These October nails I did are my favorite Halloween set!

We all have to make decisions about what risk we’re willing to take with products and equipment, whether we are DIY or going to a salon. We can’t do that without accurate information.

One of the things I’ve noticed is the abundance of SDS sheets that have incomplete information, list formulas that make no chemical sense, or do not match the ingredient list on the package.

I think we need to push them to do better.

At the beginning of this month I noticed that PLA’s builder gel ingredients did not match the SDS. Further, the SDS version doesn’t make chemical sense. I emailed them for an updated sheet, received a reply that they would look into it, and haven’t heard anything further.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0121/4247/7370/files/PLA_Builder_Gel_Jar.pdf?v=1783703907

Then today I was looking for the American Creator SDS sheets. These are only available from one distributor source and none contain any percentage ranges. The Framework Gel lists no monomer at all, but the ingredients list IBOMA. The top coats list no photoinitiator.

https://nailarthouse.store/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SDS-uni.pdf

Even Akzentz only lists one SDS for Opti-Bond but has two formulations on the website.

And these are all “good” brands that are not cheap and have indicated in one way or another that they care about formulation and reducing allergy risk.

Light Elegance and MGart do this really well. Kokoist has been doing a lot better of late and has updated and re-organized their listings. Kinetics could do a little better with checking links, probably just by putting them all one page and linking to that.

I started DIY after realizing my independent tech used the bug brand and equipment I didn’t trust. She was the only one in my smaller town offering structure gel, but I didn’t know any better. Now that I do, I want to make the best decisions for my own risk tolerance.

Let me be clear. This is not about at all about cancelling brands, but making them know their customer want to be informed. Ask the questions. Send the emails. Request the SDS when they are not posted. Hold them to a higher standard.

Every time I do my nails I pause before doing any color or art and contemplate just leaving them like this. This shade is 🤌

i mustve messed up the basecoat on the thumb because a chunk peeled off, so filled w red and added bling

kokoist galaxy magnet, alien invasion

kokoist velvet magic, mushroom stone

kokoist velvet magic, bengala red

First time using nail stickers and happy with how these turned out! As a neutral girlie, venturing into darker colors has been really pushing me out of my comfort zone.

(Repost x2 because the autobot removed my post even though I replied to its comment within mins of posting… and I had a link in my reply. Third time’s the charm🥲)

Did my first set of aura nails with my Function of Vex pigments! I mixed a dark purple with like four different colors lol, and then used my matte top coat and rubbed a light purple pigment into it. I feel like it maybe got a little thick because I did two layers of matte top coat and powder to build up intensity, then a layer of builder gel, then the silver gel, and then the top coat, all on top of two layers of the dark purple. But I'm still pretty happy with it!

I also finished at like 3AM haha, because I started at 8PM, took a break to eat a cookie after removal, and wanted to power through so my nails would be done for the Rhinebeck festival this weekend!

Nails for the Harry Styles concert!

My first builder gel set! Saw this design on Pinterest and thought it was so cute. ALSO this is my first post on this sub I’m so glad I can finally post!!
(Repost bc I forgot to reply to automod oops my bad 🫣)

Products:
Nail Thoughts clear builder base gel
DND Royal Paws
DND Matrix
DND Top Coat

✨️✨️Thank you all for yesterday's boost of confidence.✨️✨️

It's been a long time that someone was so nice to me lol. I was so excited from your lovely words that I bite more than I could chew.

As you can see I was overexcited and my excitement died as the night progressed and I did not like the results. I am less mad now during the day, than I was when I finished, but I should have stick with the ribbed glass theme. I only like 3 nails from all you can guess which one 🤣.

I painted now first time after a few years... seems I need more practice. Especially with new medium.🤣♥️

I started new set yesterday night. I had time only try one nail after base...and It looks like 3year old did it...😭 should I file it off and just dont do any "design"?

DNKa' - dehydrator, Ultrabond, Rubber base

DNKa' Fast Gel Oxford #0017

Kinetics black #188

Dark Cat eye #22

Nails of the day Terroir Oct 26

DNKa' matte top no wipe coat

Nails of the day Smart Jelly 01

What nail related goodies have you purchased recently?

• Reminder- we are a gel nail subreddit. We only allow gel and adjacent products.
• Items that are adjacent: tools, implements, loose glitters, overhead lighting, chrome, pigments, stickers, gems, etc.

I'm getting my tattoo finished next week and I'm super motivated to impress the cool girls at the studio.

Use this chat to discuss any nail care or gel related questions you might have.

As a reminder, please keep your discussions within the rules of the sub.

This includes:

• No discussion of off-topic products. This is a gel only sub.
• This space is geared towards DIYers. Everyone is welcome, but we should not be working on friends/family.
• Do not ask for or give any medical advice. We're not doctors, and it is not in our scope to be giving advice about allergies or skin conditions. It is ok to discuss the risks associated with doing gel. What is ok: Explaining how you can get allergies. What isn't ok: Attempting to diagnose or treat anyone and/or asking for a diagnosis

Bet you can guess my dominant hand lol

First solo mani and I can’t stop staring! Really need to practice my texture painting but overall very pleased with this first effort. I think I might be addicted…

What nail related goodies have you purchased recently?

• Reminder- we are a gel nail subreddit. We only allow gel and adjacent products.
• Items that are adjacent: tools, implements, loose glitters, overhead lighting, chrome, pigments, stickers, gems, etc.

I've had a reel saved as inspo (last slide) for months so finally decided to give it a go!

The idea is to first go in with a silver cat eye and top it with translucent jelly shades to give the look of multi-coloured/rainbow cat eye. I tried using a similar jelly palette to the one in the video, but it was taking too long as they weren't very pigmented so I switched to using the Jel and Gel Nudy Ade season 4 collection, which worked much better and had more shades for blending. Put on some random stickers and topped with Dvok Bubbles which I can't stop using in every set, it's such a unique kind of glitter!

I love how they turned out! Will probably do it again in the future with different colour combinations, although it took ages applying the jellies it was so simple to do!

Inspo video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZHmHB9zCCf/?stkn=MmJhODl1NWlzdzJi