Hard Builder Gel for Nails, Round – Clear, UV/LED Gels for Nail Extensions & Sculpting Strong Long-Lasting Enhancement for Women, 2 oz, 1 Pack

I am new to the world of gel nails but even for a beginner it has been very user friendly. I am currently using a model ones small uv/led lamp with it and it's curing nicely. I use the IBD primer as well. It is a thick self leveling gel and I find it hard to flood the cuticle area even on my non dominant hand. The color is clear, and for the price you pay you get a nice size of product that will last a while. The learning curve I had was I did not realize that after it cures it will still be sticky, but that's because if you are adding more layers it will help it adhere. I use rubbing alcohol to get rid of that layer when I am finished. So far my manicure without nail tips has lasted maybe 3 days but I work with my hands a lot. With nail tips it has lasted 3 weeks so far. Still learning, still playing around with it but I do enjoy this product.

I've been looking for a gel pot that would strengthen my natural nails. I've been using poly gel to extend my nails but now that they'd grown out I wanted something that would go on like nail polish and last a while. The description said that it would need 3-5 minutes curing under a UV lamp and since I have an LED lamp assumed it would be a shorter time. because I've been using poly gel I was used to using a primer and base coat and assumed I would need these for a longer-lasting application. When I got my gel, I set to work on strengthening my nails. I removed the poly gel, dehydrated, primed, and added a base coat. I then applied the gel and went with a minute and a half with my 72W LED light. When I pulled my fingers out they were still sticky and felt wet. I put them back in for the additional time that had been suggested. When I again pulled them out I was disappointed to find they still seemed wet and sticky. This wasn't anything like I'd expected. I put it aside for months. While searching again for another gel that would do what I was expecting I happened upon the IBD website and there it said that it would only take 60 seconds to cure under an LED light. I was confused. Why had it still felt wet after curing for such a long time. I decided to try it again. I had some acquired knowledge that there is what is called an inhibition layer with some polishes so I decided to assume it would be something like that. I did my nails and cured them for only 60 seconds. Rather than just expecting them to be dry, I wiped them down with some rubbing alcohol. That was the ticket! My nails are strong and look natural without polish and look great with polish. Great product and I will definitely be buying it in the future. My process: Remove any dirt and polish from your nails. Clean them off a bit with some rubbing alcohol. This will also help to dehydrate your nail bed. Apply a dehydrator. Apply a primer. Apply a base coat and cure for 60 seconds. Apply the IBD gel and cure for 60 seconds. Wipe your nails again with rubbing alcohol to remove the sticky inhibition layer. You can now polish your nails as you would like with either regular polish or gel polish. Things you will need: a small brush to apply the gel, a UV or LED nail lamp, rubbing alcohol. Per the IBD website, you do not need to do the base coat steps but I find it helps the gel to last longer. Gel should always be applied in thin layers and use multiple layers for the desired effect if needed.

I had to write a review because this hard gel is awesome! For people who didn’t give this five stars it’s important to know how to properly use this product for the best result. I use this as a overlay and nail extension and it stays on beautifully until I change my gel nail color which is usually every two weeks. Steps: 1. I prep my natural nail without filing too much off. I just remove the shine and wipe with an alcohol wipe. 2. I apply a nail tip with nail glue to my natural Nail for length. (I sometimes also use a nail form without needing to use a tip for length but that requires some skill and everyone may not want to take the time to master that.) 3. I cut and shape the nail tip with a nail file and make it flush with my natural nail and brush off dust. 4. I then apply a base coat and cure. 5. I apply the IBD hard gel in two thin coats being careful to not get any on my cuticle. I cure for 120min with a 160 watt UV/LED lamp between coats. A high voltage lamp is a must with hard gel. 6. I then file, shape and even out the surface. I ensure the gel is thin at my cuticle to ensure it is flush with my natural nail. If you don’t file it down thin, dirt and oil will get under your nail and that’s what causes nail funguses and nail lifting. 7. I wipe top of nail off with alcohol once finished to remove sticky layer. 8. I apply another layer of base coat, 2 coats of gel polish and 1 top coat curing between each application. Follow the cure timing instructions for your chosen gel polish. 9. Every two weeks I remove the gel polish and add the UBD builder gel in the small area between the cuticle and where my nail is growing out, giving myself a “fill in”. 10. After that I repeat steps 4-8. Using this method, my nails don’t chip or break and I type heavily for work. Hope this is helpful to someone.

Great but leaked out

Very goood !excelente quality

sorry that they are so blurry but, I’ve been doing nails for years and I haven’t had a builder gel that levels so easily as this one does. I have used tons of salon brands and I continuously go back to this one. It is beginner friendly. I don’t find that it smells very bad, it is crystal clear and shiny, and extremely durable. Sometimes my nails are more flexible than the builder gel, which can cause the tips of my nails to lift from the builder gel, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the gel and everything to do with my prep/nail health. 10 out of 10 definitely buy this!

Definitely recommend for doing your own nails at home! I used this as a builder and in place of nail glue (cure for 30secs then an additional 60) so my nails won’t pop off. Had 0 issues with drying under the lamp though you do need to wipe off the sticky layer after curing with alcohol. Nice amount of product and a little goes a long way. Very easy to work with even though it was my first time 🙂‍↕️

Bueno producto, llegó bien

utmärkt material, hållbart och lätt att använda.

came on time and is really easy to use

Honestly ye fake ibd gel hain...original.ibd gel bahut hard hota. Hain ye bahut thin hain ....

Ik heb clear besteld. Maar ik heb pink gekregen. Gel is goed maar niet wat ik wilde.