Strengthening nails with gel: how to strengthen them and how to use gel polish, acrylic, biogel, base, step by step at home and in the salon

Strengthening nails with gel is necessary if they are weakened, thin, peeling or breaking. The procedure is also indicated for long, highly flexible plates. Strengthening is carried out not only with extension products, but also with hard bases, acrylic compounds, the same powders, biogels, including camouflage ones.

One of the selected cosmetic preparations is applied to oil-free nails, coated with a primer, and polymerized. Unevenness should be removed with a file and a buff. And on top the strengthening agent is covered with gel polish or only with a transparent top. After all, many of them also give a beautiful natural shade to your nails, without the need to paint them.

Strengthening nails with gel: what is needed for the procedure

Starter kit for strengthening nails
Strengthening nails with gel is only possible if you have a certain set of products and tools:

lamps for coating polymerization,
nail files,
soft buff
orange stick,
clinser,
primer,
degreaser,
lint-free wipes,
brushes for applying strengthening composition,
the means for imparting rigidity to the plates.

The list of what is needed to strengthen nails with gel depends on their general appearance and condition. Before starting the procedure, you must perform a hygienic manicure. Then the list of tools will expand; you should add cuticle scissors, an applicator with a silicone tip, or a pusher. After all, in essence, strengthening nails with gel is a procedure that precedes the application of a decorative coating for longer wearing. That is, doing a manicure after using a product that gives your nails strength and smoothness is pointless.

Advice from experienced manicurists

By following the step-by-step instructions, girls will be able to strengthen their nails with their own hands. Experienced professionals advise following the correct technique for applying biogel: paint first in the center from the base of the nail up, then in stripes on the sides. Having sealed the ends with gel, you should hold your hand with your nails towards the floor for a few seconds - this way the varnish coating will be better distributed over the surface, and the transverse bend will take a rounded shape.

File the ends of the nail

20-minute daily baths will help severely peeling nails:

with starch (tbsp/l of water);
with apple cider vinegar and olive oil (1/1);
with sea salt (1 tbsp salt / l water + 8 drops of iodine).

Experienced professionals also advise:

Between painting with varnish, you need to take breaks of 2-3 days so that your nails can rest.
Nail polish remover that does not contain acetone helps prevent the plates from drying out.
For a high-quality manicure, apply a base before applying varnish. It will protect your nails from the dyes in its composition. Preference should be given to thick rubber. Most suitable for this are: Lovely Base, Adore Professional, Komilfo, NeoNail.
Biogels are better suited for problem nails: El Corazon, Atica TM, Yoko; Bio Stretch Gel.
To get perfect round nail highlights, you need a round lamp. Without it, it is difficult to make them beautiful. For this you need a simple table lamp. After applying the strengthening composition, the nails are kept under such a lamp for 25-30 seconds, only then sent to a UV lamp to completely harden.

The easiest and most economical way to strengthen your nails with gel is to take the first step and master a simple technique. If, nevertheless, the whole procedure seems complicated to someone, then salons are an excellent way out of the situation. The main thing is that your nails shine with health and beauty.

Strengthening nails with gel under gel polish: options for how to strengthen them

Strengthening nails with gel under gel polish is required if they are thin, excessively flexible, or flaking. If the surface of the plates is too oily or damp, the procedure will also prolong the wearing of the color coating. Today the following types of nail strengthening with gel polish are known:

Acrylic composition, also known as acrylic, hybrid gel or polygel. This viscous product with synthetic components is pink, beige or completely transparent. It does not level out on the surface on its own, but it does not flow onto the skin. The product is easy to file off after drying if the layer is too thick.

Acrylatic Cosmoprofi (hybrid of gel and acrylic) Acrylatic Pink

Acrylic Powder. This is a brilliant, finely ground powder of the same nature as the previous remedy. It is easier to strengthen nails with gel polish than with liquid acrylic, especially since there are several ways to apply powder evenly. It also comes in color and transparent.

Colored acrylic powder

Biogel. This is a colorless or tinted, rather thick liquid containing synthetic polymers, calcium, vitamins, and proteins. It not only makes nails tough, eliminating brittleness, but also nourishes them. The product has a thinner consistency than acrylic, so it is easier to apply.

