Once you’ve finished cuticle and skin treatment around the nail (such as pushing back or removing excess cuticle), it’s time to properly prepare the nail plate for gel. This step is crucial — it helps ensure long-lasting wear, prevents lifting, and creates the perfect foundation for any gel application.

You will need:

• Nail Prep / Nail Dehydrator
• Ultrabond (non-acid primer)

Here's how to do it:

1. Clean the nail surface
   Make sure the natural nail is clean and free from dust, oils, or moisture. You can use a lint-free wipe and alcohol or nail cleanser to remove any residue.
2. Apply Nail Prep (Dehydrator)
3. Apply Ultrabond (non-acid primer)

✅ Tip for beginners: Less is more. Too much product (especially primer) can cause lifting. Always work cleanly and precisely.

After prepping the natural nail with dehydrator and primer, the next important step is applying the base coat. The base acts as the foundation layer that anchors the gel to the natural nail and prevents lifting or chipping.

Choosing the right base is key to long-lasting and healthy results. Below are recommended base coats depending on your client’s nail type:

👉 F.O.X Base Power

• What it is:
  Flexible, medium-thick clear base with self-leveling texture and balanced pH.
• Who it’s for:
  Healthy or Problematic, thin, soft, or damaged nails.
• Why use it:
  Builds structure, provides strong adhesion, and prevents lifting on weak nails.

👉 F.O.X Base Rubber

• What it is:
  Rubberized, flexible base with medium-thick consistency.
• Who it’s for:
  Healthy, flexible natural nails.
• Why use it:
  Smooths the nail plate, adapts to movement, and ensures long-lasting, chip-free wear.

👉 F.O.X Base Strong

• What it is:
  A firm, strengthening base with higher rigidity than rubber base.
• Who it’s for:
  Best for healthy, hard, or strong natural nails.

🔸 Tip: Avoid using this base on very thin or flexible nails — it might be too rigid and cause tension.

👉 F.O.X Air Base (Blue)

• What it is:
  A very soft, elastic base. Contains wollastonite, a healing mineral that repairs the nail plate and improves adhesion.
• Who it’s for:
  Designed for damaged or weak nails and for nails that can’t hold other base gels.
• Important note: Before use, mix well as wollastonite mineral settles at the bottom of the bottle. This mineral helps repair damaged nails and enhances adhesion.

🔸 Tip: Use in thin layers to reinforce delicate nails without adding bulk.

How to Apply the Base Coat:

1. Apply a thin slip layer of your chosen base using a light touch — this first layer improves adhesion.
2. Cure in LED/UV lamp according to the base’s instructions (usually 30–60 seconds in LED).

After curing the base coat, you can move on to either applying color or reinforcing the nail with a hard camouflage base.

👉 Tinted Base (Hard Base)

• What it is:
  A pigmented, hard gel base with high durability and natural-looking coverage.
• Who it’s for:
  Clients with weak or thin nails who need extra strength and a touch of color.
• Why use it:
  Adds structure, masks imperfections, and strengthens the nail plate. Can be used as a standalone natural look or under gel polish for added durability.

✅ Apply a thin slip layer first, then build structure with a small bead. Cure for 60 sec in LED.

👉  Tussah Gel (Acryl Gel with Silk Fibers)

• What it is:
  A non–soak-off acrylic gel, infused with Tussah silk fibers for added strength and flexibility.
• Who it’s for:
  Clients who want to reinforce their natural nails of any length without adding bulk.
• Why use it:
  The silk fibers help prevent breakage while keeping the nail plate flexible. Perfect for strengthening thin, peeling, or brittle nails — especially when soak-off gels don’t hold well.

✅ Apply over a cured flexible base coat. Use a slip layer, then build with a small amount of product. Cure for 60 sec in LED. Finish with color or top coat.

👉 Gel Polish Color

• What it is:
  Highly pigmented soak-off gel polish.
• Who it’s for:
  Clients who don’t need additional reinforcement and want vibrant, long-lasting color.
• Why use it:
  Easy to apply in 1–2 thin coats for even coverage and glossy finish. Always cure each coat separately.

✅ Avoid applying too thick to prevent wrinkling or uneven curing.

The final step is applying a durable top coat to protect the color and ensure long-lasting shine. You can choose between a top coat with or without a sticky layer and with or without a UV filter, depending on the needs of your design.

👉 Top No Wipe (No Sticky Layer, No UV Filter)

• What it is:
  A top coat without a sticky layer and no UV filter.
• Who it’s for:
  Perfect for dark colors and designs where you want to avoid any color change in the sun.
• Why use it:
  This top coat will not turn blue under sunlight, making it ideal for darker shades. It leaves a high-gloss finish and doesn’t require wiping after curing.

✅ Apply after your gel color, cure, and you're done!

👉 Top Steel (No Sticky Layer, With UV Filter)

• What it is:
  A top coat with a UV filter and no sticky layer.
• Who it’s for:
  Ideal for bright, pastel, or light colors.
• Why use it:
  The UV filter prevents color change or yellowing over time, maintaining the freshness of your bright shades. It also ensures a long-lasting, glossy finish without needing a final wipe.

✅ Perfect for ensuring your colors stay vibrant and fresh. Apply after curing color, and cure again.