’m ashamed to admit how many) then came COVID 😳 I ended up soaking my acrylics off at home and resigned myself to “no nails” until salons reopened. I was HORRIFIED to see the state of my nails beneath the acrylic and vowed not to get them re done until my nails had grown fully out and were healthy again (which took months) and salons were still closed. I then fell head first down the UA-cam rabbit hole and watched endless fantastic videos showing gel and builder gel application this combined with watching the nail tech’s methods doing my nails for years made me think 🤔 I could just give it a go and see how I get on which is what I did and I haven’t looked back since!! I’ve found that IBD works really well for me and it suits my nails with the bonus being it saves me a fortune!
I noticed in your comment you said you finish with a sealer coat, is that a separate different product that you use or do you mean just putting a thin coat of the IBD clear hard gel (this is what I do simply because my nail tech used to do my full set of acrylics then she’d brush on a thin coat of IBD hard gel, after she started doing this I hardly got ANY lifting and it gave a great really hard shine so I’ve just carried on!). I’m happy with the look and performance of the thin coat of IBD hard clear as a final top/sealer coat but if there’s a better option I’m happy to give it a go!! xx
Yes, saw this getting my nails done on Saturday! In my head, I said they will never see me here again!🤣🤣🤣
I have invested in so many different types of nail art “stuff” and it always looks like shred did my nails. Well I went into a little gal, just out of school who has a mother who is a highly respected nail artist. I was one of it not her first client. I had always had acrylic tips applied. I am 50. I watched this young girl do exactly what you just showed. It was evident it was her first few appointments and then it hit me. Every single item she used I own. Here I am ready to tackle my first self applied set tomorrow and until just now I was truly scared. You made a light bulb go off inside my head. I am serious. Thank you so much for that. I am grateful and I am now a new subscriber
Just wanted to update you to say I purchased the items and did my own nails! They are beautiful and I have gotten tons of compliments asking where I got my nails done already! The only issue is I had to refill after 1 week because it started lifting. I think I am getting too close to the edges and my cuticle but practice makes perfect. I'm happy with one week of beautiful nails that take no time at all anyway lol. Thank you!
You are very welcome and thank you very much for the update. I love when I get updates from my wonderful subscribers! Yes, you got too close to the cuticle which if fine, but apply very thin layer around the cuticle so it won't lift and catch on anything. I've been traveling and haven't done my nails for 3 weeks now. I'm going to post a pic today on Instagram of what my nails look like after 3 weeks - - packing/unpacking 10 times!!! I used gel nail polish because I knew I'd be gone for a while. I had no chipping, lifting or anything except you can see a gap between the cuticle and the gel color.
Mine came out awesome except three on my right hand seems may needed a little more curing it’s still sticky
Eeek! Make sure to close the lid on your gel pot before turning on the lamp(in case you accidentally start curing it) great video :)
Thank you and that's so true! It happened to me. LOL
Right. Lolz good times!
This tutorial is amazing! Thank you! I applied gel overlay for the first time on my own today and they turned out great. Normally I pay around 110 usd to get them done at a salon for the exact same result. Im so happy! ❤︎❤︎❤︎ Why havent I tried this before? God I have lost a lot of money lol. Thanks again for the easy tutorial :) love it
Thank you Kate! $110!! OMG!! Think of all the shoes you could've bought. 😂😂😂 I'm so happy you found this video and I'm even happier because you just saved a lot of money! Happy shopping! 😉
110? That better have came with 3 inches of free nail & bedazzled in crystal rhinestones with every nail a different design!
Mine chipped off after a day’s use and I prepped the nail properly 😞
Very well explained. Had lot many queries, all answered in one tutorial. Thanks a million ❤
I wasn't aware that you can paint nails with nail polish on top of the hard gel
I'm so excited to try this
I just got mine yesterday..and I'm having hard time to apply. ..but now after I watched the video it helps alot.
I'm so glad this video helped you. 💃🏻 Before you know it, you'll be a pro!
