IBD Hard Builder Gel for Nails, Round – Clear, UV/LED Gels for Nail Extensions & Sculpting Strong Long-Lasting Enhancement for Women, 2 oz, 1 Pack

I am new to the world of gel nails but even for a beginner it has been very user friendly. I am currently using a model ones small uv/led lamp with it and it's curing nicely. I use the IBD primer as well. It is a thick self leveling gel and I find it hard to flood the cuticle area even on my non dominant hand. The color is clear, and for the price you pay you get a nice size of product that will last a while. The learning curve I had was I did not realize that after it cures it will still be sticky, but that's because if you are adding more layers it will help it adhere. I use rubbing alcohol to get rid of that layer when I am finished. So far my manicure without nail tips has lasted maybe 3 days but I work with my hands a lot. With nail tips it has lasted 3 weeks so far. Still learning, still playing around with it but I do enjoy this product.

I've been looking for a gel pot that would strengthen my natural nails. I've been using poly gel to extend my nails but now that they'd grown out I wanted something that would go on like nail polish and last a while. The description said that it would need 3-5 minutes curing under a UV lamp and since I have an LED lamp assumed it would be a shorter time. because I've been using poly gel I was used to using a primer and base coat and assumed I would need these for a longer-lasting application. When I got my gel, I set to work on strengthening my nails. I removed the poly gel, dehydrated, primed, and added a base coat. I then applied the gel and went with a minute and a half with my 72W LED light. When I pulled my fingers out they were still sticky and felt wet. I put them back in for the additional time that had been suggested. When I again pulled them out I was disappointed to find they still seemed wet and sticky. This wasn't anything like I'd expected. I put it aside for months. While searching again for another gel that would do what I was expecting I happened upon the IBD website and there it said that it would only take 60 seconds to cure under an LED light. I was confused. Why had it still felt wet after curing for such a long time. I decided to try it again. I had some acquired knowledge that there is what is called an inhibition layer with some polishes so I decided to assume it would be something like that. I did my nails and cured them for only 60 seconds. Rather than just expecting them to be dry, I wiped them down with some rubbing alcohol. That was the ticket! My nails are strong and look natural without polish and look great with polish. Great product and I will definitely be buying it in the future. My process: Remove any dirt and polish from your nails. Clean them off a bit with some rubbing alcohol. This will also help to dehydrate your nail bed. Apply a dehydrator. Apply a primer. Apply a base coat and cure for 60 seconds. Apply the IBD gel and cure for 60 seconds. Wipe your nails again with rubbing alcohol to remove the sticky inhibition layer. You can now polish your nails as you would like with either regular polish or gel polish. Things you will need: a small brush to apply the gel, a UV or LED nail lamp, rubbing alcohol. Per the IBD website, you do not need to do the base coat steps but I find it helps the gel to last longer. Gel should always be applied in thin layers and use multiple layers for the desired effect if needed.

Very goood !excelente quality

Great but leaked out

sorry that they are so blurry but, I’ve been doing nails for years and I haven’t had a builder gel that levels so easily as this one does. I have used tons of salon brands and I continuously go back to this one. It is beginner friendly. I don’t find that it smells very bad, it is crystal clear and shiny, and extremely durable. Sometimes my nails are more flexible than the builder gel, which can cause the tips of my nails to lift from the builder gel, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the gel and everything to do with my prep/nail health. 10 out of 10 definitely buy this!

Excellent product, very good quality and durable, I will not hesitate to buy it again.

Definitely recommend for doing your own nails at home! I used this as a builder and in place of nail glue (cure for 30secs then an additional 60) so my nails won’t pop off. Had 0 issues with drying under the lamp though you do need to wipe off the sticky layer after curing with alcohol. Nice amount of product and a little goes a long way. Very easy to work with even though it was my first time 🙂‍↕️

Probably user error but I prepped my nails, dehydrator & primer. Thin layer, cured for 3 minutes, top coat and it started peeling off within hours. I didn’t use a base gel but will try again with it to see if that helps. Seems pretty thin, not sure how this would work with extensions but I just want to strengthen my natural nails.