the soak-off set

14+ days of wear, and counting. The soak-off base bonds to the natural nail and doesn't let go, so the end date is usually your decision, not the manicure's. The conditions are simple: a clean, prepped nail plate, thin layers, and a sealed free edge with every single layer, from base to top coat.

Wash your hands, then file off the shiny top layer and the colour with the 180 side of the nail file, working the free edge, the middle and the sides. Stop when you see your natural nail colour again, with the base still on. Soak one lint-free wipe per nail in remover and let the removal clips hold it in place for about ten minutes. The gel polish softens and pushes off gently with the cuticle pusher. Any residue: a light pass with the 180 side of the buffer, then dust off. Everything you need comes in the set.

Yes, and it's the one you should use. The soak-off base is friction-resistant, made to handle shoes, socks and everything else feet go through. The peel-off base is for hands only.

With this base, yes. The soak-off base runs slightly thicker, so it fills ridges and evens out the surface as it cures. Your colour goes on over a smooth start, not over the ridges.

Peel-off if you like to switch it up often: up to 12 days of wear and removal in one clean peel, hands only. Soak-off if you're staying a while: maximum hold, 14+ days, and it takes toenails too. Same colours, same steps, different level of commitment.