Aprés Gel-XTM Kit
Aprés Gel-X™ is the world's first and only soft gel nail extension system! Fast and easy to apply, Gel-X ™ nail tips and Extend gel are manufactured from cutting edge soft gel formulas for convenient soak-off capabilities. No filing needed, no dust, no odor, and no damage to natural nails! Try Gel-X™ as an alternative option to traditional acrylic or hard Gel extensions.
Cost: $86 USD (Kit) + $24.99 - $29.99 USD (Choice of 500-piece box of Gel-XTM tips)
Included in Kit:
● Your choice of 500 piece box of Gel-XTM tips
● 15ml Aprés pH Bonder
● 15ml Aprés Non-Acidic Gel Primer
● 15ml Aprés Soak Off Extend Gel bottle
● 15ml Aprés Non-Wipe Top Gelcoat
● X-Lite LED light
● 100/180 grit emery board
● Aprés black patent vegan leather case
Product Descriptions:
500-piece box of Gel-XTM tips - The Apres Nail Gel-X Kit includes a 500 piece box of Gel-X Tips. There are 20 tip options featuring different styles, shapes and lengths to select with your purchase. Tip variations come in either Natural or Sculpted, with four signature shape options including Round, Square, Coffin or Stiletto in varied lengths - short, medium, long or extra-long.
Aprés pH Bonder - Our Aprés pH Bonder is the first step to creating beautiful Gel-X™ extensions. After prepping the natural nail, our pH Bonder properly dehydrates the nail, removing any oils or residue that could impede a clean and proper Gel-X™ application.
Aprés Non-Acidic Gel Primer - Our Aprés Non-Acidic Gel Primer is the second step to creating beautiful Gel-X™ extensions. After applying the pH Bonder, our Non-Acidic Gel Primer creates a tacky surface on the nail that allows for better adhesion to the Gel-X™ tip. Formulated to be acid-free, this primer gently etches and preps the nail without any danger of causing any soreness or sensitivity that is commonly associated with acid-based primers. Our Non-Acidic Gel Primer will ensure a long lasting and comfortable wear for any set of Gel-X™ extensions!
Aprés Soak Off Extend Gel Bottle - This is the formula the Aprés family was built on. Our signature Extend Gel is the foundation to everything related to the Gel x™ system This revolutionary soft gel formula is used to help adhere our Gel X™ extensions onto the natural nail. When applied correctly, our Extend Gel imparts both strength and flexibility while making it easy to create beautiful, long-lasting nails that are also easy to soak off and remove.
Aprés Non-Wipe Top Gelcoat - One of the first products out of the Aprés family, our Non-Wipe Glossy Top Gelcoat delivers in every respect. It is an ultra-high shine glossy top coat that doesn’t turn yellow or chip. With a semi-hard formula, our Non-Wipe Glossy Top Gelcoat provides not only high shine but
durable strength to every manicure. It is an unbeatable formula that makes this bottle a necessary staple for every Gel-X station.
X-Lite LED Light - Compact but powerful. Stylish but functional. The X-Lite is everything you need to cure a perfect Gel-X™ set. This LED light serves 6W of power to flash cure Gel-X™ tips or 3D charms with ease and comfort. The X-Lite is also rechargeable. Coming with a power cable, it can be fully recharged in just two hours. It also conserves energy by automatically powering off after five minutes of inactivity. The X-Lite is sure to become any nail artist’s most trusty best friend.
100/180 grit emery board-Our Aprés Nail Files 100/180 are sturdy, high quality emery board nail files that will help you file or shape a nail with ease. The half-moon design allows you to easily glide around corners and provides a more comfortable hold. This nail file is perfect for shaping your Gel-X™ tips but can also be used on acrylic, hard gel, or natural nails.
What makes the tips unique?
● Aprés was the first on the market to create durable full coverage gel tips, offered in a variety of shapes and lengths. It has revolutionized the nail industry and has changed the gel market forever.
● The special formulation that our tips are composed of is made of a component found in soft builder gel and are not made of ABS Plastic. In fact, the ingredients are not compatible with ABS Plastic.
● First to release two styles of tips: Natural and Sculpted, which allows for more customization and better fit based on nail-bed shape.
● Variety of tip styles-- round, coffin, square, and stiletto; available in four lengths from extra-short to extra-long. And new styles and lengths are being added every year.
What is the difference in wear?
Gel-XTM tips were developed to wear and feel like your natural nail.
A regular ABS plastic tip is not flexible or strong enough to be used alone, it must be glued with super glue, then overlaid with another product like hard gel or acrylic. These additional steps increase the weight in wear and thickness.
This does not happen with Gel-XTM tips. They’re flexible enough to be molded and customized to each individual fingernail, and their chemical properties and flexibility make them superior to any other type of extensions in terms of strength.
Removal of each set and why we recommend removing each set:
Removal of Aprés Gel-XTM tips is just as quick and easy as application. Simply cut down the tip and file off any top coat, color, and some of the bulk of the Gel-XTM tip. Finish removal by soaking off the remaining tip with acetone.
