Nail Mythbusters - What Happens If You Put OPI Axxium No Cleanse UV Top Sealer on Nail Polish

A while ago I started experimenting with nail products as I had lots of unanswered questions about whether you could mix certain products with others. I have spent hours trawling the internet to try and find answers and I figured that there must be others out there who had the same unanswered questions as me, so I decided to do the experiments myself and report back on them in a feature I call...drumroll...Nail Mythbusters!

The Experiment: Today I'm looking at what would happen if you put OPI Axxium No Cleanse UV Top Sealer on top of nail polish. 

Usually this product is applied as a finish to OPI Axxium Gel and it produces an amazing glossy finish which I have struggled to get from any other polish top coat. As usual I had tried to find out the answer by looking online but had no luck at all. I wanted to know if it would help a manicure to last longer without chipping, whether it would provide the amazing gloss that it does in gel extensions and whether the overall effect would be as good as a gel polish manicure.

About half way through the curing process, I took my hand out of the UV lamp to see how it was looking. It looked great, really nice and glossy, so I put my hand back under to finish. When I removed my hand after the full 2 minutes I noticed a little crinkling. The finish wasn't as smooth as it should have been but the glossy finish remained. I put the polish under a bit of strain by picking at the sides and was surprised to see that it started to chip (not as easily as standard nail polish alone, but still quicker than properly prepped and applied gel overlays or gel polish).

The conclusion; Although it sort of works, I wouldn't recommend doing this. It just doesn't look that good. I like my nails to have a super smooth and glossy finish, and I would rather spend a few minutes extra having a gel polish manicure or pedicure. 

Nail Mythbusters - Can I use a 36 watt UV lamp instead of a 9 watt UV lamp for curing colour gels?

The Experiment: Can I use a 36 watt UV lamp instead of a 9 watt UV lamp for curing colour gels? 

I did a ton of research into whether I could do a set of colour gel nails with a 36 watt lamp instead of the recommended 9 watt. I purchased new colours without thinking and then had a last minute panic about whether I would cook someones hands or feet, so I did an experiment. I figured that there must be other nail technicians out there who had wondered the same thing. Here's the result:

In order to make it a better test I tested the 36 watt lamp on two different brands, ASP from Sally's and my lovely faithful OPI Axxium  Soak-Off Gel Color. I also decided to use myself as the test subject as I would be able to tell quickly if there was a problem or if something wasn't right. 

I started off with the gel base coat. The curing process seemed normal and worked well. There were no adverse effects so I continued top the first colour layer. Again, no problems or areas for concern so I continued to the second layer of colour. I started to feel more and more confident that this was going to be a success, but the true result would only be realised once I had completely finished the set so I added the clear top coat and then wiped of the excess once all steps had been completed. The result was fabulous, just the same if I was doing a set with the OPI Axxium File-Off system which actually requires the 36 watt lamp.

I would be really interested to know if anyone has tried a 36 watt lamp on the OPI GelColor range. I'm going to be offering this shortly but I want to know whether I have to spend a fortune on the OPI LED lamp or whether I can use my 36 watt lamp for this as well. When I'm doing mobile nails in the local area, I don't really want to have to be draggin around more than I have to, as nail tech's out there will know that we need a lot of kit!

Important note: As mentioned in a previous post, I like to think of myself as an OPI purist and would always recommend that you do your research when using a different lamp. These are my personal experiences and I would always try to use the suggested lamp. I needed to try this experiment as I had a set of nails to do but didn't have time to get a 9 watt lamp. I now have a 9 watt lamp and would use this unless I absolutely couldn't for some very good reason.

Nail Mythbusters - What Happens If You Mix OPI Soak Off Gel With Other Branded Base Gel and Top Coat Gel

The Experiment: Have you ever wondered what would happen if you used a different brand of gel base and top coat to your usual gel colour? 

Recently I had purchased some OPI Soak Off Gel (DS Radiance) which arrived safely. I also ordered the OPI Soak Off Base Gel and Top Coat, but the last 2 items were purchased on eBay and unfortunately never arrived. I desperately needed the complete set as I was due to do a set of sparkly silver overlays but there are no OPI suppliers near by to me and I couldn't wait for an online order to arrive. I had a bit of a think and wondered what would happen if I used my ASP soak off gel base and soak off clear gel with the OPI soak off gel. I am usually a complete OPI purist and a total product snob but I like experimenting and couldn't find a true answer online so I decided to try a set of overlays on myself. 

Result: I'm thrilled to report that it worked really well!

The finish is gorgeous and glossy, there is no lifting or shrinkage and my nails feel fabulous and strong days later!

I am still planning to purchase my regular OPI Soak Off Base Coat and Top Coat, however if you are strapped for cash or can't get what you need at a moment's notice then "cheating" could work.

Note: I used ASP products and OPI. That doesn't mean to say that mixing just any brand will be as effective. Please let me know what your personal experiences are so that all readers get a true and well rounded opinion.