Megamix nails. Create your own gel polish colours with eyeshadows, nail polish

[Littlewhiskers]

Glad to hear you liked it.

working quickly and mixing as you go is the secret

if you use polish ( especially fast dry) the minuet it is exposed to the air it wants to start to dry ( and skin)

working in a dappen dish ( rather than a flat surface helps to minimize this) less surface area means less exposure.

As you say it was your first attempt and you can always mix in a little more polish next time, or do a third coat ( just takes a while when your using uv)

Curing one nail at a time is a great way to prevent product shrinking but megamix is not too bad so maybe to speed up a little work 2 nails at a time or do your first coat ( thin) of megamix on all 4 nails the same way you did the base coat quickly and then take more care on the second coat doing nails individually

I look forward to seeing what you come up with and looks like you are going to really stretch the product to it's limits

remember when you create a mix with polish that this is only a finish ( the same as shellac or gelish) you cannot build with a mix

just wonder when you say you are going to try it on extensions do you mean create a mix and put it over acrylic? or create a tip and overlay using megamix?

you can create an extension with megamix but it is a very soft gel so i would only recommend a short sports length tip


to build and add strength you need to use the megamix in it's raw state.

keep mixing

Hi.
Thanks for the advice regarding the dappen dish... Totally agree with you on that one!!!
Just a little update on my progress so far. My mum has Calgel extensions on her nails and was due a maintenance this week so I used the megamix to do her rebalance. I LOVED IT AND SO DID SHE!!! I used OPI black cherry chutney and was covering a gunmetal grey. This time I used 4 drops of polish instead of 3 and it covered much better!! I buffed down the existing gel as I would usually then used 3 thin layers and it covered perfectly. I then used the amaze glaze and it looked so shiny. Was I right in thinking I didn't need to use the amaze base before using the megamix as it was already on an existing gel?
In answer to your question regarding the extensions... My intension is to apply then extension and blend in then use the Calgel clear IZ gel which is very strong as a base then the megamix with colour then the glaze. Hope this is right?
Can you also just confirm that the amaze base is to be used just on the natural nail before the mix??
Thanks
Vic

 

[natalieee]

Picture as promised. mega mix and nails inc baker street. 2 weeks growth and still perfect. now I have to decide what nail polish to mix next

 

[Miss Sylk]

I didn't have a French pink yesterday so Mixed one up with polish and mega mix
I'll Never be caught without a colour again! I feel like I work on b&q mixing desk. Lol

 

[melissab]

I've been watching this thread waiting for reviews and I'm really excited to try it now.

 

[anonaw]

I tried my megamix out on my mother in law tonight with one of my thermal polishes I brought from an indie polish maker which changes colour due to the nails temperature and it works wonders! The polish itself usually needs 3 or 4 coats as it's jelly like, so I applied the same method when using it with megamix and said to my mother in law I didnt know if it would change colour like the polish is meant to because of the mixture of gel but it did work! I can't wait to use this on my friends and family and use for mobile uses as Martin has said one little pot can create so much! Very excited for the future of this product and must say I'm impressed so far!

 

[taggyboy]

I've followed this thread with so much interest and it sounds excellent.

I'm a fairly new trained newby with mani/pedi and gels so wondered how you measure. For example, 50/50, Do you judge by your eyes or leave the products to drop of the brush?

Also if making enough for one hand and you need to mix up more how do you ensure the colour remains the same. Sorry if sounds dumb!

I also have spare polish brushes could these be used and cleaned each time?

My OPI clients are going to love this.

Debbie

 

[Nails At Halo]

OMG I'm loving megamix it has endless possibilities and my ladies are loving it as much as I am ... we all have our fave polishes that are sat on the shelf as we do so many colours in Gelish, Shellac, Mani Q, Opi or your fave ... now we can use those polishes too but not just for polish but for glitters, foil, gems anything you like really the list is almost endless ... I'm excited by this product and that doesn't happen often and can't wait to see what ideas you ladies come up with

 

[ch-ela]

I've followed this thread with so much interest and it sounds excellent.

I'm a fairly new trained newby with mani/pedi and gels so wondered how you measure. For example, 50/50, Do you judge by your eyes or leave the products to drop of the brush?

Also if making enough for one hand and you need to mix up more how do you ensure the colour remains the same. Sorry if sounds dumb!

I also have spare polish brushes could these be used and cleaned each time?