When it comes time for a fill, Aprés recommends removing the old set and applying a fresh new set. Aprés Gel-XTM tips are carefully designed to have the perfect apex, sidewalls, and length. They have the correct balance and strength for nail extension application. But once it is time for a fill, the extension has moved down the length of the nail. The apex must now be rebalanced, which requires a higher level of skill to create a smooth and structurally sound fill. Gel-XTM tips are meant to save on time, dust, and effort. By taking the time to file down the extension and fill in with gel and recreate a new apex, the convenience and ease of the Gel-XTM tip has been lost. Removing an old Gel-XTM set and replacing it
with a new perfectly balanced and shaped set is much faster and results in a more reliable and beautiful finish.
First Step: Does your client require a Natural or Sculpted Gel-XTM tip
The first step is to decide which style tip your client requires. Gel-XTM tips come in two standard sizes--natural or sculpted, four standard shapes--coffin, stiletto, square or round, and four standard lengths--short, medium, long, and extra-long.
The difference between natural and sculpted tips:
● Natural tips are a perfect fit for flatter, wider nail beds
● Sculpted tips are considered our universal fit, but it specifically caters to those with a deeper curved nail bed and a more pronounced C-curve.
A client with a natural nail bed may use both natural and sculpted Gel-XTM tips, but with sculpted tips, technicians must be sure to use the “reverse building” method to fill in the gap with Extend Gel.
A client with a sculpted nail bed cannot use our natural line of Gel-XTM tips because it does not cater to the deeper C-curve or high apex.
Second Step: How to determine correct size of Gel-XTM tip
To size your client’s nails, apply the Gel-XTM tip at a 45-degree angle and gently lay the tip over the nail. Without applying too much pressure on the tip, make sure that the tip covers the entire nail from sidewall to sidewall. It is important the Gel-XTM tip fits the nail without requiring too much pressure to get an accurate size. If a client is in between two sizes, pick the larger one and file to fit.
*Please refer to attached graphic: NaturalvSculpted-Guide.gif
Advice for flash curing/adhesion:
When flash curing, it is important to hold the Gel-XTM tip at the free edge as you rotate your light so that all of the nails can be flash cured. After flash curing all five fingers of one hand, you must fully cure the hand for 30 sec LED, 1 min UV.
Filing and shaping advice:
-For a more natural, flush finish, you can file around and over the base edge of the Gel-XTM tip so that it better matches the shape of the cuticle.
-Aprés recommends applying the Gel-XTM tip of your desired length instead of applying a longer tip and filing it down. What makes our Gel-XTM tips so quick, and ready-to-use are its variety of readymade shapes and lengths, which dramatically cuts down on the time for cutting and filing. Having a variety of popular shapes and lengths in stock can cut down time and improve the speed of an appointment.
Troubleshooting:
DO’s
-Do properly prep the natural nail before applying Gel-XTM tips
-Do apply enough Extend Gel so that it can reach the free edge once the Gel-XTM tip is applied.
-Do apply the proper Gel-XTM tip size. If between two sizes, pick the larger one and file to fit.
DON’Ts
-Don’t let the Extend Gel touch the skin. Prolonged exposure can cause skin irritation.
-Don’t wipe the Gel-XTM tip with alcohol. If you must wipe it down, only use acetone.
-Don’t apply a base coat. Gel-XTM tips do not need a base coat. Simply wipe down with acetone or apply Gel-XTM prep and then move onto color application.
How are they made compared to a traditional plastic tip?
The secret of our Gel-XTM tips is in our manufacturing process. When pressing our gel formula into our custom molds, we apply an incredible amount of heat. Much like a professional convection oven can reach levels of heat far and above what a home oven can, we apply heat far beyond any kind of level that can be reached from a home lamp, and this changes the molecular structure of the ingredients in our gel.
This unique heating process strengthens and hardens the gel, making it 10x stronger than its original form all while still maintaining its ability to easily soak off like a soft gel. This makes Gel-X one of the most versatile methods of nail extension on the market.
What is a great benefit to nail technicians?
Besides its easy application and versatility, another added benefit of Aprés Gel-XTM tips is the enormous amount of time nail professionals can save per appointment.
Traditional extensions through acrylic or hard gel require not only a high level of skill but also time. From applying nail forms, carefully building the layers and strong sidewalls to shaping and filing an apex, the entire process can take up to 45 minutes to an hour—all before any color application or design has been added. Even then, this kind of time is only achievable after years of practice and experience with this medium.
Aprés wanted to create a system that shortened the time for extension applications and lowered the learning curve so that more professionals could offer this service. The Gel-XTM system has taken out all the measuring, building, and filing with our ready-to-use full coverage gel tips. Gel-XTM tips already come with the perfect length, shape, and balance. Whether you are a new nail tech or a veteran professional, Aprés Gel-XTM tips are easy to use and offer a great way to cut down valuable time during an appointment. Instead, time saved can be used in more intricate nail art or taking on more clients. Once familiarized with the Aprés Gel-XTM system, the entire process from soak-off to a one-color application could be complete in 45 minutes.
Nail professionals can effectively double their client intake with Gel-XTM tips.