Avoid water, lotions, and any oils before and right after application. Clean, dry nails help the gels adhere properly. Be sure to prep thoroughly—or use our nail dehydrator—for best results.

If you’ve washed your hands or showered, wait at least 30 minutes before applying. Nails hold moisture, and damp nails can affect adhesion.

Gently push back your cuticles before starting. This gives you more surface area to work with and helps your manicure last longer.

Especially as your nails get healthier with Livi, lightly buffing the surface can improve grip. Very smooth nails can make it harder for gels to stick.

Apply when you won’t need to use your hands much for a bit—no rushing out the door or doing chores right after.

In between sizes? Choose the smaller one and gently stretch the sides to fit. A snug fit helps prevent lifting.

Place the gel as close to your cuticle as possible—without touching it. This minimizes visible grow-out and improves longevity.

Pro Tip: Gently tuck the gel slightly under your cuticle before curing. This helps prevent lifting and keeps your mani fresh for days. Need a visual? Check out our quick tutorial this video. 

Press from the cuticle down toward the tip to push out air bubbles and wrinkles before curing.

Make sure the gel fully covers the sides of your nail without overlapping onto skin. Overhang can lead to peeling.

Cure each nail for the full recommended time (2 minutes). Under-curing can lead to softer gels and shorter wear.

Apply a thin layer of top coat after application—or a few days later—to seal edges and refresh shine. This protects against everyday wear.

Try to avoid long showers, baths, or dishwashing for the first few hours after application to let your set fully bond.

Use cuticle oil and hand cream daily—but avoid getting oil directly under the edges of the gels.

Don’t toss extra gels! Store them in the black plastic bag away from light. If one nail chips, you can replace it without redoing your whole set.

This usually means an edge isn’t fully sealed. Apply a thin layer of top coat over the area and cure again.

No stress—use one of your spare gels to replace it. Prep the nail again and reapply just that finger.

Unfortunately, bubbles usually means starting over. Remove and reapply with thinner layers and slower strokes.

Gently file the lifted area, clean with alcohol, and seal with top coat. Press firmly before curing next time.

Apply cuticle oil daily and give your nails a little TLC. Hydration helps restore strength and shine. And, next time, be sure to use plenty of cuticle oil and go gentle on removal!

This is normal in the beginning. Focus on prep, sizing, and cuticle placement—most users see big improvements by their second or third set.