I will complete my Hard Gel extensions training at the end of August, just wondering how many gel colours do you suggest starting off with? Should I invest in a lot or a small few? What did you do?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Starting out - how many gels to begin with?
- Thread starter jomatlox
- Start date
Help Support SalonGeek:
chloenicholex
Beauty therapist level 1 - Training for L2 & 3
I’d recommend getting various colours, from light to dark. Some people find darker polished harder to apply.
pinkmolly226
Active Member
just as many as you can afford. If you can only buy a small few get them and build up gradually. It is a big expense but the more you have to offer the better. Some companies offer collections of maybe 6, and the colours depend on the season so you should have a look at a few different sites.
In my experience if I could only have a few to start off with I would get pillarbox red, nudes, black, grey, mauve, bright pink and French pink. You can also get glitters that are mixed through clear gels that can go over lots of different gels and sometimes I mix my own glitters through my top coat in a dappen dish and make my own personalised glitter polishes
In my experience if I could only have a few to start off with I would get pillarbox red, nudes, black, grey, mauve, bright pink and French pink. You can also get glitters that are mixed through clear gels that can go over lots of different gels and sometimes I mix my own glitters through my top coat in a dappen dish and make my own personalised glitter polishes
7th-Heaven
Well-Known Member
How many can you afford? Get some of the more popular shades first, then fill in as you earn more. Try to make yourself a little list of shades you personally love, and what is very popular amongst clients. From my personal experience, these type of colours tend to be picked often by my customers:
Nude colours (I would recommend getting a couple of nudes, of different shades, so you have variety for different skin tones).
Pink (soft pink and a stronger pink, both are popular, and a Salmon pink if your brand does one)
Red x 2 (two different shades)
Black
White
Grey
Mauve is increasingly popular with my customers.
If you then have money to spare, go for whatever colours you want. I love bright colours like yellow, blue, orange etc, and they have been quite popular over the summer, too.
Nude colours (I would recommend getting a couple of nudes, of different shades, so you have variety for different skin tones).
Pink (soft pink and a stronger pink, both are popular, and a Salmon pink if your brand does one)
Red x 2 (two different shades)
Black
White
Grey
Mauve is increasingly popular with my customers.
If you then have money to spare, go for whatever colours you want. I love bright colours like yellow, blue, orange etc, and they have been quite popular over the summer, too.
The Gem Nail Artist
Member
I'm new to the nail business but I'm planning on starting with 30. When I go to a salon and see over 100 different colors to choose from I get overwhelmed. Personally, I find it easier to make a choice when there's only about 30 different colors. Does anyone else have customers like this?
7th-Heaven
Well-Known Member
I've actually stopped showing my customers the colour wheels
They take forever to choose when I did that. So now I ask if they have anything in mind, we will have a small chat about anything they might be doing the next 4 weeks, and I'll whip out a few ideas and colours for them to see.
pinkmolly226
Active Member
Choosing a colour can be the most difficult part for some clients
30 is plenty to start out with! You’ll end up with loads trust me lol. Just go with the seasons, all my clients are mostly going with bright summer colours just now, but in autumn/winter they tend to change to darks.
A few basic all year round colours and then the rest are seasonal, Good luck!
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20 to 30 colours will be enough, suitable for summer and winter as pinkmolly226 said. Some colours remain popular every year, but others go out of fashion - so you can end up with half-used bottles that can't be used.
I'd agree with others comments that too much of a choice simply confuses the customers. For that reason, we limit the colours we show to customers in our salons.
I'd agree with others comments that too much of a choice simply confuses the customers. For that reason, we limit the colours we show to customers in our salons.
SarahNails25
Nice Nails
What everyone else say is true you do not need many but get all your basic one. With gel you can custom mix color too not like nail polish. If you have all basic color you can make any more color for client with special request by mixing or in layer like shellac.
Thanks everyone that’s super helpful - I’ve been looking in to colour schemes I’m aware by the time I’m qualified summer will be almost over so will invest in popular bright colours but will focus on autum and winter 
I always get super indecisive when my nail techs show me loads of colours so that’s a great tip to discuss and ‘pitch’ suitable designs/colours! I have to wait until I’m qualified to be able to buy the colours from my chosen training company which is inconvenient but I’ve read on here multiple times it’s not advisable to buy different gels with the wrong lamp! So excited to get started and appreciate your help x
I always get super indecisive when my nail techs show me loads of colours so that’s a great tip to discuss and ‘pitch’ suitable designs/colours! I have to wait until I’m qualified to be able to buy the colours from my chosen training company which is inconvenient but I’ve read on here multiple times it’s not advisable to buy different gels with the wrong lamp! So excited to get started and appreciate your help x
NailtechJoe
IN:@thenailmaestro
I have over 100 gelish bottles stored away which is a lot of choice for the client. What I usually say is what colour shade are they looking for? Then I filter out by colour selected and show the different shades I have.
