Imagine you get the best manicure ever. The perfect shape, the ideal color, and the cutest design. But then you look closer and all you can see are bubbles and wrinkles ruining the nails of your dreams. What went wrong?
Your nails still look great from far away, but there is nothing more annoying than an uneven coat of gel polish. If you’re not trained on how to do nails, this problem can be a big one, but even the pros sometimes don’t pay attention.
What causes bubbles and wrinkles in gel polish? Gel polish bubbles and wrinkles are usually caused by a number of reasons like too much heat, oil, or moisture. They can also happen if the gel polish is past its expiration date or applied in thick layers.
The good news is, you don’t have to be a professional manicurist to solve this issue. It can be a quick fix, and you won’t ever have to worry about them again.
Soon the frustrations of textured nails will be over. All you need is to take a few extra precautions. In no time, you’ll have beautiful, evenly coated nails that will make you smile every time you look at them.
Why It Happens
There is no single solution to preventing bubbles or wrinkles. Instead, there are numerous reasons why you aren’t getting the perfect coat.
The causes for bubbles and wrinkles in gel polish include:
- Thick layers
- Expired gel polish
- Excess moisture and oil on the nail board
- Not waiting for previous layers to dry
- Inefficient UV lamp
- Inadequate nail prep
- Uneven polish application
- Nails aren’t properly placed in the lamp
- Lint or dust gets trapped in between layers
This may be an overwhelming list of reasons, but there are simple procedures you can implement when doing your own nails that will revolutionize your gel polish game.
There are various ways you can prevent nail bubbles. A significant way to avoid imperfections is by preparing the nail properly. It can even be as simple as wiping down the nail between each coat of gel polish.
Fixing gel bubbles and wrinkles can also be as simple as switching out your tools. Outdated tools can mean outdated nails. However, you don’t have to fret; we will cover everything you need to make sure your nails don’t end up looking like lady Gaga’s bubble dress ever again (unless that’s just sparked some creativity in you).
And if you’re worried your lamp just isn’t doing your gorgeous nails justice, we’ve got another article on the 7 best lamps for gel nails waiting for you!
Step-By-Step Guide
Now we can go over all the steps you need to get a perfect application every time. Let’s break it down one at a time to make sure each of these important points gets the attention it deserves. Take your time; you don’t have to run anywhere. Not with those nails, anyway.
The two most essential things to consider when preventing textured nails are making sure you are taking care of your nails properly and making sure you are using the appropriate technique.
Besides reevaluating your tools, ensuring proper nail care and technique can make the biggest difference in your nail art journey.
1. Nail Prep
The most crucial step of them all is to make sure you are performing proper nail prep. Good nail prep is the key to getting your polish to adhere to the nail bed, making them long-lasting.
What goes into proper nail preparation? This can be anything from nail filing to cuticle trimming. Just like building a house, you need to have the appropriate foundation laid down before you can start building up.
Follow these easy nail prep steps for bubble and wrinkle-free nails:
- Remove Old Polish: Take off any remaining polish from your previous manicure. This is the first step in getting a clean base.
- Trim Your Nails: This step is optional if you don’t feel the need to cut your nails short. However, if it’s been a while, then cut away!
- Shape Your Nails: Take a nail file and start creating your desired shape. Be careful not to scratch the surface of your nails.
- Trim Your Cuticles: Nip away at any unruly cuticles or dead skin. You can also just push them back if you aren’t comfortable trimming your cuticles.
- Buff Your Nails: Buffing will create a smoother nail base and remove any ridges.
- Wipe The Nail With Alcohol: Wiping your nails with alcohol may be the most crucial step. Alcohol removes excess oil and moisture that may still be lingering on the nail bed. This will ensure that there won’t be any bubbles.
- Apply Your Dehydrator/Primer: If you don’t want to use alcohol to wipe down the nails, you can apply a dehydrator to remove excess moisture. Apply a primer to ensure the nail is ready for gel polish.
Nail preparation is crucial, and it’s incredibly significant even if you aren’t trying to prevent wrinkles or bubbles. Nail Prep not only creates the perfect base for gel polish application. It also maintains and keeps the health of the nails intact.
2. Technique
A simple way to take care of bubbles or wrinkles can be adjusting your technique. You may be thinking that it’s a no-brainer and that everyone knows how to apply polish. You just swipe it on, right? Nope.
Avoid thick layers of gel polish at all costs. It doesn’t matter how bold, bright, or opaque a color is; applying it in thin coats is the best method. Gel Polish is exceptionally thick in comparison to regular nail polish.
When you are working with a thick gel consistency, you need to be applying thin coats. Why? Applying in thick coats won’t allow the gel to cure or harden entirely in the lamp.
So while you may be thinking your gel is dry when you touch it, underneath that thick coat is completely uncured gel polish. Always work in clean, thin coats!
Pro Tip: Wipe in between coats. Using a lint-free wipe or alcohol wipe in between each coat of gel polish can prevent any imperfections from curing. This gets rid of any stickiness from the polish and takes away any lingering dust.
Buyer’s Guide
It’s time to re-evaluate your tools. I know what you are thinking; where do I even begin to see where the problem is coming from? Well, let’s examine one device at a time.
If it’s been a while since you updated your tools, that can lead to issues like bubbles and wrinkles. There are certain things to look out for when picking the correct tools for gel polish. Also, even a quick cleaning of your instrument can work wonders.