Biogel from TNL Professional
Covering natural nails with this gel without extensions is technically comparable to using a rubber base. But the strengthening effect of a product with natural ingredients is, of course, more noticeable.

Single-phase gel. This composition is intended for extensions, but can also be used for natural nails of any length to make them stronger. It does not require a base or top coat, which greatly simplifies the work. But at the same time, you don’t have to be afraid of peelings; the manicure lasts a long time. The compositions also come with a tint, that is, they can be used without colored varnish.

Other types of extension gel. They can be transparent or tinted, two- and three-phase. The products are easy to apply and have the consistency of a thick base or top.

Acrylic gel

Acrylic gel can be an ideal composition to make nail plates stronger if used correctly:

First, the surfaces are treated with the hard side of the buff.
They need to be degreased.
First, apply a thin layer of primer to clean nails, air dry it for a few seconds until it evaporates completely.
Then you need to apply a liquid base with good adhesive properties not only to the entire plate, but also to the end parts.
Read also: Acrylic nail extensions at home: step-by-step instructions for beginners
This layer is dried in a lamp.
The brush that will be used to pick up and apply the acrylic is lightly moistened in a cleanser (you can drip it onto a cotton pad).
The required amount of composition is scooped out of the jar with it or a spatula and a portion is applied to the nail.
With a brush, it is kneaded over the plate so as not to disturb its natural architecture, that is, thinning the layer near the cuticle and side ridges.
The pile of the tool is moistened a little more with a cleaner and the acrylic is smoothed out, removing the glare.
If there is excess product on the end, remove it with a brush or pusher while it is wet.
The hand should be placed in a drying lamp.
The acrylic remaining at the ends is cut off, it also needs to be removed from under the nails.

Strengthening with a solid gel can be done under polymerizing colored varnish or left as the main coating of a natural shade, adding gloss with a top coat. In the first case, the dried acrylic needs to be removed from stickiness, then treat the nails with a buff and wipe off dust with a degreaser. After that, they are painted, the flower bed is polymerized and a top coat is applied. The last product also needs to be dried.

Strengthening your nails before gel polish will help avoid not only brittleness and cracks, but also eliminate peeling and chipping. In this case, the plates should not look thick. The layer of the strengthening agent must be no more than 0.5 mm, otherwise it may not dry out.

Acrylic powder is an excellent tool for strengthening natural nails.

Another commonly used product for strengthening natural nails is acrylic powder, which is quite simple to use:

After the manicure, the nails are degreased.
Then one of the plates is covered with a base, not reaching a couple of millimeters to the cuticle.
This finger is dipped into a jar of acrylic powder 2-3 times so that the border of the product does not reach the base line.
Excess powder is shaken off by lowering your hand down and tapping the joint with the applicator.
The nail must be dried for 30 seconds.
It is treated with a brush to remove excess grains of powder.
Next comes the application of a leveling base layer, which is also dried for 30 seconds.

After this, you can paint your nails with a flower garden as usual.

Other methods using powder

There are other ways to strengthen nails with gel polish powder:

Spray it on your nails. The base is applied as in the first case, with a layer of medium thickness. Then acrylic powder is poured onto the surface of the nail in several portions. The finger is placed in the lamp for 30 seconds, after which the plate is treated with a brush. All previous steps can be repeated with each nail 2 more times to strengthen them more reliably. And you can design with gel polish.
Mixing acrylic powder and base. A drop of the liquid product is placed on the palette, and a little powder is poured next to it. The components are mixed with a stick until a paste-like composition is obtained. Place a portion on the nail and work with it as with ready-made acrylic.

With gel under gel polish

Strengthening nails with gel under gel is also easy, in several stages:

Apply primer, air dry.
Using a special base for a strengthening agent, polymerization.
Apply the gel first in a thin layer, then “wet” in a thicker layer using the leveling technique.
Turn your hand over to spread the product.
Drying in a lamp with a decrease in its power setting.
Degreasing and coating with colored gel polish, top coat, sequential polymerization of each layer.