I ❤︎ this gel! It prevents my nails from breaking as they grow out.
thanks for saying that, this is exactly what I need!! I was not sure if I should buy the soft or the hard gel. Thank you so much!!!
Sorry for not replying sooner -- just saw this comment. You're very welcome and thanks for watching. :)
How do you remove it?
You can either soak them for about 5+ minutes then file the remainder of the gel, but be very careful not to file the natural nail or file them off and also be careful not to file the natural nail. I'll be doing a video on how to remove them soon.
I use this stuff on 95% of my clients. Love it! My question is. Why does it burn , the first few seconds coming in contact with light? I’ve email IBD 2 months ago and no reply.
Is it possible to use regular color nail polish over the hard gel?
Why is mine still sticky after curing ?😢
Clean with acetone after curing then buff and then start with nail art
Thanks for this post
I started using builder gel but it's not strong enough bcz my nails are thin
I've watched a few hard gel tutorial and this one explains things very easily
I love how simple your video is. I followed it and even though it’s my first time I was able to do a great job. Thanks
What are you using to clean your brush in between coats of hard gel ???
I just bought the IBD gel kit and a uv lamp. Excited to try this!
That's great! I hope you love it as much as I do! :)
Did u like it?
Thank you for the video very helpful. But when I put on hard gel, or builder gel it peels off. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you.
Hi! Are you prepping the nail and using a primer? Prepping the nail is the key for long last mani. Sorry for the delayed response. I took a break from YT, but I'm back. :D
@@StyleByZaza Not a problem. I do use the primer, but not sure if the amount I am using is wrong. Thank you for your help.
Seems like a great option to use instead of the powder. I was confused about the end as you said to use top coat and color of your choice. I thought the top coat goes on top of the color for a glossy finish.
Thank you for this video. I started doing my own nails due to covid and I realize it's much harder that one thinks. But as u said practice makes perfect. Great video, great tips, thank you for sharing.
That's great Monique! So glad you found this video and I'm sorry for the delayed response. I took a break from YT, but I'm back. :D
Do I need to put primer on top of the builder before the color?
does this lift around the edges like gel polish does?
Omg I did my nails and look so nice!! So natural!! And pretty.
Oh that's awesome!! Thanks for letting me know!! Have a fabulous evening! :)
Hello ! Just a question , don't you need to put gel base coat and cure before applying the actual hard gel ? Thank yoy!
Can you use hard gel then a UV coloured gel and then seal
With top coat
Hi i prep my nails prior to applying the gel and i also use gel polish. When my gel polish peels off, it takes off the hard gel as well. What am i don't wrong 🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
Oh my gosh you cleared up so many questions I had in just this one video! I got my first hard gel a few weeks ago and have buffed it down and shaped it with my dremel (don’t do unless you have experience with a rotary tool) - just generally had to learn to maintain it on my own because I can’t find a salon in Chicago near me who does hard gel! It hasn’t really caught on here yet. I’ve planned on doing it exactly how you and many people do, just do fills and keep the gel as “my harder stronger nail” under any polish, so thank you!
You're so very welcome Annemarie. It really is very easy to use. I absolutely love it!
Thank you so much for this video.. I've been using dip powder to keep my nails hard. Just did my nails with IBD hard gel and I'm amazed how much easier it was and less messy. Cut my time in half... Thanks again... Great Job!!!
Thank you very much and you're very welcome! I've never tried, and will likely never try, dip powder for the reasons you mentioned. I love hard gel! It's so easy to work with and always looks amazing on the nails.
Hey I am also planning to use the ibd hard gel but I only have a mini UV LED lamp of 9W soo do you think it will work with the hard gel? What wattage is your lamp?
I’m having difficulty for some reason after i put my nails under the LED light after the first coat of gel or second coat of gel is wet. Isnt it supposed to be dry?
Did u find a solution for this? I just started using it too and my nails don't feel dry I've cured my nails like 10 times and I'm late for work imma be serving food with gel smell on my hands!!!
