Now that I have the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit, I can do my own soft gel extensions at home, I’ll be saving so much money on salon services.
I couldn’t stop myself from gnawing my own nails, therefore fake nails are my only hope. But here’s the thing: I get tired of my manicures after a week or two, so more durable options like acrylics and hard gel extensions can eventually drive me crazy, not to mention how expensive they are.
On the other hand, press-on nails that are incredibly temporary but much more relatively inexpensive can fall off of my hands after just a few days of consistent use. But with soft gel extensions, I’ve finally discovered my ideal substitute for natural nails; this is where the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit comes in.
Let me first explain what soft gel extensions are in actuality. I could go on and on about the differences between the various kinds of false nails, but in a nutshell, soft gel extensions are more or less transparent, ultra-thin fake nails that resemble plain press-on and are attached to your natural nails using thick gel polish that is hardened by a UV or LED lamp. These nail extensions can be removed with acetone similar to a typical gel manicure, unlike other kinds of nail extensions.
Soft gel extensions are available from other brands as well, but Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit is a popular choice among celebrity nail artists, in-salon nail technicians, and quite a few nail-art influencers on social media.
What’s Included in the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit cost?
A pH bonder, nail primer, a bottle of Extend Gel (the thick substance used to cure extensions onto natural nails), a gel topcoat, a nail file, a compact LED curing light, and a set of extensions in the shape and length of your choice are all included in the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit. When you run out of any of these things, you can purchase them separately.
The only component of a full manicure that is missing from this package is nail color, which you can add to your nails using conventional or gel polish if you already have it. when those suckers are in place, what you put on those suckers once they are on is entirely up to you.
The brand will soon offer Extra Short and Extra Long options in addition to the current Short, Medium, and Long extensions. The brand provides alternatives for coffin, square, round, and stiletto nail forms. Additionally, Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit offers Natural and Sculpted variations of lengths and shapes, which you should choose based on your nail beds.
For example, people with flatter nails should choose Natural extensions, and people with C-shaped cuticles should choose the Sculpted variation.
Each package includes 500 extensions in 10 sizes numbered (00 to 9; the higher the number, the smaller the nail) similar to press-on nails (the larger the number, the smaller the nail). Eunice Park, a nail technician and Aprés’ research and development manager, informs me that the company will soon offer a size expansion.
If you have wide nail beds as I do, you might have problems finding an extension size big enough to cover your thumbs. We will be expanding the size of some of our [other] sizes in January 2023, she adds, in addition to the release of triple zero the following year.
How much does the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit cost?
The entire package costs $118 before tax and delivery, which is utterly insane in my opinion (in a good way) given how much money it may save you over time. The last time I had fresh hard gel extensions with personalized nail art, the price was double that in New York City.
However, now that you know how to use this system at home, it’s a relief knowing you have the option of professional-grade fake nails without spending a ton of money. Granted, many of us love to sit in the salon chair and chat while a professional hand-paints tiny art on our nails; it’s still a service you’ll happily pay for now and then.
How do you use the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit at home?
The primary thing you need to be cautious of before using the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit is that there is a meaningful learning curve. No matter how skilled you are with a nail paintbrush, you won’t be able to get this right the first time. There are many difficulties you’ll encounter, like air gaps in the Extend Gel, holding the faux nail on your real nail while it cures at the same time, choosing the precise size for each nail, and more.
It will take some time to get it properly, but trust me when I say that if my clumsy ass can finally learn this, almost anyone can. I don’t mean to discourage you, but I’m just informing you. And if you’re the perpetually manicured type, it’s worthwhile.
Before you begin, choose the appropriate nail sizes from your package. Make sure each extension aligns perfectly with the edges of your nail beds; you don’t want any natural nails to protrude from the sides or bottom, and you also don’t want the extension to overlap the skin.
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Pick up the larger nail and file the bottom edges until it fits if you have nails that are in between sizes. It’s a pain to take the extra step, but it’s necessary if you want your sets to last. In my experience, bad fits are the main reason for sets that pop off prematurely.