Biogel

Biogel not only makes nails harder so that the manicure lasts longer, but also treats them, allowing them to grow their own length. After all, these products contain proteins, calcium, vitamins and fewer aggressive components. Another advantage is the variety of colors of the product, that is, it can be used as a coating. The strengthening procedure looks like this:

Prepared nails are degreased and an acid-free primer is applied to them, covering the ends as well.
The product is air dried for 1 minute.
Next, apply the biogel, applying a thin layer, not forgetting about the end edges.
A second layer of strengthening agent is applied to the wet coating, simultaneously leveling the plates.
After drying, you can paint your nails with colored gel polish, then use a finishing agent, they are polymerized one by one.

Some masters use a base before biogel. But this remedy is needed for especially problematic nails, on which the coating hardly sticks.

Watch the video about three methods of applying biogel:

Single phase gel

Single-phase gel for strengthening weakened nail plates is applied in the following sequence:

They are properly prepared, and after a hygienic manicure they are wiped with a degreaser.
Then apply the first thin layer, spreading it over the entire plate, do not dry.
A larger volume of product is placed on this base and leveled so that the coating is denser.
All that remains is to dry it in a lamp.

Then you can cover your nails with colored gel polish or do without it. But in any case, a finishing agent is applied on top.

Rating of gel polishes

Segment Place Name Price Characteristics The best premium gel polishes 1 Shellak CND gel polish 900-1000 rub. Provides the most dense and long-lasting coverage. Best in its category. Advantages: durability, thick texture, color saturation, huge palette. Manufacturer: France. 2 Gel polish Beautix UV Gel 850-980 rub. It differs from its competitors in the glossy effect on the nails. Advantages: durability, palette of rare shades, dries in 30 seconds. Manufacturer: France.

3 Gel polish Akzentz Luxio

1100-1300 rub. Ideally distributed over the entire nail plate. Convenient to use. Advantages: durability, contains a huge amount of plant extracts that care for nails. Manufacturer: Canada. The best gel polishes for beginners 1 FOXProfessional Gel Polish

320-400 rub. Leader in quality in this price category. Advantages: durability, pleasant smell, comfortable wide brush, rich pigmentation. Production: USA, Ukraine.

2 Gel polish BOHEMIA APEX GEL 440-500 rub. The product is certified according to a three-level quality testing system. Advantages: uniform distribution, wide range of shades. Production: USA, Europe. 3 Gel polish Kodi Professional 380-430 rub. Has the ability to change tone depending on the ambient temperature. Lightens at high temperatures, darkens at low temperatures. Advantages: durability, ease of use, available in many cosmetics stores. Production: Ukraine.

The best budget gel polishes 1 Gel polish Haruayama Soak-Off 220-280 rub. Great product for the money. Pros: longevity, pleasant scent, excellent pigmentation. Made in Japan. 2 Bluesky gel polish 130-200 rub. Not suitable for beginners

Application requires the attention of an experienced technician. Pros: affordable price, comfortable medium-sized brush. 3 Tertio gel polish 180-220 rub. The only gel polish made in Russia

It has light pigmentation. As a result, the color will appear translucent. Advantages: fast drying, wide range of colors. Production: Russia. 4 Gel polish TNL MagnetEffect

130-150 rub. Allows you to create a cat-eye manicure using a magnet. Advantages: creation of an unusual design on nails, affordable price, economical product consumption. Production: Korea.

Which gel is suitable for strengthening nails?

Gel for strengthening nails is chosen according to their condition and the nature of the problems:

if they are uneven, with damage in the form of pits due to the tearing off of the old coating, or “twisted”, it is better to use acrylics;
for thin, brittle nails due to a lack of vitamins, a bio-composition is more suitable as a nail hardener under the gel;
if the coating simply doesn’t wear well and flies off quickly, you can use a single-phase product for the flower garden;
For soft, bendable plates, strengthening nails with extension gel is more suitable, but acrylic powder will also provide a good effect;
for long lengths, it is also worth choosing one of the two previous products.

It is difficult to say which gel for strengthening nails is better, since everything is individual. You should pay attention to the following brands:

biogels from TNL, Planet Nail, Irisk, Nail Professional;
regular extension compositions SuperNail, LiaNail, NSI, Dance Legend;
acrylics Irisk, Patrisa Nail, Cosmoprofi, Global Fashion, Tertio;
acrylic powders Harmony, Kodi, Irisk, Entity (the main thing here is fine grinding).