Ericka Alvarenga you can remove the tacky (sticky) surface with alcohol or acetone like she did at 2:47 in the video!
It will remain tacky till wiped with acetone or alcohol.
It is so thin , it don’t break for you ? I did for client it thicker than yours and is still break help and please !
How many watts do u have to use?
I've used from 7W up to 48W LED lamps and they all cure hard and soak-off gel.
How do U get my nails to stop breaking? When I had tips and acrylic my nails didn’t break as easily and as often. I did my nails two days ago and have already lost two nails. I’m so sad because I finally got my natural long and then they broke
What's the grit on the yellow block buffer?
Does it burns while curing
question. My gel keeps chipping. I follow your prep work and even use the exact same products. I did my nails Tuesday, got large chip on L.Thumb Wednesday, top half of r.pinky nail chipped Thursday, and 3/4 of entire r.thumb chipped right off Friday. I dont think I do heavy manual work. I notice though that after curing the gel seems to slightly pull away from the tips of my nails even if I seal it with gel. Any tips??
It could be several reasons...
Your natural nails are fragile/thin/brittle. Certain medications can be the cause as well. You probably still have oils on your nails - - prepping is very important; otherwise, lifting/chipping will occur. A couple of tips:
Do not apply gel on freshly wash hands and/or don’t soak nails in water. Nails are very porous. When they touch water, the nails expand and it takes a long time before they are completely dry. So after they're dry, the gel/polish will peel or chip. This also applies to regular polish application.
After prepping the nails, lightly wipe the nail beds with pure acetone using a lint-free cotton ball.
I hope these tips help and good luck.
Mine is not curing... not sure what I am doing wrong, I pretty much did all the steps but when I tried to Cure it for over 3 minutes still soft as when I applied it.. any recommendations?
Can anyone tell me how strong these gel nails are compared to acrylic? I am hard on my nails.
My nails are so short is there a way to use this to make short nail extensions
Yes, absolutely. There are many videos on YT on how to use hard gel with either free forms or tips.
To use the ibd, you don't need a base coat right?
if i have a uv/led light how long should i cure?
What LED light do you use/recommend? I tried using my sister’s, but it didn’t work very well😅
You don’t need base coat when applying hard gel ?? You can just use the same hard gel ??
Do i need to use base coat?
I use a base coat before adding any gel product to adhere to and add a layer of protection to my natural nail. I didn’t even think you could apply straight to nail even with a bonding product 🤷🏻♀️ I’m not a trained technician so what do I know lol just intrigued that’s all 🙂 thank you for taking the time to share 💅🏻
I am trained in hard gel, it depends on the product, some require a base layer, some do not. If that helps.
@@kayrichardson4378 Hi Kay, I wasn’t aware of that or seen on tutorials. It’s interesting and confusing! I don’t know how I’ve managed being self taught because it is a mind field of products and methods/procedures. It’s so good that people like yourself share information to help. I’m so grateful, thank you I will watch out for that 🙏🏻☺️
No problem, 😊
I've applied this hard gel with and without a base coat and honestly, I didn't notice the difference. One less step for me. :D I think it's all about prepping the nail and using a good bonder. I've been using this several years now and still loving it.
@@StyleByZaza Hi, that’s great to know thank you for taking the time to tell me. Less steps needed sounds good to me lol 😂. Enjoy your weekend ☺️
You're going to ruin your brush by cleaning it so often especially with acetone. It's okay to leave gel in the brush- just put a cap on it so it doesn't accidentally get cured by the sun. ❤️
Hi Chandra! Unfortunately, I already did! :(( I mention it in part 2: ua-cam.com/video/JZGFwrzGsfc/v-deo.html. I recently started leaving the gel in the brush and it works like a charm. Yayyyy!!
StyleByZaza as long as you re-hydrate it after the acetone it will be fine
True .......... you’re not supposed to do that
I put some in an old nail polish bottle (do not recommended. It was near impossible) the gel polish brush works great to put down a thin smooth layer.