My OPI clients are going to love this.

Debbie

I have an empty polish bottle that I cleaned out with remover. I have filled it with nail cleanse to keep the brush moist, so I use this if I need a nice brush to apply mixed polish. Clean, and then just pop it back in the bottle for next time.

 

[martinbambrough]

Hi.
Thanks for the advice regarding the dappen dish... Totally agree with you on that one!!!
Just a little update on my progress so far. My mum has Calgel extensions on her nails and was due a maintenance this week so I used the megamix to do her rebalance. I LOVED IT AND SO DID SHE!!! I used OPI black cherry chutney and was covering a gunmetal grey. This time I used 4 drops of polish instead of 3 and it covered much better!! I buffed down the existing gel as I would usually then used 3 thin layers and it covered perfectly. I then used the amaze glaze and it looked so shiny. Was I right in thinking I didn't need to use the amaze base before using the megamix as it was already on an existing gel?
In answer to your question regarding the extensions... My intension is to apply then extension and blend in then use the Calgel clear IZ gel which is very strong as a base then the megamix with colour then the glaze. Hope this is right?
Can you also just confirm that the amaze base is to be used just on the natural nail before the mix??
Thanks
Vic

what you are doing sounds absolutely perfect. I perhaps would applied a small amount of amazin base to the new growth when you did your infill on your mum but that's all, you right you don't need to base when applying over the top of an already artificial surface ( gel acrylic etc)

amazin base is just a base coat for natural nails to help the megamix stick and to even out any imperfections. it has a milky colour so you could have used it as a base on your infill and it would have slightly dampened the colour underneath down, but I want you to do what works for you you may as you get more confident find that there is enough strength in the megamix as a clear gel for your mums extensions but if you are loving the iz gel that has the great strength you talk about then that's great too

there are guide lines to using the megamix like it is best to sandwich your mixes between base and top coat or another artificial surface but I don't want to get too hung up on the rules as this is the product that breaks all the rules................

it cures in any lamp
it works with any product
and you can mix it with anything !!!!!!!!!!( well almost anything )

its generic nature means it will work with almost everything so just slot it into the mix

there is mixing (as in physically mixing the gel with polish) then mixing it up ! ( just slightly changing what you would normally do ) and getting a great alternative result


keep mixing

 

[martinbambrough]

Picture as promised. mega mix and nails inc baker street. 2 weeks growth and still perfect. now I have to decide what nail polish to mix next

Natalie I'm totally in love with this picture, as it demonstrates exactly just how easy this gel is to use how it makes the perfect matching polish into a gel and how it wears fabulously 2 weeks and there are absolutely no sins of budging !!!!!!!!!

cant wait to see the same pic at 3 weeks !!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you will be board of it before it and want to change it not because of service breakdown!!!!!!!! just because you want a different colour !!!!!!!!!!

love it love it love it

 

[martinbambrough]

oh wow now the game is on this is beautiful as the pictures keep on coming and the ideas i think it is going to get a little bit exiting
thank you so much for sharing xx

a little bit excited !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm ecstatic....................... lol

 

[martinbambrough]

I didn't have a French pink yesterday so Mixed one up with polish and mega mix
I'll Never be caught without a colour again! I feel like I work on b&q mixing desk. Lol

exactly even if you just have a bottle for in case of emergency, it means you will never be caught short

 

[martinbambrough]

I tried my megamix out on my mother in law tonight with one of my thermal polishes I brought from an indie polish maker which changes colour due to the nails temperature and it works wonders! The polish itself usually needs 3 or 4 coats as it's jelly like, so I applied the same method when using it with megamix and said to my mother in law I didnt know if it would change colour like the polish is meant to because of the mixture of gel but it did work! I can't wait to use this on my friends and family and use for mobile uses as Martin has said one little pot can create so much! Very excited for the future of this product and must say I'm impressed so far!

I never got around to trying thermal polish but as you say it works, and there is no reason why it shouldn't.

I did try it out on magnetic polish and that worked too ............

it literaly works with anything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[martinbambrough]

if you were to use megamix with a polish can you infill 2 weeks later

i know you mat say the client gets bored not if it has a change of nail art on top base stays the same

I don't see why not!!!!!!!!!!! if your mix was good and still intact then yes, however as you start to file into your hard megamix you may find it too rubbery and that it almost peels in which case it may be better ( and easier ) to just get rid and start again.

