What gel brands do you recommend?

[Lynswin]

Hi. I was bought a Rio home UV gel nails kit for xmas and have used it regularly with quite good results. However, my gel has almost run out and I have been looking on ebay to replace it. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good brand of gel that I could use as a replacement?

I would love to try the Brisa gels but don't want to purchase a new lamp as I already have the one included in my Rio kit. Has anybody used Brisa gels with an 'unbranded' lamp?

I have also been looking at Star Nails products as when I used to go to a nail tech she used Star nails. Would I be able to use these with my rio lamp?

Also, will I also have to purchase new primer, finishing wipes etc or again, can I use my rio stuff with a different brand?

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Lynda

 

[ValencianNails]

welcome to the site

can I be rude and ask you about your qualifications Lynda?
if I read your post correctly then I assume that you aren't a trained nail technician. if that's the case then I'm afraid you need to do a training course before being able to use gels or any other professional products in the correct way.
there are a lot of strong opinions on the 'home kits'....

http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=12791&highlight=Rio+gel

http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=6686&highlight=Rio+gel

those are just 2 of the threads... do a search for 'rio' and you'll see what I mean.
hope that helps a little
xx

 

[Northern Nails]

hi Lynda, and welcome to the nail geek.

As for the gels to use the Brisa gels you really need to be trained with Creative to get the best from it, as overexposure could be a problem. You would also need to have the professional lamp. The Rio kit is a home use kit and not really suitable for the professional gels so i doubt if it would be strong enough.

You haven't said if yu have any training. If you have and you want to train with Brisa you would be able to attend a conversion course.

To purchase Brisa gels yu would need to contact Creative Nail Design at Leeds 0800 316 0213 only by doing this are you gauranteed to receive the original Brisa gel. what you buy off Ebay may not be Brisa even if it is in there pots. these pots aren't sealed adn therefore could contain any gel!!

I have also used nsi and think they were also OK

hope this has helped a little

 

[Bagpuss]

Hiya xx

Am i right in assuming you have had no training in nails...? if not then i would say see what Sally's have got...i think they sell gels and primers that you could use at home. But still please be careful...because with no training or understanding of gels and prepping the nails and aftercare and removal of a system you could very easily damage your natural nails.

Brisa is a professional only product and without the training or the lamp you wouldn't know how to apply the gel safely and how the whole system works...and it does require knowledge and products of the whole system for it to work..so i wouldn't go down that route.

Are you doing your own nails to save money or do you enjoy doing your nails....would you like to be a nail technician at some point...? if so then i would highly reccomend some training cos its a fab profession to be in.

I think its lovely to go to a salon and be pampered ... don't you miss that when you do them yourself.

I was a hairdresser many moons ago and even so would never attempt to cut or colour my own hair....i leave it to the professionals...and get pampered at the same time.

If you are interested in becoming a nail tech then this would be the best place to get as much info about training and products as you can.

Hope this helps xxx

 

[Lynswin]

Thanks for those who have replied. I was unaware that this site was only for qualified nail techs.

I have no 'formal' training but I enjoy doing my own nails and a very good friend of mine (who I am no longer in touch with so cannot ask about this) is an extremely good nail tech and gave me lots of very helpful advice before I started doing my own. I certainly wouldn't consider myself an amateur and I probably understand as much, if not more, about nail prep and safe removal etc, etc as some qualified techs (trust me, I have been to some salons before where I am unsure of how they ever qualified!)

I am not asking for advice about anything other than quality of gels as I have not got access to this info seeing as I am 'not in the business'.

Please consider this thread closed and I will do my research elsewhere so as not to offend or upset anyone.

Best wishes

Lynda

 

[Little Angel]

Hi Lynda

If your interested in getting into nails you could subscribe to one of the nail magazines scratch is a good one.

Alternatively look under the links section on this site there are links on there to a lot of different company's.

On here we all use different products so do a search on gel and you will get peoples opinions on which brands they like the best and why.

 

[Bagpuss]

I have been accused of encouraging untrained people to use professional products....I strongly object to this accusation and would like to point out that if you read my post properly i am actually trying to discourage Lynda from DIY nails and from buying professional products via Ebay. I don't get angry often but i am livid that i am being accused of something that i feel very passionate about...just because i didn't attack Lynda and give her the whole..."you should not be doing your own nails" speech doesn't mean i agree with what she is doing...she is free do do what she likes...all i can do is try to guide her in the right direction in a polite and friendly way.

sorry peeps but i am not taking this laying down..anyone who knows me will know that i don't and wont encourage people to do there own nails.

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Angie hun - you got a neg rep by any chance? I can only think so cos I don't see anyone posting that you're encouraging an amateur to use professional products! I thought the advice you gave was spot on! You advised that you could get products from the likes of Sally's without taking further training, but that to get the best from a product it IS best to take formal training, and certainly Brisa cannot be bought without proof of such.