All of the listed products have different consistencies and are also applied differently - some are easier, others require great care. But they are very persistent. And gel polish with strengthening is the use of any of the proposed compositions, which is paid separately from nail art masters according to the price list.

Types of gel polish

The gradual application of gel polish on nails is the main part of the manicure, the duration of which varies depending on the composition and consistency of the cosmetic product.

The beauty market offers various variations of decorative coatings, including:

Plain gel polish is a durable shellac of a certain color, used in all nail art techniques. The number of layers applied to the nails varies depending on the brightness and saturation of the desired color. Suitable for daily and evening manicure.
Thermolac. Shellac that changes shade with temperature changes. Ideal for the cold season. The tip of the nail has a more saturated color, as a result of which the varnish, when used, creates a visual ombre effect.
Craquelure. Gel polish with a cracked effect.
Magnetic. It consists of mirror particles that, when interacting with a magnet, create a shine comparable to the reflection of a cefoman (semi-precious stone). Used for the cat eye technique.
Aromatic. Releases a floral or fruity aroma upon application.
Mirrored. Has a metallic or mirror shine. Essential when creating a mirror manicure. Not recommended for frequent use due to the content of chemical compounds that destroy the nail plate.

Depending on the amount of cosmetics needed to create and add durability to the manicure, shellac is divided into:

3-phase coverage, requiring the use of gel polish, base and top.
2-phase - created by decorative shellac, which has a fixing structure;
single-phase – lasts up to 7 days, does not require drying and the use of additional products (base and top).

Strengthening nails with a base

Strengthening nails with a base is necessary for long lengths, as well as a thin plate, if there are no other problems. To do this, use a rigid substrate, that is, a product designated strong:

Nails ready for coating are degreased.
Then they are covered with a thin layer of plastic base and dried.
Now it’s the turn of that very hard base, which is initially applied thinly, and then in a drop and leveled.
This layer also needs to be dried.
This is followed by the application of gel polish, top coat and polymerization of each product.

After the 4th stage, long nails should be checked for strength by pressing on the free edge. If they have not acquired sufficient rigidity and are still bending, you can apply an additional layer of strong base.

How to strengthen nails with gel: what to do step by step at home

You can strengthen your nails with gel at home if you follow the procedure step by step:

Get a manicure, either with a machine or using a nail file, orange stick, remover, nippers or cuticle scissors.
Treat the surface of the plates with a buff to remove shine.
Wipe them with degreaser.
Strengthening nails with gel is not complete without using a primer.
A minute or two after this, the first thin layer of gel is applied.
Take a new portion of the product and distribute it over the plate, making the coating more dense.
Send your hand into the lamp.

Applying three-phase gel to nails to strengthen should be almost the same, but from the 5th step the sequence is as follows:

base,
drying,
dense layer of gel,
another drying
removing uneven nail surfaces with a file,
finishing coating,
drying.

To ensure that the manicure does not have bumps, it is important to apply the gel correctly to strengthen the nails. The first layer is laid in three long strokes - along the side rollers and in the center of the plate. Then the drop is placed on the highest point of the nail and stretched with zigzag movements over the entire surface. The finger should be turned upside down and the product should be helped to lie evenly with a thin brush. Gel for thickening nails under gel polish should not be applied under the cuticle, since at the base they are already quite strong.

Rules for applying the gel

The gel is applied in three stages.

The first layer, the base layer, is very thin and dries quickly, only 30 seconds. under an ultraviolet lamp.
The second layer will become the main one, so it is applied tightly, from the edge of the nail to the cuticle. Drying is carried out within 3 minutes. If correction is required, it is carried out with a buff and a nail file.
Finish - the gel is also applied in a thin layer, but dries for 3 minutes. If it is sticky after drying, you can remove the top film with an acetone-free remover.

You can apply layers using different compositions, but the “from one jar” option is allowed, observing the technology and drying time.

Applying the base

You can clarify the questions from the video and attached photo. Careful implementation of all manipulations in stages will gradually give the necessary skill and excellent results in the form of well-groomed nails, as well as possible additional income if you want to receive clients and perform gel coating at home.

