21 Gel Tricks, Tips, and Techniques

Gel nails have their own lingo, their own tricks, their own innuendo. Here we tapped gel manufacturers, educators, and users for 21 bits of gel insider info. From terms like “capping,” “pillowing,” and “freezing” to why you can’t handle your product the same way you do acrylic, these techniques and tricks are good to know no matter how long you’ve been doing gels.

Color Block Your Nails with Essie

Recreate this color block look using Essie polish.

Polish for Those Diverse Days

Do you have work then a night-out and want your polish to work for both?

War and Peace and Nail Polish

Years ago someone discovered that nitrocellulose, treated properly, could be transformed into a hard and glossy enamel. 

Displays with “Polish”

Can you use an extra $300 a month? We’ve talked to salon owners whose purchase-provoking polish displays have earned them a 30%-40% increase in their profits. No matter what your budget there’s a polish retailing solution for your business.

Colourful French Acrylic Nails

Bels Gels creates this easy acrylic nail design using a 120 grit hand file, NSI Nail Pure Plus, OPI Bond Aid, Perfect Nails Acrylic products: Gold Signature Adhesion Enhancer (primer) Platinum Plus Cover Pink and Clear powders, Platinum Plus Liquid (monomer); IBD's Just Gel Polish in Eden (green), Sunset Strip (orange), Full Blu-um (blue)/ Charming Charlie (red), Gerber Daisy (pink); and her own mix of glitters.

Polish That Turns Him On

According to Cosmopolitan magazine, yummy scents and sparkly pinks will impress the guys. "Bold, tantalizing nails translate to 'Let's get wild!' in guy lingo," the magazine says.

Essie Gel Couture by Monique Lhuillier

Essie and acclaimed bridal designer Monique Lhuillier are collaboriating for a limited edition collection.

On Second Thought, Try Nude Polish

Think red polish is hot? A CND nail pro tells Instyle magazine to think nude.