Hello everyone, its been ages since I last posted an article but I hope this one will keep the ladies happy! Ok so I never thought I’d see the day I rave about an at home gel nail kit. But that day has come and if you follow me on Instagram you would have seen me mention this a few times. This Sensationail kit is incredible on so many levels.

I was sent this kit to review and used the product over a few weeks. I have removed it and reapplied the system to really put it through its paces. If you haven’t come across my site before then welcome. I used to be a Celebrity nail artist and an Educator for some of the biggest professional nail brands in the world. I can honestly say that Sensationail is in fact….Sensational!!

I’m going to go out on a limb here and state that I think this kit is possibly better an any professional product I have ever used tested or worn myself. Now I know everything there is to know about gel polish, the way the chemicals react and how different products work together. I also put my nail enhancements through utter hell. I can, as I know someone that will fix them in a blink of an eye if they chip, drop off or lift and that’s me.

Most professional gel applications become a little spongy, soft and lift after about a week on my nails. Not sensationail it’s incredible. I got 2 full weeks out of the first application. Only taking them off to redo as the regrowth was looking a little unsightly. I removed them and reapplied them with ease and I can report that this brand is seriously rocking my world.

You won’t need to worry about applying extra layers as it’s so strong it’s just perfect. It has the best combination of strength and possibly the biggest factor that makes nail enhancements perfect and that’s it’s also flexible. So it will bend a little like real nails should. Too brittle and they can crack. This leads to lifting and all sorts of problems. Not with Sensationail you don’t! Not to mention the shine of the topcoat. It holds as good as new for all 14 days. No scratches, no dulling and certainly the shiniest of top coats I have ever come across. With the added bonus of being a 2 in 1 product. A combined base and top coat. Amazing don’t you think!

Sensationail Home Kit Review Tips

• When lightly buffing the surface shine make sure you don’t damage the nails natural thickness, as over buffing will thin your nails drastically.
• Cleanse with the product supplied. Don’t use nail polish remover as this is a solvent and could possibly cause lifting.
• Don’t touch any of the nails after cleaning as this will transfer natural oils from your fingertips and will result in the product not settling properly.
• When applying the primer only add it to 4 nails (leave the thumbs to last) Its a sticky product and fluff will drive you mad!
• When applying the base coat to the 4 natural nails make sure not to touch the skin (this will lead to lifting) By laving a tiny margin around the sides and bottom it will increase the length of time that the product will stay looking perfect.
• If you get any product on the surrounding skin just remove it with the orange wood stick provided in the Sensationail kit.
• Do not wipe off the shiny, tacky residue from any of the layers as this is a very important part. *Sticky sticks to sticky or a rough surface. If you remember this you wont ever go wrong. If you remove it by mistake its OK but you will find the product might not adhere to the next layer. So all you ned to do is lightly buff the surface and recleanse.
• Swirl the lid and brush in clockwise, or an anti clockwise motion around the neck of the bottle (whatever one feels easiest) as you take the applicator out. This will prevent dripping of the product and only the amount you need will be on the brush.
• Next professional tip is to apply the polish as thin as you can. I found this product self levels and it’s amazing even if you are a little heavy on application. But its a good habit to get into as you could get a few more applications out of one bottle.
• This is possibly the best tip I am going to give you now….Start to apply the polish in the middle of the nail. The push the brush towards your Proximal nail fold (cuticle) “I am going to drop in a diagram at the bottom and an explanation all about the cuticle at the end of this article. Make sure you read it as it will be very beneficial for you” As you push the brush back it will do all the work for you and you will see the polish edges are as neat as a pro! Try it a few times and let the product just glide on. *You are in no rush as it wont set until you are happy and place it into the lamp.
• Top tip….Don’t leave any products near a lamp that it on. The bright blue light will most certainly cure whats in the bottles or the brush you leave on your desk!!!! Be warned!
• Take your time when you first do a set. read the Sensationail instructions, my cuticle advice and the professional routine bellow before you start and Practice makes perfect!
• Once you have mastered a few tips all you have to remember is that the Base & Topcoat take 30 seconds to cure and the polish takes 1 minute. Simple as that. If you need 3 coats, then apply 3.
• If you have exceptionally weak nails I suggest a double layer of base and a double layer of topcoat cured for 30 seconds at each application.
• When you are finished cleanse, wash hands and Oil those stunning nails twice a day with almond oil. There you have it some professional advice.

