Step-by-step: Extension with Polygel on Classic Tips

BRIEFLY ABOUT POLYGEL

Polygel is a UV-curing gel that is relatively thick and firm in consistency. It may well resemble a soft modeling wax. The advantage of Polygel is that it does not flow from where you put it, and you can therefore use all the time you need to build a nice shape without it flowing.

You do not need to take off Polygel . In practice, it can easily remain on the nails month after month. The nail is not alive and does not need air, as long as you ensure good nail care with nail oil regularly. Polygel should instead fulfill approx. every 3 weeks to ensure that the structure of the nail remains in balance and the nails are healthy and strong. Learn more about top-up here .

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR EXTENSION WITH POLYGEL ON CLASSIC TIPS

1) Find the right size tipper
It is important that the tips fit the nails perfectly and neither press on nor pull on the natural nail shape. A tip that is too large will extend beyond the edges of the nail and/or have a wider c-curve (arch) than the natural nail. A tip that is too small will not cover the entire nail and/or have a narrower c-curve than the natural nail.

The perfect tip fits exactly from side to side without having a c-curve that is too wide or too narrow and will therefore neither pull in nor press on the nail. If you cannot find a tip that fits perfectly with both sides and c-curve, you can choose a tip that is basically too big, but which fits with the c-curve. From there, the tip can be filed so that it also fits perfectly with the sides of the nail.

2) Perform an effective prep
See correct procedure in the step-by-step guide for prep .

3) Glue the tips on with Tip Glue
Wipe the inside of the tips clean with a lint-free wipe moistened with Cleaner+ . Then glue the tips to the tip of the nails with Tip Glue and let them air dry for 30-60 seconds.

4) Customize length, shape and transition
Before the nail can be built up, the length and shape of the tip and the transition to the natural nail must be perfected.

1. Cut the length of the tip with a Tip Cutter .

2. File the tips into the desired shape with the 180 grit side of a 100/180 grit file .

3. File the transition of the tip with a 180 grit side of a 100/180 grit file and/or with an electric nail file . When using the electric nail file, e.g. a sand roller with grit 180 to 320 is used. The transition from tip to natural nail should look as invisible/natural as possible. Be careful not to file into the natural nail.

4. Wipe with Cleaner+ to ensure all dirt and dust is removed.

5) Apply Base Coat and cure for 60 seconds
Make sure that the Base Coat is "rubbed" well into the nail. This is done by pressing the tip of the brush into the nail plate with a pushing motion. It is important not to get too much product on the brush, as the nail should only be covered by a very thin layer. Remember to also seal the free edge. Read more about sealing the free edge on page 11 of the Theory Book , or on our blog .

Note that there will be a sticky layer in the Base Coat after curing. Sticky layer is a very thin layer of uncured product, which must ensure that the next layer has something to stick to. Sticky layer is necessary and completely normal. It must not be removed.

6) Prepare brush
The brush is prepared by pouring some Cleaner+ into a Dappen Dish and dipping the bristles in the liquid. The brush is then lightly wiped with a lint-free wipe so that it is not completely soaked. Read more about preparing brushes on page 25 of the Theory Book , or on our blog .

7) Build up the nail with Polygel and cure for 60 seconds
When the nail is built up, it is extremely important for e.g. the durability, to be aware that you create a correct shape with apex and strength points. Read more about correct construction from page 13 in the Theory Book , or on our blog .

Polygel is a relatively solid mass, which is best shaped with a brush moistened with Cleaner+ . If the brush is not moistened with Cleaner+ , the product will stick to the brush and it will be difficult to work with. During the build-up, the brush must therefore be continuously dipped in a Dappen Dish with Cleaner+ and then lightly wiped with the Lint-Free Wipe . In addition, Polygel is best shaped by making dabbing movements instead of normal brush strokes.

1. Pick up a small bead of Polygel with a Polygel Spatula and place it in the middle of the nail a few centimeters from the cuticle. The amount of Polygel should cover the entire nail.

2. Moisten the brush in Cleaner+ and gently dab the bead with Polygel down towards the cuticle area and around the entire edge of the cuticle. It is important not to touch the skin at any time.

3. Now dab the excess product away from the cuticle area and distribute it around the rest of the nail in a slow, dabbing motion down towards the tip of the nail. Remember to also slide the product all the way out onto the tip of the nail. Pay attention to making a correct build with apex and optimal strength points. Read more about correct construction from page 13 in the Theory Book , or on our blog .

4. To fix the shape that has just been built, you can use the Flash Cure program (10 second glance) on the UV lamp from The Gel Collection. This program creates a surface cure that encapsulates the product and ensures that it stays where it needs to be. It is not necessary to use the Flash Cure program, but it can provide a guarantee that you will not push the nail out of shape while you continue working on the other nails.

5. When all five nails are built up, they must be thoroughly cured for 60 seconds in the UV lamp.

8) Wipe off the sticky layer with Cleaner+
Wet a lint-free wipe with Cleaner+ and wipe the nail free of the sticky layer.

9) File the shape to perfect the build
To perfect the shape of the nail, and to create a smooth transition to the natural nail, the shape is filed. This can e.g. done with a 100/180 grit nail file and/or with an electric nail file . When using the electric nail file , e.g. use a sand roller with grit 100 or 180 or a bit with coarseness fine to extra fine. Finish by buffing the entire surface of the nail with a 100/180 grit buffer .

It is important not to file too much on the lower arch (the underside of the nails). In this case, there is a risk of removing the seal during the transition from natural nail to product. Over-filing in this area can cause lift and poor durability. It is also important not to file too far in, so that the natural nail is visible through the product. This will mean that the product's strength point is no longer robust, and the nail will therefore very likely lift or break over time.

10) Remove dust with a Flufffri Wipe and Cleaner+
Wet a lint-free wipe with Cleaner+ and wipe the nail free of dust.

If you do not want Gel Polish color on top of your Polygel , you can skip directly to step 13.

11) Apply first coat of Gel Polish color and cure for 60 seconds
When applying Gel Polish color, it is important to apply very thin layers. Thick layers can cause wrinkles in the surface, uneven color or remain uncured. A good rule to remember is that if your Gel Polish flows into the cuticle, it is because you have applied too thick a layer.

12) Apply second coat of Gel Polish color and cure for 60 seconds

13) Apply Top Coat and cure for 60 seconds
Top Coat is applied using the same method as Gel Polish color. It is "No Wipe", which means that it does not have a sticky layer (a thin sticky layer) after curing. It is therefore not necessary to clean with Cleaner+ .

14) Finish with nail oil
Wash hands and apply nail oil . The oil must be applied both at the cuticle and under the nail. Read more about daily nail care on page 22 i The theory book for perfect nails , or on our blog .