Shellac with gel strengthening: how to do it, the better

Shellac with gel strengthening is also used for problem nails; this extends the time of wearing a manicure to 2 weeks. Of course, the coating period cannot be compared with gel polish, but chipping and breaking of plates are excluded.

You can strengthen your nails with shellac gel in several stages:

Coating with primer.
Applying the base composition under the gel or a good regular base.
Using a strengthening agent and leveling the plates with it.
Degreasing surfaces.
Shellac coating.
Applying top.

All products used, except the primer, are dried in a lamp. To prevent the strengthening composition from spreading, it is worth polymerizing it on each nail separately.

The best way to strengthen your nails using shellac is to look at their condition. But, given the property of a colored coating of this type to dry out the plate, for weakened and thin ones the most suitable remedy is biogel. If nails break or peel, acrylics, extension gel and powder can be successfully used.

Gel nail coating without extensions: step-by-step instructions

Step-by-step instructions for covering nails with gel without extensions include sequential use:

degreaser,
primer,
bases,
the most strengthening agent in a thin layer,
a denser layer of extension gel,
clinser,
files,
buffa,
brushes,
degreaser again,
gel polish,
top.

All products, except degreaser, primer and cleaner, are dried in a lamp. As a rule, the dried strengthening agent must be filed down to remove the resulting irregularities. And then the surfaces of the plates are also treated with a buff.

Design ideas

Design when strengthening nails with gel does not necessarily imply the use of a flower garden, because these products come in shades. Therefore, you can simply apply a glossy or matte top coat on top, and you will get a nude manicure. If you highlight the free edge with white and outline the “smile”, it will be a French jacket. And when marking the holes - a lunar manicure.

In general, you can come up with many designs with extension gel:

paint 2 nails on your hand in beige or pink tones (darker than the shade of the gel) and make graphic designs on them in black and red;
choose a dark-colored varnish (burgundy, emerald, chocolate, purple) and make tracks from rhinestones or laid out foil on 1-2 plates;
cover the strengthening camouflage gel with a top coat and make monograms on it with white paint on 1-2 fingers;
make stretch marks with glitter without using a flower bed using a beige or pinkish strengthening gel.

Hand care at home and in the salon

In salon hand and nail care, professional products are used that easily and quickly soften the cuticle, remove dry skin, providing it with the necessary nutrition. The long-term effect of soft skin is obtained thanks to masks and creams with a high content of jojoba, calendula and other oils.

Apply sequentially to hands:

liposomal gel that improves the absorption of subsequent products;
vegetable oil mask;
bags and warm gloves.

The salons offer several types of hand care or SPA manicures:

hot with butter;
Japanese;
relaxing;
classical;
manicure + paraffin therapy.

Hand care options

Name	Execution technology
Hot with butter	Place your hands in a container with warm vegetable oil lotion (jojoba, calendula) for 20-30 minutes, which allows you to soften the cuticle. Oils prevent fungal diseases and nourish the dermis.
Japanese	The first step is diagnosis, after which: ➢ peeling the area around the nail; ➢ cuticle massage; ➢ warm bath with Yumi pebbles; ➢ treating nails with mineral paste and polishing with powder; ➢ rubbing oil into the surface of the nails; ➢ hand massage with warm Atsui bags.
Classical	Spa manicure scheme: ● warm oil bath; ● treating hands with means to strengthen the nail plates; ● paraffin therapy, which cleanses the skin of the hands and makes it silky.
Relaxing	1. Warm relaxing massage. 2. Peeling with exfoliating gel (with lavender and salt). 3. Oil mask (shea + mint). 4. Relaxing towel wrap. 5. Paraffin moisturizing of the cuticle. 6. Gel or varnish coating.

Hot baths

In salons they resort to gentle removal of the cuticle with a special solution, which allows it not to be cut, but to be gently dissolved. They may also offer other nourishing masks for the hands: chocolate, honey, salt, which have a beneficial effect and saturate the dermis with the necessary elements.

Strengthening nail baths

Similar spa treatments can be performed at home. Only required:

File (preferably not metal);
Hand container;
Orange wood stick;
Cuticle softener;
Fragrance oil and sea salt;
Hand mask or scrub;
Cotton pads;
Nourishing moisturizer.

