Manicures, like blowouts and dye jobs, are one of those things that you probably go to a salon for, but you may wonder whether you can do them at home yourself. Although DIY often has more potential for concern than salon products, if there’s a possibility that you can get this type of manicure at home, shouldn’t you take it? Before you go off with an Ulta coupon to start buying gel polish, here are four steps you can take to get the gel manicure you want at home.

1. Do a Bit of Your Own Research

First of all, it’s a good idea to do some research. While it is true that you can just buy a gel nail polish kit and start experimenting from day one, this won’t give you great results. It’s best to look up a few guides on applying gel polish at home, as this will give you a better idea of what you should be trying once you get your products.

2. Purchase a Gel Polish Starter Kit

Most people recommend purchasing a specific gel polish starter kit. There are many materials that you might need to do gel polish at home, including most notably the UV lamp, a nail file, the base coat, and the top coat. While it’s fully possible to buy all of these things on their own, many people prefer instead to purchase the starter kit, which will provide them all to you directly, as well as typically other products like rubbing alcohol, nail health products, and more.

3. Consider Just Buying a Gel Nail Lamp

If you want to build your own starter kit, you’ll need to start with a gel nail lamp. UV and LED lights cure gel nail polish, and they’re a requirement for a high-quality gel polish at home. There are many, many different models out there, ranging from the low-cost products that may take a little bit longer to the pricier items that may be literally the lamp that your salon uses. If you’d prefer to make your own starter kit, you might want to look at an existing starter kit and take note of every item inside, so you can be sure you’ll get all of them.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice

Finally, remember that practice makes perfect. You shouldn’t expect your first-ever gel manicure to look as amazing as the one you get from the salon every month. After all, those people have been doing this for years, sometimes even decades, and you’ve been doing it for a day. The more you practice, on yourself and your friends, the better you’ll get at giving the perfect gel manicure.

Conclusion

It’s totally possible to get a gel manicure at home. You just need to put in some work to get the right products and ensure the right options for your manicure overall. If you follow these four steps, you’ll eventually make your gel manicure as high-quality as possible, creating a better look for yourself and any lucky people you want to give manicures to.