I’ve been a long time fan of gel manicures. Frankly, I don’t even bother with regular manicures anymore. They barely last until I get home from the nail salon! But at $25 a pop, plus tip, even if it lasts the full two weeks, it still adds up quickly – that’s $600/year. So, I am seriously considering investing in the DIY option by Red Carpet Manicure!
Here’s how it breaks down:
Portable UV Lamp: $19.99 (or the professional version for $50, but I’d probably just get this.)
Step 1: Prep Max Adhesion Sanitizer dehydrates the nail plate for maximum product adhesion. $4.00
Step 2: Structure Base Coat Gel bonds to the nail plate without any damage. Secures color to nail. $9.99
Step 3: The LED Gel Polish comes in tons of colors (more than the 10-15 colors my salon has) and applies like a polish. $9.99
Step 4: Brilliance Seal & Shine Top Coat is the final coat. Seals in the application to a high shine. $9.99
So you’re looking at an investment of around $60 for everything, plus I’d probably throw in the Erase Gel Nail Polish Remover that removes LED Gel Polish in 10-15 minutes ($3.99). Definitely more affordable than the salon!
About Melissa
I’ve actually been considering this for a week or two… but I’ve heard that the stronger UV light is SUPER important – so I’d probably do the pro version. Either way…. I’m really considering it. I just had my first gel mani 2 weeks ago and I am OBSESSED.
I stopped getting them because of the price — $600+ is almost a mortgage payment. This would definitely be more affordable but it’s so nice having someone else do it. LOL