Can I use as top gel? :)
May I know what kind of nail polish should use for hard gel base? Like regular nail polish or must be use specific one? Thanks
Brush link please?
can the ibd hard gel be thinned
The easiest tutorial to follow, thanks!!
You're very welcome and thank you very much Debby! I'm so glad you found this easy. Have a wonderful week!
Hi, I purchased hard gel as when I was using soak off it was coming off when I removed my normal nail polish and I wanted a gel overlay that would stay on. Can you please advise why my hard gel is coming off! I though none soak off was only meant to come off with filing? Please help thank you
If you do shellac on top of these how do you remove it so you can do a fill, without removing all the gel?
Hi Kendra! You can file off the gel.
@@StyleByZaza thank you so much! Do you think I'll need an E-file?
Manual filing does take a VERY long time. I've done it so many times and I finally gave up and decided to get an e-file. I can file off the gel A LOT faster. I'm on my second one e-file. The first one I used stopped working after a year and after tons of research, I decided to buy this one: amzn.to/3lwqgjy and I LOVE it!!! I keep saying I need to do a video about it. 😬 If you're not used to using an e-file, please be careful and don't over file. With practice, you'll get the hang of it.
Oh and you'll also need sanding ring bands: amzn.to/3nHNB3K I tend to use the medium size the most. Tip: watch YT videos on how to use an e-file if you're not sure. There are plenty of videos out there. Good luck!
Hi. Thank you for videos. Can i use ard gel as a top coat as well ?
Do I need to apply a base coat before applying color or does this become the base coat?
Hi Sue, I've done it both ways and prefer to use base coat. It's up to you but don't forget to buff the shine away; otherwise, the polish will peel.
@@StyleByZaza thank you. I tried doing this for the first time last week and I was amazed at how easy it was after your excellent tutorial. In fact, my nails look better than they ever have, and I've been doing my own gel nails for years. I'm a little bit nervous about the next step, of removing the color and filling in the growth area then redoing the color. I'm hoping it will be as easy as the initial application. I have viewed both of your tutorials on this topic (part 1 and 2 of diy hard gel) numerous times, and have found them to be extremely helpful. I searched the web before I found you, and you are the only one that I found who actually taught how to do this to enhance the look of your natural nails instead of adding tips. Thank you so much, great job. Someday I will watch some of your other tutorials. At this point I have only watched these two on how to do the hard gel on the natural nails.
Awww you're so VERY VERY welcome! You made my day! I bet your nails look fabulous!! TIPS: Use a file to remove the color. It's quite a bit of work but so worth it. If you see some lifting around the cuticle area, lightly file it down to the natural nail but be careful not to file the natural nail. I prefer filing over using clippers to remove any lifting. With practice, you'll definitely get the hang of it. Also, when you do filling, remember to apply thin coats. Hope this helps.
How do you repair cracks in this stuff? Noticed that I get a few of them lately....
It could be because the area where it's cracking is too thin by the free edge or ?? If it's only a crack without any lifting, I personally would lightly buff the area and apply gel over it. If there's lifting, then I would remove the gel and start all over. But make sure the gel is not too thin.
I just got my order today going to try it! thank you for the quick tutorial!
Hi Jessica. That's great and you're very welcome! Sorry for the delayed response. I took a break from YT, but I'm back. :D
I recently bought this gel lamp on Amazon: UV LED Nail Lamp, SUNUV Gel Nail Light for Nail Polish 48W UV Dryer with 3 Timers SUNone, and loving it! This is the one that you recommend, and it's great, and for a great price.
Thanks for sharing and I'm so happy you love it!
@@StyleByZaza I also love all of your very helpful videos, better than the rest!
Is 2 coats recommended or a personal choice? Can you elaborate as to why you used 2 coats ? Thank you
Does it hurt when you put it in the lamp
No, not at all.
if i use this hard gel, can i paint over top of it with regular colored gel polish?