Sensational has all the right ingredients to create perfect nails at home time and time again. I can’t fault this in any way. Well if I was really going to be picky I’d say that with some of the colours it shrinks back just a little with the first coat of polish….But on applying the second you would have forgiven it in a heartbeat. The coverage is unsurpassed.

Professionals would normally do 3 thin coats, very thin ones when applying any products for a client as they can ripple and not cure right the way through. This leads to lifting and unhappy customers. Now this is where I feel this products comes into it’s own. The ease of application is tremendous, it’s near on impossible to get it wrong. The applicator brush of the combined base and topcoat is brill and the colours glide on almost seamlessly.

I give this a huge 10/10. For anyone that wouldn’t set foot in a salon this is perfect and for those of you needing to save a few pennies this will blow you away. Excuse the pun…This is Hands down the best gel manicure kit I have used in years.

Below is a professional explanation about the real Cuticle and manicures.

To explain what the true cuticle is… in fact it covers the entire nail bed. Yes thats right girls. The cuticle is basically the residue from the proximal nail fold when the nails are growing. Its there to keep infection out. And should NEVER BE CUT, EVER. As the nail plate grows it just travels with it. It can be carefully cleaned away by yourself but you just need a little know how…So I have done a little routine for you to help you apply Sensationail like a professional.

1. Grab a towel and some kitchen paper and place it on a table with a good light above the area. Preferably set up during the day. Sundays are best! Set aside about 1 1/2 hours to do a great job.
2. Gather all you need and plug in the lamp and arrange your desk with everything you need.
3. To remove the true cuticle gently glide the Sensationail remover tool (this is perfect) up and down the ENTIRE nail bed very gently. You can do this on dry nails with the remover and you will see lots of dry powdery debris coming off. Don’t over work it just do tiny moments with a little pressure and you will be amazed at what comes off!
5. Wash those hands and nails, getting rid of the excess debris. Then dry them off with a clean piece of kitchen roll.
6. Using a gentle file, shape nails. Lightly zig zag the file on the ends. This will add a little bit of key so the base coat will be able to nestle into the ends and seal them.
7. Arrange the lamp, bottles and products so they are easily accessed and loosen the lids a little.
8. Grab a cleanser pad provided in the kit and cleanse (not too much as this will saturate the nail and will lead to lifting!) one drop will do all 4 nails. Really cleanse those nails and scrub away at them so they are nice and clean. Try not to get any fluff left behind.
9. Look at the nails and see if you have any fluff or dust. Do not touch the nail plate if you have. Try to remove it by reusing the pad.
10. Apply a very small amount of base coat to 4 nails (do the thumbs last). Remember to add some around the free edge (tip of the nail). Keep it simple and try not to touch the skin. Keeping it just on the nail bed.
11. Place in lamp for 30 seconds.
12. Apply the colour thinly around the free edge. Then over the nail. Gel polish is amazing as it won’t set until it gets near the lamp! If you find its shrinking back a little just flash cure each nail for 5-10 seconds then move on to the next. This normally happens with darker colours and reds. Word of warning….don’t place any gels near the lamp as they will set, as I have mentioned before. Its always good to remind you!
13. Pop your beautifully and carefully painted nails into the lamp for 1 minute.
14. Apply a second coat to just the nail bed, paying attention to making sure it’s as neat as possible.
15. Pop in the lamp for 1 minute.
16. If you need a 3rd coat go ahead and do another.
17. Place in lamp for 1 minute. If you have applied this thickly you will feel it get a little warm. This is very normal it’s just the molecules connecting and being activated to link together until it sets. It sets so fast it’s a little friction and nothing to worry about.
18. Apply a thin coat of top coat and make sure you run a little along the tip to seal the edges. Then place your hand in the lamp for one last 30 second session!
19. Now do this to all 4 fingers on the other hand, followed by the thumbs. All done! I do hope this has helped you along with my professional gel nails tips.

It all sounds like there are loads of stages but trust me once you have done it a couple of times this will save you so much money and you will be able to have stunning nails all year round that look like a professional job.

*Please remember if you are thinking of doing other peoples nails you need proper training a licence/insurance and tell the council you are running a salon, either from home or mobile. It’s not worth running the risk of getting in trouble.

The key to anything is learning to do things properly and this article is intended for the use of Sensationail home gel nail kits.

For more beauty, fashion or styling advice just Tweet me @sarahbacchus and check out my site SLBstyle.com

For any photography and Personal Styling bookings please email me at sarah@slbstyle.com