I much prefer a fresh start personally after 4 weeks say but if your just doing a touch up then yes it will be fine.


I guess it depends when you say infill 2 -3 weeks buff and tidy yes if you mean 5 week reconstruction I would advise against.

I like after a while just to check on the natural nail and see it is okay 6-8 weeks as when covered with a colour you cant really see what is going on under there ( the same with all coloured gels)


and if you have a gel foundation i would buff off the colour down to the base structure. all depends on what finish you want to achieve.

sometimes by the time you have messed about trying to cover an existing colour etc it's easier to start gain from scratch and get a perfect end result

I would perhaps do megamix infill after 3 weeks and then remove after 6 and do fresh set.

but that is just my preference

 

[martinbambrough]

I've followed this thread with so much interest and it sounds excellent.

I'm a fairly new trained newby with mani/pedi and gels so wondered how you measure. For example, 50/50, Do you judge by your eyes or leave the products to drop of the brush?

Also if making enough for one hand and you need to mix up more how do you ensure the colour remains the same. Sorry if sounds dumb!

I also have spare polish brushes could these be used and cleaned each time?

My OPI clients are going to love this.

Debbie

Debbie
no question is dumb if you don't know the answer then best to ask, never be afraid to ask as I'm sure someone else was thinking exactly the same thing.

when mixing just mix by eye a few drops of polish and a few drops of gel.

if you are mixing the same polish with the gel then it doesn't matter how often you mix it the colour will always be the same, the concentration may differ but if you work methodically then you will be fine.
work in layers so all nails get one coat of the first mix then mix a bit more and coat all nails then mix a bit more etc.

if you are mixing 2 polishes together then adding them to the gel best to mix them first ensure you have enough of that colour then mix with the gel.

it is a little bit of trial and error at the start but the more you do it you will get to know how many drops it takes you to do a full set 3-4 drops of gel 3-4 drops of polish should give you enough to do one coat on all 10 nails

just go from there and mix a bit more or a bit less

if you have any more questions just ask away

we were all new at one point

using old cleaned polish brushes is a great idea there is a post further down about keeping a clean brush in an old polish bottle with a bit of solvent this is a great idea

 

[martinbambrough]

I have an empty polish bottle that I cleaned out with remover. I have filled it with nail cleanse to keep the brush moist, so I use this if I need a nice brush to apply mixed polish. Clean, and then just pop it back in the bottle for next time.

ch-ela

that's a great idea I was considering getting empty bottles with brushes for just that reason but I'm sure as you say everyone has an old one hanging around.

i generally use a gel brush, but some polishes go on better with a brush out of a bottle.

thanks for sharing your great idea

 

[ch-ela]

ch-ela

that's a great idea I was considering getting empty bottles with brushes for just that reason but I'm sure as you say everyone has an old one hanging around.

i generally use a gel brush, but some polishes go on better with a brush out of a bottle.

thanks for sharing your great idea

Martin, I've been polishing nails for longer than Id like to remember, and am confident that I can polish with ANY brush I'm given, but I'm sure we all have our favourites, and I have mine. Just makes the job a little easier.

 

[BBS77]

Firstly, thanks for the prompt delivery on my bottle of Megamix!

I'm trying it out on myself first and on both hands have used Shellac base coat and OPI Lincoln Park after Dark (which I haven't used for well over a year as it always Shellac) mixed 50/50 with Megamix. On my left hand I've used Shellac top coat and on the right hand Gelish Top it off.

I did 2 coats of colour with 2 minute cure under CND lamp. I could probably have done with a 3rd coat but ran out of time.

2 days in and so far so good. Will report back to base.

I'm bloody excited about this product!!!

 

[martinbambrough]

Katie I have not tried a 3 watt so I'm not sure I would say a minuet should do it ( that sounds right )

however the thing about led is its not more powerful the more watts you have it's the same strength just more bulbs ( better coverage)

don't know how to explain that technically

you may just have to do a few trial but just go with the same times as the products you are using with that lamp and you should not go far wrong,
base is fine but better to cure colours a little longer ( longer than shorter is best) and top coat if you under cure just looks dull so just be on the safe side and do a little longer.

 

[waffle4]

Thank you everyone for updating us with your mixes (pics would be even better

I'd like to know if anyone has found certain polishes mix better than others? Do regular over the counter polishes mix just aswell as the professional ones?

Thanks x