Yes, absolutely. Just make sure you lightly file the surface to remove all shine so that regular and/or gel polish stick to the hard gel.
Does IBD need slip solution like polygel?
No, I find it easier to use than polygel. No need to mix this gel with anything.
If i want to apply gel polish over the builder gel do i still need a base coat ?
It's up to you. I've done it both ways and both work just fine.
does a bonder replace a traditional base coat before gel?
I don't use a base coat. Bonder or primer (which I prefer) should be used before applying hard gel.
Love your nail videos! Quick to the point! Just need how long to do the final light?
Hi. I've just tried to use this gel over natural nails but when I've gone to wipe off the tacky residue the whole lot comes off. Can you advise? Thanks, Gill
Gill Groves how long are you curing them and what kind of light are you using. You may need to cure longer.UV is usually 60:seconds per cure and Led 2-3 minutes for each cure.
Hi just a quick Q. Do you wipe nails inbetween IBD coats OR one coat on top of other after the curing?
Hi, my nails are very weak and have started using ibd gel on my natural nails. after prepping them I use bonder, cure for 30 seconds, then 2 layers of ibd gel curing 1 minute between layers and then wipe off. the next day the tips of my nails are still weak and flaky. can I put a 3rd layer on the next day to strengthen the tips. also I find nail polish doesn't stick to the ends of my gel ovelays.
Hi! You shouldn't have to apply a third layer unless you applied extremely thin layers then I don't see why not. Are you lightly filing the surface to remove all shine before applying nail polish? If not, polish won't stick to the gel. Also, I recommend giving your nails a break and/or take nail vitamins to help strengthen your nails.
Is there meant to be a tacky layer after curing ?
When it's being cured under the UV light and have a strong burning feeling. What went wrong?
Believe it or not it happens. It can be caused by over filing the nail plate and/or applying thick coats. When this happens, take your hand out of the lamp for few seconds, then put it back in and you should be good to go.
@@StyleByZaza happened to me at a nail salon with a nail repair. The hard gel chipped at the tip, then my nail under it before I could get to nail salon. She repaired it with a acrylic instead of just the hard gel which I didn't like because she was in a rush. I did just that because it felt like it was on fire to the point I was forced to pull my hand out, but when I put it back in, it stopped.
Lisenced nail tech here. Hard gels have heat spikes because the molecules are rushing quickly to cure. You can relieve the heat spike by allowing the nails to rest in front of the light (instead of inside the light) for the first few seconds, and also by tapping your fingers carefully while inside the lamp.
@@TrepidHen I felt the heat before, the first time I went, which was like a 3 maybe 4, second time barely noticed. The person who normally do my nails was not available, and the lady that did the repair I would say heat went to 10 to the point I screamed out.
@@nightshade1621 if you were in that much pain, I would say it's likely that you may have had damage to your nail bed. I'm sorry that you had to experience that. :( I know your pain, I've been there before. Before obtaining my liscence, I went to a questionable salon and had a negative experience with the e file.
can you out gel nail polish on top
It seems filing after hard gel would just file one of the gel layers right off . Is this the professional method I wonder? So polish doesn’t stick if you don’t file like that? Just curious, I’m new here 😊 God bless
I love the colors, perfect for the upcoming spring. Whether you follow trend, or not a big hit! It suits you ...
Can you put builder gel over nail polish and cure? Or will that mess them up
Hi Noel, as I type this response, I'm thinking if I've ever done that. lol I don't believe I have. Over regular nail polish, it may not last - over gel nail polish it'll probably last longer but either way, there will be lifting. I guess one way to find out is try it on one nail. Sorry for the delayed response. I took a break from YT, but I'm back. :D
If you have a UV/LED lamp which curing time do you use?
Sooo theres no need to use base coat polish?... I don't use IDB cause I'm allergic to it but I use the same type of gel and mines only last 2 days tops ? What am I doing wrong?
