Getting gems to stick on

[Sarahw89]

I'm getting really frustrated with getting gems to stick on nails either on normal polish or gel. I have been told by my trainer at college you shouldn't use nail glue to stick gems on as it can damage nails so what else should I be using?
I have tried using top coat when using normal polish and that doesn't work and I have tried setting with gel top coat and then putting under lamp but that doesn't work.
Any ideas on what products I should be using?

 

[NZNailz]

Perhaps it's the way you are using it? I don't work with standard polish but to adhere to Gel Polish, I use a structure gel beneath the gems and then I also paint AROUND the gems with further structure gel, cure and then top coat up to and around gems

 

[Sarahw89]

Perhaps it's the way you are using it? I don't work with standard polish but to adhere to Gel Polish, I use a structure gel beneath the gems and then I also paint AROUND the gems with further structure gel, cure and then top coat up to and around gems

Structure gel? Is that builder gel? like i say still learning so a bit of a novice over here hehe

 

[FayeElizabeth89]

Are you using non-hotfix rhinestones? I'm a newbie too but my tutor waxed lyrical about using non-hotfix rhinestones because it interferes with the top coat or something lol