Look what needs cleaning and what needs to be replaced entirely. You may find out your problem is an easy fix or that you change something altogether. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to take a day to organize, clean, and reassess.
How to Find the Proper Tools:
If you are 100% sure that nail prep is not the reason why you get an uneven application, it could be because of your tools. Without the proper tools, executing an error-free gel polish manicure can be extremely difficult.
1. Quality Gel Polish
What is the difference between cheap gel polish and high-quality gel polish? First of all, its ability to cure. If it can’t dry thoroughly, even when applying thin coats, it may be time to switch brands. Another easy way to tell is if the smell is off; this can mean it’s expired.
Another sign to tell if gel polish is cheap is to look at the brush. If the brush leaves a streaky application or any residue behind, you won’t get a clean coat. Polish chipping easily can also indicate a cheap formula.
This also includes your base and topcoat. If you don’t have a high-performing base coat, you can’t expect a bubble and wrinkle-free application. Remember that the prep and the base coat are the foundation of the rest of the gel manicure.
2. High-Functioning UV Lamp
You can’t use gel without the UV Lamp. If your lamp is not curing your gel correctly, you will be left with a gelatinous goop. Otherwise known as runny, thick polish that won’t dry.
You may be able to replace the bulb and get your lamp up and running again. If not, it might be time to replace the light.
You need to know what kind of gel you need to use for your lamp. Also, take into consideration the wattage of the lamp. The wattage can indicate how long of a drying time you will need in between coats. Size is also important for even coverage.
3. Lint-Free Wipes
Lint-free wipes are a must. Always wipe down the nail in between coats. The best time to wipe the nail is right after it comes out of the UV Lamp.
You can use alcohol, but lint-free wipes can make sure there won’t be any little particles that will turn into bubbles later on.
4. Nail File
Look for a medium-grit nail file. These are great to prep the nail before any primers or gel polish. It also helps to remove gel polish. Medium grit files can also be known as 100/180 nail files, if you’re looking to get technical.
A medium-grit file can cover all the basics; prepping, shaping, and removing polish. So if you’re unsure where to start, a medium-grit file is the way to go!
Suggested Products
1. Gelish Nail Polish Kit – Fantastic Four
Gelish is known for its professional salon quality that you can get at home. They are also known as the first brush-on soak-off gel. This kit will cover all your nail preparation and base needs.
You’ll receive the pH Bond, Foundation, Top It Off, and Nourish products in this set.
The bottles are full-size, and the formula goes on smoothly. No matter what color polish you use in between, Gelish will protect your nail beds.
2. Gelish Pro Gel Nail Polish LED Lamp & Dynamic Duo
This lamp will be able to cure your nails in just 45 seconds and your hand will fit easily and comfortably.
You will never need to replace the light, and you will be able to cure up to 4 nails at once.
Cure your thumbs separately to ensure they dry fully and don’t end up with bubbles or wrinkles.
3. Onwon Lint-Free Nail Art Gel Remover
This one’s your secret weapon to flawless gel polish application. Lint-free nail wipes are a must. Use to clean the nail after every application of the product.
The difference is immaculate; no fibers will be disrupting your polish.
It absorbs excess moisture and oil in just a few wipes. These wipes don’t leave behind any residue or fibers either.
They are made from natural cotton. They’re great to have for your nail prep or any other phase of your manicure. This one box comes with 325 sheets.
4. HeeYaa Professional Double-Sided Files
Shape and prep your nails with ease. This ten pack will last you a while and they gently file nails without being aggressive. They can easily be cleaned with water and can be used multiple times.
Nail files are essential tools to have for your nail prep. Filing the nail to a smooth finish will help prevent any imperfections like bubbles.
This is the best to start with if you are looking to experiment but don’t want to invest in a more permanent solution.
Final Thoughts
Don’t stress over bubbly, textured gel manicures. You can implement various methods into your next manicure to make sure you don’t have any impurities.
The cause of bubbles and wrinkles in gel polish can be anything from faulty tools and weak nail prep to expired products. The technique can also play a huge role in the outcome of your manicure.
Always start with the proper nail prep. Trim and shape the nails, and cut the cuticles. Wipe nails down with a lint-free wipe and alcohol to remove any moisture.
Invest in your base products. The primer, pH bonder, base coat, topcoat, and cuticle oil are crucial to maintaining wrinkle-free polish. The quality of the base product can protect the nail bed when used correctly.
Master your technique. Remember, no matter what, always apply layers of polish in thin coats. Thick coats will not cure correctly and will immediately create bubbles.
Invest in your tools. High-quality gel polish won’t leave behind fibers or a streaky finish. They are long-lasting and will be able to cure quickly under a UV/LED Lamp.
Lamps are also a must in order to dry and harden the gel properly. Gel that isn’t appropriately cured will lead you to all sorts of problems.
A few things to remember: Now is your time to experiment. Find what methods work best for you. Reevaluate your tools, technique, and prep. You may find out it was one thing causing bubbles and not the other.
Practice, practice, practice! Each time you give yourself a gel manicure, it will look better than the last! With enough practice, you’ll be a pro in no time. Everyone will be wondering how you get smooth, even, salon-quality nails at home.
Up Next: 7 Best Polygel Nail Kits With Lamps