Hi Amei. I never use base coat polish. It's all about prepping the nails. Many think it's the product's fault but honestly, not prepping the nails is the cause for most issues.
What liquid or solution do you use for ibd gel?
I’ve been using this for a week and some pop off my nail. Sometimes it’s just pieces break off but other times the whole gel nail comes off. I’m using a dehydrator and primer, what am I doing wrong?
nothing you have very oily nails it happens to me too my nail comes out
I use ibd often but customers complain it chips off sometimes
Can I use this to adhere press on nails
Hi Linduh! No.
So I have a question??? When useing the ibd hard gel all I need to use is the mia secret xtrabond and then the gel??
Hi Keithia, Yes, use the xtrabond before applying the gel. It helps keep gel from lifting.
StyleByZaza thank you so much 👍
You're very welcome!
I have the ibd transparent hard gel. Is it the same as the builder gel?
Hi Gonzalez-Valedz! Do you mean ibd clear hard gel? If so, very similar. clear is thinner viscosity and the builder is a bit thicker. I've used both on my natural nails and haven't noticed much of a difference.
@@StyleByZaza yes, exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you!
Hey, why is filing the nail, after the clear builder gel is cured a next step and when do you stop filing?
Thanks
Hi Gladys! To smooth the surface before applying nail polish. If you don't file/buff it, nail polish will look bumpy and uneven. Stop filing when nail surface is smooth and even.
Thanks
You're welcome! :)
Do they lift? I Use IBD also butnI use the ibd bonder that is meant to be used with the hard gel. Just trying to figure out if gels need primer! Im fresh out of school and never had issues until one client. Wondering if i need to add double dehydrate and primer (which I never use) along with the bonder.
Hi Jacquelyn! For me, I think I've had 2-3 nails lift by the cuticle area once or twice during the last 3-4 years and that's because I applied thick coats (watching TV and not paying attention lol). I've been using both a dehydrator then a primer. I've also used a bonder before and honestly, I didn't notice a difference. Your client may have weak or very oily nails, etc. You can also try using a lint-free wipe with either 91% alcohol or pure acetone and wipe the nails after filing then dehydrate and prime before you apply the gel. And apply thin coats; especially, the first coat. Hope this helps. :)
do you cure the primer/bonder
Hi Arcie! No, you don't.
How do you use this builder gel when doing tips or acrylics since there is monumer and polymer for these?
Hi Rose, I would tell you but it'll take forever :) so here are couple of videos that hopefully answer your questions:
ua-cam.com/video/St-Da8MuCOc/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/v7uu76Jhj3Q/v-deo.html
How do you prevent the heat spikes?
Hi Chauncess. Remove hand from led light for about 3-5 seconds and then put it back and voila.
When ever I see your hands I'm so envious about how smooth and youthful they look, when my 34 year old hands look so much older then yours :)
Five words for you.... Stay Away From The Sun! :))
I heard you had to have monomer or some kind of liquid so it doesn’t stick to the brush, do I need a liquid like that or do I just use it without
Hi Cookie Nookie (love the name)! You're thinking of polygel which needs slip solution or 70% rubbing alcohol as an alternative for slip solution. Don't use any type of solution with hard gel. Hard gel is meant to be used on it's on. The brush will be sticky so when you're done, you can gently clean the brush with a little bit of alcohol and place a cap or wrap it with saran wrap to keep bristles from getting damaged.
@@StyleByZaza ohh gotcha, thank you for telling me that. I wasn’t sure and I’m learning as I go!
Do you still need to use a dehydrator or just the primer alone?
If you find the gel is lifting then I recommend using both, but you don't have to use a dehydrator if you use a primer. Dehydrator dissolves the oils on the nails and the primer help bond the gel to the nail plate. Hope this helps.
Acid base primers are also dehydrators. Using rubbing alcohol or acetone after prep and before application is all the dehydrator you need.
