1. Examine your fingernails. If they are wet or damp, wait at least one hour to allow them to dry. Excessive moisture in the nails will prevent the gels from adhering to them.
2. Remove any old enamel or any other foreign substances from your nails
3. Inspect the nails and cuticles to be sure they are healthy. If the skin around the nail, the nail plate or cuticle is sensitive or has abnormal conditions, such as open sores, cracks, rashes, discoloration, roughness or injury, do not apply gels.
4. If your nails and cuticles are healthy, begin the Lumé application.
5. Pour Lumé Nail Sanitizer into the lavender Dappen Dish. Place the Nail Sanitizing Brush along side the Dappen Dish for later use.
6. Gently push back cuticles with the cuticle stick. Gel should bond to the perimeter of the nail, but must not bond to the cuticle. If gel bonds to the cuticle, the gel will lift.
7. Shape the natural nail’s free edge with the 200 side (the finer side) of the Nail System File. A softly rounded square shape provides the most strength.
8. Etch the nail surface with the 180 side of the Nail System File (the rougher side) to remove the shine. It is important to remove the shine, but not to sand down the nail surface. You do not want to make the nail too thin or cause redness to the surrounding skin or cuticle. The goal is to remove the shine and make the nail rough, but not to over do it. Etch all ten fingers, paying special attention to the sides, edges, and cuticle area.
9. Brush away nail filings and dust with the Mini Mop Manicure Brush.
10. Apply Lumé Nail Sanitizer to the nail by dipping the Nail Sanitizing Brush into the Dappen Dish and then applying the brush to the surface of the nail. Allow the nail to dry thoroughly, approximately 20 seconds, and examine the nail to see if it has chalky white appearance. If you see smooth spots on the nail, re-etch those areas. If the nail is adequately etched, but is not chalky white, re-sanitize the nail, using the Nail Sanitizing Brush. It may be necessary to sanitize the nail three to four times to achieve the desired result. Remember to sanitize the free edge as well.
11. Do not touch your nails after you have sanitized them. This action will reapply oils to the nail and inhibit adhesion. Re-sanitize your nails if you touch them or they brush up against something that will remove the clean, dehydrated surface.
12. For hard to bond nails, use Sticky Stuff after your nails have been sanitized. Apply a very small amount (a virtually dry brush should be used) to the entire surface of your bare nail. Allow Sticky Stuff to dry for one minute, and then proceed with your application. Sticky Stuff will make your nail appear “wet”, so it is important to allow it to dry for a full one minute. The nail will not return to its chalky white appearance. This is okay. The important thing to remember with Sticky Stuff is that less, is definitely more.
13. Begin application of the gels as outlined in the Application Booklet.