Procedures for strengthening nails at home

Hand care at home consists of 5 basic steps:

Cleaning your nails. In addition to daily hand washing with soap, deep cleansing with a soft brush is carried out up to 3 times a week. After this, lubricate your hands with cream or rub a mixture of vegetable oil with a few drops of lemon juice into your nails.
Nutrition for which a special hand cream is used daily. For vitamin deficiency, it is recommended to massage your nails with a lemon slice.
Strengthening with sea salt baths (2 tsp salt/0.5 l warm water, 15 min.) or olive oil 35-40°C (10-15 min.).
Manicure using a file (preferably not a metal one).
Complete nutrition of the body. Be sure to include in your diet foods with vitamins A (carrots, liver), B (egg yolks, cabbage), C (citrus fruits, peppers, cabbage, onions), E (vegetable oil, almonds). They cannot do without minerals: calcium (dairy products, cheeses), silicon (greens, green beans), iron (liver, red currants), zinc (nuts, yolk, calf liver).

List of sources

for-your-beauty.ru
ladysdream.ru
like-site.ru
lifegirl.ru
ameno.ru
1gellak.com

Strengthening nails in the salon - what is it?

Strengthening nails in the salon means using extension gel, acrylic, powder or biogel under a colored coating, but not only. There are also procedures that have a therapeutic effect:

Lamination. Includes preliminary preparation, that is, hygienic manicure, hand massage. Then vitamin serums and oil extract are rubbed into the nails. They are coated on top with a nourishing composition in the form of varnish so that the beneficial substances penetrate into the thickness of the plates and are not washed off. It also serves as protection from external influences. And on top of the laminating composition you can apply gel polish.
Sealing. The procedure is similar to lamination in that nutrients are also rubbed into the nails. These are oils, waxes, vitamins, mineral pastes. They restore the legs and form a protective film on them. But design is not done with gel polishes after sealing.
Hot manicure. This is a hand bath with herbal, oily vitamin solutions, creams, serums. A constant temperature is maintained in the container during the procedure, which enhances the effect of beneficial substances. After this, you can make a color coating.
SPA manicure. This is a complex procedure that includes hygienic nail treatment, scrubbing, baths, and massage. The effect is directed not only to the nails, but also to the hands.
Paraffin therapy. The substance is melted in a special bath, the hands are prepared by scrubbing and massage. Oil, mask or cream is applied to them and to the nails. Hands are dipped into melted paraffin three times, allowed to dry a little, and the hands are wrapped in polyethylene and thicker fabric. After 20 minutes everything is removed. Hands are washed and cream is applied.

Strengthening compounds will help extend the wearing of the design for up to 3 weeks, after which correction is needed. Otherwise, the problems that caused the need for their use will worsen. And in order for the nail-strengthening composition to lay more evenly, you need a high-quality hygienic manicure.

Nail preparation

Before the strengthening procedure, nails must be treated, which, firstly, will allow you to perform a high-quality manicure, and secondly, will provide your hands with a well-groomed, aesthetic appearance. Experts distinguish three main types of manicure: classic (edged), European (unedged), hardware.

A classic manicure involves removing the cuticle with special nippers, where it is first moved back and then removed. Before the hand procedure, it is recommended to take a bath, which will soften rough skin and simplify the entire manicure process.

European manicure involves removing nail polish using a special softening agent - remover. The procedure goes as follows: first the remover is applied, and after a while the softened cuticle is moved with an orange stick.

Hardware manicure is the most gentle; it not only removes the cuticle, but also gives the plates the desired shape. Such a device can be bought in specialized stores; it includes all the necessary attachments and instructions for use.

Next, give the nails the desired shape: square, almond-shaped, rounded or sharp. In this case, it is recommended to move the file in one direction, so the plates are less injured. To ensure that the gel adheres well, the nails are treated with a soft buff; however, you should not overdo it; the plate should not be too thin.

The last step in preparing the nails is degreasing them with a special composition; this procedure will also help the gel to firmly take hold. After removing excess shine, the nail plates should not be touched. If biogel is used for the strengthening procedure, then experts do not recommend sanding the nails with a buff; it is enough to just degrease them.