Can I use Gelish base and top coat with OPI lamp?
457674
As long as it is an UV lamp it should be fine. I've never used the OPI brand lamp before, but I know that as long as the bulb intensity (wattage) is similar, the gel polish will dry under it. The lamp I use with this is a UV light of 45 Watts, which I believe is slightly on the more powerful side (usually people use ~36W). I just double checked and these polish can be used with LED lights as well, and the cure time is a bit shorter than the UV lamp.
1670755
Gelish recommends you use the basecoat, remove the basecoat's tacky layer with an alcohol wipe, then apply the structure gel. Works for me.
1619005
I'm sure you can. I use it at home with OPI colors as well as other brands and it works great. I don't have the OPI light. The light I use takes each coat two minutes to cure.
1778657
This is the LAMP ONLY. It is an LED-based unit (e.g. solid-state; not a light-bulb). This does not include any gel coat polish, either base or top coat.(the polish costs more than the lamp!)
596944
I had the same problem! I had a UV lamp and even ended up buying a new LED lamp because of it! I eventually did some research and I found this out: cure your nails like usual, but at the end after the top coat has been cured, WIPE IT OFF WITH ALCOHOL to remove that sticky layer! Some suggested 99%, but I just used rubbing alcohol and my nails look EXACTLY how they should, nice and shiny and hard!Now I realize I didn't have to return the UV dryer, but oh well lol. Seriously, OPI needs to include some instructions, because that stickiness is terrible.
327336
I'm pretty sure it does! Opi nail polish works with the sensationail Lamp An LED light is an LED light no matter who makes it.. I'd research the strength of the lights because that would determine how long you'd have to cure it
475277
Yes, if you are using regular nail polish with gel top coat, it still works great! Only recommendation is to let the regular nail polish dry COMPLETELY before adding the gel top coat. If you don't, the regular nail polish will begin to wrinkle.
36636
If you're using tips, buy separately. The base coat would go on top. I don't use tips. Using Gelish polishes has allowed me grow out my own nails and they are healthy now. Love the products!!
491295
My niece is a manicurist and works mostly with the cnd brand but told me uv/ led brands are interchangeable. I used cnd base and top coat with gelish Polish a week ago and my nails still look perfect!
1263021
from what I read it has to be the gel nailpolish with the led lamp but I am sure you can use regular nailpolish after top coat after it dries.
1619003
I have a cheap/non-pro SensatioNail LED lamp and it works just fine with all brands of gelcolor polishes (orly, sensationail, etc.) - no need to adjust the curing time either (at least from my experience).
1069678
Funny you ask. I ran out of gelish base and top coat. And use a different brand I had. Turned out just as good. Just be sure to use gel products and clean nail bed well. Hope this helps.
1001452
I would say no, this cannot be used as a top coat as well. They do seem very different. the top coat uses uv to cure and lock down the color coat. the base is used to attach the color coat to your nail. I would not recommend not getting all three types if you want to do gel nails.
1759352
Hi Colleen, What kind of lamp are you using? I have the cheap Sensationail LED one and I only do 60 second per coat - 2 minutes seems highly unnecessary unless you're using a UV lamp (which I recommend you get rid of... UV lamps tan/age your hands, go for LED!). What brand are you using for the polish colour? If it's not OPI, that might be why you're having issues. A lot of brands aren't super compatible, especially if you're using a drugstore brand (non-pro) with OPI. I use the OPI base & top coats mostly with OPI colour and it always lasts until I remove it or it grows off. If you find yourself frequently wetting/drying your hands (e.g. a weekend spent at the beach frequently in and out of the water) you might find it starts peeling because that amount of expanding and shrinking of your nails is going to make it difficult for the polish to stay adhered. If you have naturally oily skin/nails it might just mean that gel polish isn't going to work for you. But if you've had gel polish done at a salon and it's worked just fine, then something in your technique isn't working. Finally, get the OPI bond-aid - if that doesn't help the gel polish stick to your nails (I don't use it because I find it makes it too hard to remove), then I think you're out of luck with gel polish. Try shellac (chips like crazy on me but I know it works for other people really well).
216328
Yes! I use an LED light with my gelish polishes and have never had any problems.
2182254
There are two different types of light for gel/shellac nails: LED and UV. UV takes longer than LED. You need one or the other for OPI.
107413
Yes you can use any gel polish with it. It tends to stick longer with the gelish branch though.