Hi everyone! With the holidays approaching, I was hoping I could get some advice on gel nail -related gifts I could get my girlfriend. She has recently gotten into the hobby and is already very talented. It’s fun to help her with her designs sometimes
She has the following products & brands – maybe y’all could identify something she’s missing as a potential gift idea?
- Blooming gel – RARJSM, Beetles
- Top coat – Beetles
- Gel top – KUPA gelfinity
- UV gel polish – a set of 96 colors from Jodsone, various other ones from Modelones, Daisy DND, Diva
- A drill thing that takes the gel off; various drill bits
- See attached photo for two additional accessories she has (a UV curing lamp thing, and a set of double-sided tool things with thin brushes and dotting functionality
- Protective glasses
- Magnetic (?) gel for cat eye, magnet
Is she missing anything that immediately stands out?
Do differently shaped magnets produce different effects on the magnetic gel? That’s one idea I had
My dad is a woodworker and has a negative pressure dust collector chamber for his projects… obv I wouldn’t get my girlfriend a whole chamber, but maybe something similar that automatically collects nail drill dusties as she works?
Her sets take her 3-4 hours on average to complete – maybe there’s something I can get her to speed up the process?
Any advice is greatly appreciated
by Duk55
13 Comments
Get rid of the Beetles gels!! They’re extremely unsafe and have a tendency to cause people to develop contact allergies to HEMA monomers, which can be a nightmare.
This sub is largely focused around non-gel lacquer polish so you would get some more informed opinions that are gel-specific on a sub like r/DIYGelNails.
Regarding magnets, yes different magnets can have different effects, like a bar magnet does a cat eye easily whereas a u-magnet is good for velvet effects, and there are fancy magnet shapes around to get specific patterns to come through.
You can also look at general purpose nail-pampering like good lotions, oils, glass nail files, stuff like that, we all like that even if we aren’t into the gel.
Like others have mentioned, we’re more non-gel oriented here. Maybe your GF will eventually migrate here if she starts having reactions to the gels.
Your idea of a negative pressure collector is a fantastic one for the nail drill dust. It’s also take fumes out of her breathing zone but probably no treatment of it unless you can fit a VOC filter on the exhaust. I’ve seen off-the shelf units that look like a car intake filter over a fan and you just drill over it. No cowling.
This is so cute of you! 🥰
This is hilarious and so sweet. I love the art haha
Others have already pointed you toward another sub, but I just wanted say that this was sweet to see. I’m sure your GF will appreciate the thought you put in!
I highly suggest a Sally’s gift card. They have a ton of absolutely amazing gels. And frequently have sales.
Magnets for creating a glass bead effect with nail polish, and perhaps something to spin the magnet as they apply polish for a more dramatic effect.
Glass nail files are nice as someone else mentioned. Also they do make dust trays for nail files you should look into that! 30lb Horseshoe magnets have been all the rage for magnet polish recently too. A little shelf to hold all the polish is a must (if your dad could maybe make something?) Either a little one to go on her desk or one to hang on the wall
Goodluck and I think she will love anything you pick! My boyfriend bought me fancy nailpolish for Christmas and now he’s my husband 🤣
Others have suggested you either get rid of her gels or look at other subs. As a former (and sometimes still) gel user, I highly recommend that she switch to Bioseaweed gel. They’ll likely have a Black Friday sale, and they are a lot less likely to result in allergies than the stuff you have listed. If she likes the gels, that’s a sweet gift that shows you respect her specific hobby and want to help her be healthier about it. 🙂 just a thought. You’re adorable.
She might like nail decals/stickers, nail art gems or other decorative charms! There is also a kind of sculpting gel you can buy that you can use to do 3D things that is cool. A horseshoe magnet and 3D printed spinner is another thing that has been popular recently.
I read the title as “girlfriend is my new hobby”’and thought “valid”
Avoid gels, dangerous hobby, no industry standards or safety. You do not want a sensitivity to the chemicals in gel.