Levelling (or "aligning") the nail plate with a base or builder gel hides dips and ridges and gives the colour a smooth, even surface.
Flat nails
Build a gentle apex in the stress zone so the nail does not look like a thin sheet. Work in two thin layers rather than one thick one.
Very curved nails
Keep the product thin at the sides, where it pools, and place the apex slightly lower. Turn the client's hand to let the gel self-level before curing.
Ski-jump nails
Fill the dip in the centre of the nail first, cure, then build the whole surface so the free edge points forward rather than up.
Short or bitten nails
Keep length minimal at first. Build strength over the nail bed and extend gradually over several appointments.
Always cure each layer for the full time printed on the product and check the side view before you move on to colour.
