While the nail salon had the deal running for a $13 gel polish manicure, I was doing really well!  Then, the deal ended and they went up to $30.  I tried another salon, and it was full of children running around, and there is no way I am going back to the happy nail salon where the manicurist cried while she did my pedicure–not my feet’s fault, I promise!  So, when I was in Ulta a few weeks back, I shelled out for the Red Carpet Gel Polish Pro kit.

 

I figured it wouldn’t be too difficult to do my own gel polish.  After all, the most important things are to be sure you only get the gel polish on your nail, and not on your finger, and to not look directly into the light.  You start with clean nails, brush on some starter stuff (and try not to spill it all over the floor), then brush on the Structure and bake for 30 seconds, brush on two layers of color and bake for 45 seconds each, then brush on the Brilliance and bake for 45 more seconds.  They call it “curing”.  I call it “baking”.  You rub on the Purify and you’re finished.  If you’re halfway decent at painting your nails, you can be finished in 10 minutes.

I got my kit for $15 less than it is listed on Ulta’s website here, but even if I had paid full price, I think it is worth it.  The kit is very easy to use, the color wears well, and I like the idea of being able to take care of business myself if I chip a nail.

It is very important to buy some orange sticks to go along with this.  When you are painting your nails, use an orange stick to clean any color or base out from between the nail and your fingermeat before you bake.  If you bake the gel to your fingermeat, then it won’t adhere properly to the nail, and it will peel right off.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.