How to Apply Gel Nail Strips
To apply gel nail strips, clean and dry your nails, pick a strip slightly narrower than each nail, press it on from the centre outwards, file off the excess, then cure for 60 seconds under a UV or LED lamp. The whole manicure takes about ten minutes, and you cure your thumbs separately.
Each Velvora gel set has 20 strips in mixed sizes, plus a nail file and a manicure stick, so besides the set all you need is a lamp and something to clean your nails with.
What you need
- A set of Velvora gel nail strips
- A UV or LED nail lamp, such as our mini UV/LED lamp
- An alcohol wipe or nail cleanser
- Cuticle oil for afterwards
Starting from scratch? A starter kit has two sets of your choice, a cuticle oil pen and the mini UV/LED lamp.
How to apply gel nail strips, step by step
- Prep your nails. Wash and dry your hands, shape your nails, gently push back your cuticles, then wipe each nail with alcohol to remove any oil. Skip hand cream beforehand.
- Choose your sizes. Before peeling anything, hold strips over each nail and pick one that is slightly narrower than the nail, so it doesn't touch the skin at the sides. If you are between sizes, go smaller. The nail sizing guide explains more.
- Place the strip. Peel it off by the tab and line it up just short of your cuticle. Press down in the middle first.
- Smooth it down. Press from the centre out to the sides, then down to the tip, to push out any air. Don't stretch the strip to make it fit.
- Remove the excess. Fold the overhang over the tip and file downwards, in one direction only, until it comes away cleanly.
- Cure. Put your four fingers under the lamp for 60 seconds, then cure your thumb on its own for 60 seconds. Very dark or glittery shades may need an extra 15 to 30 seconds.
- Repeat on the other hand. Finish with a little cuticle oil on the skin around your nails.
Getting the fit right
A strip that touches the skin at the cuticle or sides is the most common reason for an early lift, so fit is worth a minute of your time.
- Size down rather than up.
- Leave a tiny gap at the cuticle and along the sidewalls.
- Never stretch a strip to fit. It pulls back and lifts at the edges.
Curing tips
- Keep your hand flat with your fingers well inside the lamp.
- Cure thumbs on their own, laid flat towards the light, otherwise the sides can stay soft.
- If you feel a brief warm spot, slide your hand out for a second, then back in.
- Once cured, the strip should feel hard and smooth. If it still feels soft, give it another 15 to 30 seconds.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying to nails that are damp, oily or freshly moisturised.
- Choosing a strip that is too wide, or stretching it.
- Filing back and forth, which can fray the edge.
- Rushing the cure, or curing thumbs at the same time as your fingers.
Something not quite right? Try the troubleshooting guide or the nail problem finder.
Making them last
Gel strips give up to 14 days of wear on fingernails, and in our own wear tests strips typically last 10 to 14 days. To get the most from yours:
- Use cuticle oil every day.
- Wear gloves for washing up and cleaning.
- When it is time for a change, take them off with cuticle oil as shown in our removal guide. Never peel them off dry.
Common questions
Do I need a lamp for gel nail strips?
Yes. Gel strips are semi-cured, so they need 60 seconds under a UV or LED lamp to finish hardening. If you would rather skip the lamp, nail polish strips need no lamp at all.
Why do I cure my thumbs separately?
Your thumbs sit at an angle to the rest of your hand, so in most lamps they don't face the light properly. Curing them on their own makes sure the whole strip hardens.
How long do gel nail strips last?
Up to 14 days on fingernails, and often longer on toes. Careful prep and daily cuticle oil make the biggest difference.
Can I use gel strips on my toes?
Yes. Our pedicure strips are the same semi-cured gel, shaped for toes, and you apply and cure them the same way.