The brand advises filing the underside of each nail once you’ve aligned your extensions, nail technicians file both sides before, but at home, you file only the bottom, and it won’t appear to make a difference. However, you may definitely use the nail file included in the Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit or other files you already have at home — the only need is that the bottom has some texture the Extend Gel can hold onto. Professional nail artists will probably use a drill file for this. The next stage is nail prep, which is also essential for the durability of a set.
Nail Prep for Aprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit
Nail prepping forAprés Gel X Nail Extension Kit is relatively low-key, though important. Due to the system’s design, this artificial nail only needs a light rub, unlike most others that require a nail technician to drill into your cuticles. Because acrylic molecules are large, you must vigorously file the natural nail for the acrylic to adhere to the natural nail plate, according to Park. The molecules in the gel are much smaller, so they don’t require the same level of vigorous polishing.
Additionally, I recommend removing any dirt under your nails before applying for extensions afterward.
After buffing the nails, the only preparation required is to use the included pH bonder and primer to dehydrate your nails so that the gel will adhere more effectively. The next step is to apply a thin coat of Extend Gel to your natural nail and cure it for 30 seconds, as advised by the manufacturer. I advise working on this and the subsequent steps one hand (or finger) at a time because this polish will be sticky even after it has totally dried.
The next step in the application process is painting the Extend Gel on the underside of each extension so that you can cure the gel and the nail together, which is widely recognized as the most challenging. Paint the Extend Gel over the underside to ensure that the extension covers the entire nail uniformly and without air pockets or bubbles when you press it into the nail, but this is much easier said than done.
Sincerely, it requires practice. It’s similar to when you get used to doing your nail polishing and learn how much polish to apply. All it takes is practice.
The extension won’t be permanently attached to the nail if you don’t use enough Extend Gel in this step, and it could even come off. If you use too much, the gel will ooze all over, which can cause severe skin rashes. Most of how you figure out this phase will depend on your trial and error, although experts have a few tips and methods to guide you.
Whether you skip painting Extend Gel onto your natural nail first or not will determine how much you apply to the extension, according to a professional. The combination of gel on the normal nail and gel on the extension is known as the “velcro method.’ You don’t need to apply as much gel to the extension when using it. It’s important to remove the tip and add extra product before curing. This is because once you cure, there truly is no turning back without completely removing the extension.
How long do Après Gel X Nail Extensions last?
How well you apply them and how you live your daily life will determine how long your Gel X sets last. Cured extensions will just pop off when improperly fitted. When properly prepared and applied, the extensions should last for two to four weeks.
They’ll last much longer if you handle them tenderly and carefully. Additionally, you can quickly take care of any single nails that happen to prematurely fall off once you have the set at home.
However, if your nail is more than four weeks old, you can experience some issues. Some individuals wear their sets for like six, seven, or eight weeks. Leaving it that long is not recommended. The structure of the nail is thrown off when the extension grows out because so much natural nail plate is growing out, which increases the chance of breaking.
Are Après Gel X Nail Extensions easy to remove at home?
You won’t even need assistance with this step if you’ve ever removed gel nail paint at home. To remove the topcoat and varnish from each nail, first, trim the extensions as low as you can without damaging your natural nail. Then, use a high-grit nail file (or, even better, a drill file, if you have one). The next step is to remove the gel by using the conventional procedure: wrap each nail in foil, cover it with cotton or a paper towel, and soak it in acetone for 15 to 20 minutes.
Why should I use the Aprés Gel X Extension Kit?
As was already mentioned, the main benefit of having a Gel X Extension Kit at home is the money it saves on getting stylish fake nails done. You are not charged extra to do a set whenever you like. That’s more or less priceless because who can drop significant sums of money each time they have the urge for fake nails? Absolutely not me. Additionally, these soft gel extensions provide the perfect balance between press-on nails. Thanks to apresnail.com
