
If you still don’t know what is gelish and how it is used, in this oneHOWTO article we offer you all the information you should have in this regard. Gelish is a semi-permanent nail polish that not only guarantees long-lasting durability, but also won’t crack or scratch. Gelish is ideal for those who want to wear perfect nails for weeks, since by acting like a gel, it keeps its shine intact for more than 20 days.
Do you want to enjoy shiny, strong and healthy nails for longer? Pay attention to the article that we bring you from UNCOMO, because we offer you all the keys to learn how to apply gelish step by step right from the start. You will have a perfect manicure in a few minutes!
How to apply gelish at home – materials
Before I introduce you to the steps to learn how to apply gelish on natural nails, you should have some essential materials ready. For your gelish nails you will need a basic manicure kit consisting of a nail pusher, a cuticle cutter, files, rubbing alcohol and, of course, a nail clipper. However, you will also need some less common materials:
- PH leveler: removes excess moisture from the natural nail and cleans it thoroughly.
- First: essential to degrease the surface of the nail and achieve greater adherence.
- 100% pure acetone
- Base coat– Clear enamel applied first to protect subsequent colored enamels from lifts and scratches.
- Your favorite gelish nail polish
- A UV / LED lamp: between 30 and 48 watts of power.
- Gel finish: the last coat to be applied to protect the rest of the enamels and give the nail shine and strength.
- Cuticle oil: to protect the nail contour well.
Practice applying gelish on a natural nail by following the instructions below. With a little patience you will achieve the best results, let’s go!

Prepare the cuticles, cut your nails and file them
Before learning how to apply gelish on natural nails, it is essential to properly disinfect the materials you are going to use. For this reason, we recommend using alcohol or a good sanitizer that allows you to spray the tools before starting to work your nails with them. Once this process is finished, follow our instructions:
- With the cuticle pusher, remove any excess dead skin that you find both on the sides and around each nail. It is important to perform this step carefully so as not to damage your skin.
- In case your nails are very long, take the opportunity to cut them using the nail clipper. Once you have cleaned your cuticles and properly cut your nails, soak a gauze with a little alcohol and gently wipe it over the nails to finish the cleaning.
- Next, take a file (we recommend 180 grit) and slide it gently over each nail. File lightly, vertically, to remove excess oil from the nail and give it more durability. Remember to move the file in only one direction to avoid damaging the layers of the nail and preventing them from breaking easily. We help you with this article on How to file nails easily.
- Finally, soak another gauze in acetone to clean the nails.

Apply the PH leveler and the primer
The PH leveler, as its name suggests, will allow you to regulate the natural PH of your nails and, in turn, remove fat and debris that have not been completely removed with acetone. This product will thoroughly clean your nails once they are cut and filed, so you only need to apply one coat.
Next, you will have to apply the primer, a product that guarantees the adhesion of the enamel on the natural nail. Cover well the entire surface of the nail where you will later apply the gelish and, for best results, make two coats.
Apply the base coat
Before discovering how gelish is applied chosen, you will have to offer your nails a thin base coat. It is important that this layer is as thin as possible so that it dries optimally in the lamp and that the gel does not look too thick on the nail.
Thanks to the base coat you can take care of your nail and protect the colored gelish that you use later. From unCOMO we advise you that, in case the base coat stains the skin around the nail, you use a toothpick to remove the excesses.

Dry your nails with the UV / LED lamp
Once you have applied the base, it will be time to dry your nails. Place your base coat hand on the lamp and let it dry for 60 seconds, approximately. This lamp will allow you to dry the product quickly and obtain perfect results in a matter of minutes. Carry out this process on both hands.

Apply your chosen gelish
Have you already dried your nails? If so, prepare the chosen nail polish, because the time has come to learn how gelish is applied. Remember that to obtain a spectacular result enamel layers must be very thinOtherwise, the manicure could be damaged in the lamp by the formation of bubbles or the appearance of wrinkles in the gel.
- Paint your nails with the gelish of the color that you like the most. Take the time to get very thin layers.
- Then place one hand inside the UV / LED lamp for 60 seconds. After this time, repeat the operation with the other hand.
- You will have to repeat this process depending on the layers of color that you give to your nails. You can do it up to 3 times, always taking into account the intensity of the chosen enamel and the result you want to obtain.
- Help yourself with a toothpick to remove the excess gelish that may have remained on the contour of your nail.
An advice? Apply the polish in just the right amount of color. The trick is in perform three movements so that the result is perfect: from the base to the center, on the left side and on the right side. It will not fail! If you wonder how to apply gelish with design, that is, how to add details to your nails, now it is time to include the elements you prefer (you can make lines with another polish, combine colors, etc.).
However, if you are a beginner, we recommend limiting the design to a color that you like to get more practice and not get too complicated. You can learn how to apply patterned gelish later!

Apply the gel finish
To finish your gelish-based manicure, and once the previous layers have dried, apply a layer of gel finish on all nails.
This product will take care of encapsulate the final result of your manicure; it will protect the polishes and strengthen your nails for a longer duration. Once you have applied it, place your hands under the lamp for one or two minutes until completely dry.
From UNCOMO we also recommend that you visit this article on How to remove gelish at home so that, after the weeks of duration, you can easily remove all the layers of enamel.
Apply some cuticle oil
You already know how to apply gelish step by stepHowever, from UNCOMO we advise you to spend a couple of minutes on this last optional proposal. Cuticle oil will allow you to show off a brighter design but, above all, it will help protect the skin around your nails.
If you want to show off beautiful and fully hydrated hands, cuticle oil is essential, so apply a drop on your finger and gently massage the contour of each nail. You will already have your incredible final results!
You may also be interested in learning how to make a homemade cuticle cream.

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