It was never the gel. It was the drill.
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The file going on.
To make salon acrylics and gel grip, your nail gets filed until it feels rough. For acrylics, the American Academy of Dermatology says this filing "thins your natural nails, making them weaker."
Source: AAD -
The drill coming off.
Two or three weeks later the gel is filed, scraped or drilled off again. Every round takes a little more of the nail underneath.
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GeliQ skips both.
Strips go on a clean, dry nail with no sanding. They come off with cuticle oil and the cuticle pusher in your kit. The one rule: never peel them off dry.
Everything in the box.
Tap a point to meet each piece.
Real gel.Real gloss.
Set in 60 seconds under the lamp. Around 14 days of wear. Made at your own table.
Why strips lift, and how the kit stops it.
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Oil on the nail.
Gel can't grip oil. Clean and dry each nail first, and save the nail oil for after your set is cured.
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A strip touching skin.
That edge lifts first and catches your hair. With 14 sizes per sheet, pick one that sits just inside your skin line.
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A soft edge.
An edge that isn't fully cured stays soft. Seal it with the top coat and give each hand a full cure under the GeliQ lamp.
Twenty minutes, start to finish.
Your first set takes a little longer. After that, about 20 minutes.
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Prep2 minPush back cuticles. Clean and dry each nail. No oil yet.
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PressAbout 10 minPick the strip that fits and press it on from the cuticle out. Short nails? Trim to fit after you press it on.
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Cure60 secSet each hand under the GeliQ lamp.
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WearAbout 14 daysFile the strip's edge at the tip. To remove, cuticle oil and the cuticle pusher.
Same gloss. Different math.
| Compare | GeliQ | Salon gel |
|---|---|---|
| Prep | Clean and dry, no sanding | Nail filed rough so gel grips |
| Per manicure | $15.99 a sheet | About $60 |
| Time | About 20 minutes | Around 2 hours with the drive |
| Appointment | None, on or off | One to put it on, one to take it off |
| Removal | Cuticle oil and the cuticle pusher | Acetone soak or e-file |
Salon figures are typical US prices for a gel manicure. Yours may differ.
The salon tax.
Why are you still going?
You keep $1,090 a year.
Stop paying itEstimate. Starts at a $60 salon gel visit every 2 weeks; change it above. GeliQ assumes the $69.90 kit with 1 color sheet, then one $15.99 sheet every 14 days. Results vary.
Not polish. Not a sticker.
| Compare | GeliQ | Polish or stickers |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Real gel, about 60% pre-cured | Liquid polish or a printed film |
| Setting | 60 seconds under the lamp | Air dries, easy to smudge |
| Wear | Around 14 days | Often chips within days |
| Finish | Hard, glossy gel | Thinner and softer |
| Removal | Cuticle oil and the cuticle pusher | Polish needs remover |
General comparison with regular nail polish and non-gel nail stickers.
Questions, answered.
How long do they last?
Around 14 days with proper application. Results vary with your nails and your routine. The key is clean, dry nails with no oil or residue before you apply.
Is it hard if I've never done it before?
The strips are semi-cured, so they're flexible and forgiving, and there's no brush and nothing wet to smudge. Your first set takes a little longer while you get the feel for it. After that, about 20 minutes.
Will the strips fit my nails?
Each sheet includes 14 strips in varied sizes, from pinky to thumb. Choose the size that sits just inside your skin line without touching it. If in doubt, go slightly smaller and file the edge clean.
Do they work on short nails?
Yes. You trim each strip to length after you press it on, so it fits very short nails too. Pick the size that sits just inside your skin line, press, cure, then trim and file the tip.
Why do some strips lift?
Three reasons, all fixable: oil on the nail, a strip touching skin, or an edge that wasn't fully cured. Clean and dry each nail, pick a size that stays off the skin, and give each hand a full cure under the GeliQ lamp. Some lifting at the tip as your nail grows out is normal.
Are they gentle on my natural nails?
GeliQ skips the drill and the acetone soak, and you never sand your nail surface; you only file the strip's edge at the tip. To remove, work cuticle oil around the edges, wait a minute, then gently lift the edge with the flat end of the cuticle pusher. Never peel a strip off dry.
Do I need the GeliQ lamp?
Yes. The GeliQ UV/LED lamp is matched to the strips and sets each nail in 60 seconds. It comes in the Starter Kit.
Anything I should know before I start?
Keep uncured gel off your skin: pick a strip that doesn't touch it, and wipe away any gel that does before you cure. Use the nail oil only after your set is cured or on removal day. If you notice redness, itching or irritation, remove the set and stop using it.
What if I'm not happy?
You can return or exchange an unused kit in its original packaging within 30 days of delivery. If anything arrives damaged or defective, email us photos and we'll replace it or refund you in full. Reach us at hello@trygeliq.com.