I think we are all getting too het up about "only qualified Nail techs" (whatever that may be) are the only people EVER allowed to go near nail products. Let's face it I know that if I buy a hair colour from Boots it's always a risk, they never turn out quite like you want ... and heaven forbid if I tried a home perm kit, I think I'd have to find a "Wig forum" to get advice on how to cover up my disastrous barnet! :Scared: But it doesn't stop me experimenting, having the odd disaster on the way, and eventually deciding that I'd love a full head weave and letting the professionals take over ... but that home kit is what got me interested in hair colour in the first place, and when I saw the job done properly I've never done it again myself.

So if people want to try home kits don't knock it, that's how a lot of us got interested in nails in the first place. Yes of course, what is better for the natural nail is a good tech using high quality products and having first class training, and that is the direction we should point someone in which is what Angie did. But she also very kindly gave Lynda the advice she asked for which was where can she get more products and that they won't work with the Rio nail lamp?

Everyone take a chill pill, it's Saturday night and no work tomorrow!!!

So finally, Lynda you obviously have a keen interest in nails so welcome to the board & why not stick around, this milarcky called nailing could be the start of something big for you!!

 

[Northern Nails]

Everything yu said angie i totally agree with. As this sight is for anyone who is interested in nails and not just for professionals, i feel Lynda was totaly within her rights to enquire about which gel poeple prefer. She was only asking for an opinion adn that is what she got. I t is also upto the professionals on this sight to point out the damage that can be done to the natural nail with any system IF she hasn't had proper training. Like Sassy said ANYONE can buy nail products and experiment she was just made aware that professional products are jsut that PROFESSIONAL, and Angie pointing out Sally's as a means of supply is only helping her with her interest in nails.

People shouldn't be threatened by these questions, this dosn't mean that we are going to lose clients it just means when they do eventually come to us they will appreciate what a damm good job we actually do and all our hard earned money in training hasn't gone to waste.

Don't worry about it Angie if your nails are kick ass good, they speak for themselves. Giving advice can never be a bad thing.

 

[ValencianNails]

Lynda you obviously have a keen interest in nails so welcome to the board & why not stick around, this milarcky called nailing could be the start of something big for you!!

I agree...
if there is enough passion to do your own nails and know a bit more than the average 'joe public' then maybe you've just found your future career.
Getting the correct training is the key, if you really want to be good at 'doing' nails then ongoing training is the answer.
I would encourage you to check out the search option and look at the different companies who offer GOOD, DECENT training with excellent ongoing classes etc.
I would personally discourage anyone from going to their local wholesalers and picking professional products without training... having said that, that's exactly what I did all those years ago and now I'm doing something that I love.
yep, I am 'pot calling kettle black' in a way or in other words a hypocrit I suppose.
Good Luck in whatever you decide Lynda :hug:
xxx

 

[Cameo Val]

NSI Balance Gels and Akzents

 

[PLAOH]

Ezflow's Gel It, Creative's Brisa, Nsi Balance gel, Grafton IBD gel or Akzentz gel. I have tried all of the above with the exception of Brisa. All are good but I've decided to use Akzentz.

Karen at Nailsplusbeauty is the supplier for the Uk.

As Angie stated, you will only achieve good results with these products if you have the appropiate training.

Anyway good luck with your decision and welcome to the world of nails.

 

[amyuk]

here here, well said sassy!! and Angie as well!


Keep up the good work guys!!!

XXX

 

[bimbogeri]

Lynda, I assume you are only doing your own nails because you enjoy it, and not doing other people for profit?

At the end of the day, although we would wish everyone to either visit a proper tech, or train themselves properly, we have no right to say Lynda can't do her own nails any more than a hairdresser could try and ban anyone from dying their own hair.

Ultimately, Lynda, you would get better results using a more professional product, but these won't be available to you unless you train. I can see why you may not want this 'expense' if you are just working on your own nails and happy with what you produce, but as Sassy said, you may have found your vocation - if you enjoy doing your own nails (which I personally find a chore ) they you may well enjoy doing other peoples. All I would ask is that you don't do anyone else's nails without training, just as much for your sake as theirs - you aren't insured and the last thing you'll want is to make a mistake on a friend or neighbour and get yourself in trouble.

If you wish to continue using your Rio kit I believe Rio themselves offer extra supplies via a website that will be listed on your instruction leaflet - this is probably the best bet for you as other brands may not work with the lamp you are using, and may have different application style which won't work with the way you have gotten used to applying.

 

[Vicky Smith]

Hi Lynda


Well you have been given some very good advice only one thing i can add this is, what ever brand you choose to use, NEVER mix your products i.e primer star nails and another part in BRISA. Always keep to the same brand or you will never get the right results you are looking for

Vx