Journal

Why a gel top coat over regular nail polish often wrinkles or peels, how to try it if you must, and the full gel system that gives real gel shine and wear.

No-wipe, wipe or matte? The criteria that make a gel top coat worth stocking in the salon, how to apply it for maximum shine, and how to fix common problems.

What a structured gel manicure is, who it suits, and how to build the apex with builder gel, step by step, with the mistakes to avoid.

The criteria that matter when you choose a builder gel for the salon, and the five shades that cover most everyday client requests.

Do you need a base coat under builder gel? The correct order from dehydrator to top coat, when a rubber base helps, and the mistakes that cause lifting.

Micro French, milky French, baby boomer, colour tips or a line of gold: twelve modern ways to wear the French, and the pro method for a crisp line.

Gel stays wet until it's cured, which makes it ideal for blending. Learn the brush and sponge methods, then try 12 ombre nail designs, from a baby boomer to black tips and a cat eye fade.

Liquid gold, moonlit silver, holographic or golden glitter tips: twelve sparkling manicures for the last night of the year, and how to keep them perfect until morning.

From a single dot to leopard print and holographic accents: 30 gel nail designs for every skill level, with the steps to recreate each one at home.

Lilac or lavender, mauve or deep plum: which purple suits your skin tone, 12 designs to recreate at home, and how to stop pale purples from streaking.

Done carefully, a gel manicure at home lasts two to three weeks. This guide takes you through every step, from prep to top coat, and shows how to fix wrinkles, bubbles and streaks.

Prep, slip layer, bead, apex and finish: how to apply builder gel step by step, which shade to choose and the mistakes that cause lifting.

Tortoiseshell nails get their depth from a sheer amber layer between two rounds of spots. We show how to build it in gel, step by step, with seven designs from French tips to cat eye.

First gel kits, festive magnetic shades, the finishes experts reorder and the pro e-file: Christmas gift ideas for everyone who notices hands first.

Dots, tiny hearts, a micro French and more: 15 simple nail designs to paint in gel at home, each with its tool or a household alternative, plus how to fix mistakes before curing.

The removal is where a manicure is really judged. The professional e-file method, the right bits and the mistakes that leave nails thin and sore.

Thirteen Halloween nail designs, from an office-friendly black French tip to spider webs, ghosts and blood drips, with step-by-step advice for painting them in gel.

Wine red, black cherry, a fine burgundy French or a touch of gold: our favourite ways to wear the most elegant colour of the season, and the shades to do it.