Can everyone give me some advice, I did try two time why I always got lifting the next day 😕. What did I do wrong.? Also I did a thin lay 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Lifting is almost always caused by poor prep. Check out Young Nails inc for some incredible tutorials on preparation, application, and product advice!
Not always does it have to do with prep. If you do a lot of dishes or live in a humid climate your nails flex & if its too thin of a layer also.
Lifting on the side cuticle area correct?
Can you put ibd builder gel in a nail polish bottle and use it like a builder gel in a bottle?
I guess you can but I don't recommend it. If you're using the nail polish brush it's too flimsy AND you'll waste a lot IBD gel.
great video can you also use this as a thin layer top coat to protect the color underneath? i used to get my nails done at walmart and they used this product as a top coat to protect the acrylic. I want to do exactly what you did in this video and just add a thin layer on top of the color to make it last longer with no chipping. Im interested in keeping the color on my nails for a while!
Hi and thank you! I've never tried using a thin coat over regular nail polish. It's a great idea though. Have you tried using gel nail polish? It lasts much longer than using regular nail polish - - between 10 - 15+ days.
Hi! I need help. Once I finish applying my primer and the thin coat of gel, it starts burning really bad once I put it in the lamp. The weird thing is that the moment I feel the burning and take my finger out, it’s already cured? It hurts really bad for a bout three seconds and spreads throughout my nail. Do you know what I’m doing wrong?
Hi Stephanie. It's called heat spike. It usually happens when you have weak nails and/or you over filed your nails. You did the right thing by taking you hand out of the lamp. When it stops hurting (usually a second or so) then put it back it until it's done curing.
So if using sculpting gel like this, we prep nail, put bonding on before putting sculpting gel on. 1) Does it need to go in UV lamp after bonding but before sculpting gel? Or after bonding the next step is to put the bead of sculpting gel on? 2) after the sculpting gel is cured, you wipe off the nails before applying color. Can we use gel polish on top of the sculpting gel (vs regular polish) and do we need anything on the hard-gel’ed nail before putting on gel polish color? Like a base of anything? Or after wiping off the hard-gel’ed nail, we apply gel color, no base or bonding....3) I assume we put nails in uv lamp after each gel polish color layer? Trying to learn this in face of covid
Is it primer OR bonder of both or what
Hi Alana, neither. Just like acrylic, this hard gel is a nail enhancement. It feels more natural. It has no strong-smelling fumes, it's shiny and more flexible.
You're tutorial is easy to follow. I wanted to know if you used a sealant.
Thank you very much Angie. I used topcoat which acts as a sealant.
Okay. Thank you.
You're welcome.
My Niall are naturally long and Strong, but I want to do an overlay for extra protection .. do they damage the nails?
You're very lucky! :)) No, this gel does not damage the nails. In my next video, I will explain how to remove and do refills without damaging the nails.
The builder gel adds that extra layer of protection. Nail salons use the powder which require you to file the nail beds. (bad idea) It makes the nails thin, weak and dependent of future fills for strength. I believe that years of this caused damage to my nails. Good thing the nails always grow back.
Do you think I can mix this with loose glitter then paint onto nails?? Or is it too thick? If so, what would you recommend
Hi Sha'Brea! Yes, absolutely! I recommend you mix enough amount to cover all the nails on a small mixing tray or in a small plate/bowl you no longer use. I would apply the first coat without the glitter (thin coat) and apply the 2nd coat with glitter. Also, don't add too much glitter right away when mixing. Start with a little bit and see how you like it, if you need more, then add more. It'll look so pretty. I would also lightly buff the surface and top it off with a top coat. It'll look stunning!! Another idea, you can mix your top coat with glitter as well.
I just purchased this last week. Thanks for the video!!
Yayyy and you're very welcome! It's a little more maintenance but worth it.
What grit number is the yellow block filler?
Hi Marisol, I used 320 grit from Sally Beauty Supply. I also use a 220 grit once in a while. Both get the job done.
Ok thanks for the info