I recently purchased this nail extension gel kit, and I’m finally feeling like I can provide a decent review. I have been doing my own nails for quite awhile now, but previously was only using UV gel polish. The UV Gel Polish I prefer to use is from Red Carpet Manicure. I purchased an entire starter kit from Ulta years ago, and I would say it was a wonderful investment. The Red Carpet Manicure Kit came with a UV light, pre & post cleaner, gel polish remover, prep, base coat, color polish, final top coat, cuticle pusher and a nail file. It been years since I purchased the kit, but I want to say it was on sale for approximately $100. For me that’s a rather large purchase, however when I considered it’s at least $40 to get just one gel polish manicure in my area, I decided to go ahead and make the purchase. Everything that comes in the kit lasts quite a long time. The different colored polishes run approximately $9.99/ea at Ulta, and they have coupons frequently making them even cheaper. At those prices, I can afford to have nice nails all the time.
Anyhow, lets get back to this recent purchase. As my schedule has gotten increasingly busy, I find myself not always having time to stop and do my nails. I’ll remove the polish, but quite frankly, be too lazy to then do my nails right then and there. My nails grow very quickly when they are protected by polish, however when they are bare, they don’t stand a chance. Naturally, my nails are very thin and brittle. The tear and rip I swear just by looking at them. With that being said, lately my nails have been too short to really have the nice look that I prefer. One day I stumbled across this kit on Amazon, and decided to give it a try. At the time of my purchase, I paid $38.24 for the kit. Again, I’m frugal and had to think about the purchase for awhile before hitting the “Proceed To Checkout” button. Thinking again at how much one manicure would cost at a salon, I decided to go ahead and treat myself.
Below are the images that you will find with the Amazon listing, including the easy to follow application instructions. As well as pictures of my latest application. (The gorgeous ring I’m wearing is available to purchase via Frugal Fashionista). Initially I had concerns regarding the nail forms that would be provided. I have weird nail beds and any time I’ve purchased those press on nails, they typically don’t line up very well. To my surprise, this kit comes with SEVERAL form sizes. During my first use, I sorted thru the entire bag and picked the 5 sizes I would use and put all the rest in a baggy. I just use 5 for one hand and then the same 5 for the other hand. Another great thing about this kit is that there’s enough gel provided for several applications. When you think of the number of manicures you’ll get out of this kit, it’s definitely worth it.
Now for the cons. Since I had never worked with applying acrylic or a gel base like this, the first application took what seemed like FOREVER. Because you apply some gel in the nail form and then press that form onto your natural nail, (which will usually be shorter than the length of the gel base that you have spread out), it tends to smoosh downward creating a very thick looking nail. I didn’t realize this during my first application until I had already cured the gel under the UV light and at that point it was too late to fix. Since then, I have realized I don’t need to use as much gel and I flip my hand palm side up, and gently press the gel back towards the form so that it’s flat like a natural nail and not so thick.
Another con is that I was hoping to not have to paint these nails. As the images show hands with just the colored gel. I have yet to be able to apply the gel base on all my fingers without seeing some air bubbles up towards my cuticle. It would drive me absolutely nuts to have to stare at those bubbles, so I have been applying colored gel polish to finish. So far those are my only complaints. I’m sure I’ll get better each time I apply these and may eventually be good enough that I don’t get those bubbles and be satisfied with just the gel base and not need a gel polish too. If you’re interested in reviewing these on amazon click here or click on the very last image below and it will send you to the link that I used to purchase these. If you do make a purchase, feel free to come back and comment leaving your own review. I hope this helps in your decision making.
