I stumbled my way onto the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit in Walmart one afternoon, even though it is not a new item. It sounds plausbile enough to work, so I am giving it a try. Before creating this manicure tutorial, I definitely did my homework of watching videos. Interestingly enough, I could not find any reviews on the ‘new and improved’ kit that I have. By doing this, I have come to learn the do’s and do nots, as well as the common issues. Usually, these nails only last three to five days and are recommended for special occasions and vacations. I have made some modifications to this tutorial and review, as well as inserted pro tips, to see if I can make these last. By the end we will determine if this kit actually works and can give you a salon look for less.
Where to Buy the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit
I will start with where you can find this kit. It is pretty much at every drugstore that sells the Kiss brand, and ranges from $12-14. As far as online shopping conveience goes, you can get it from Amazon, Walmart, and Ulta.
This kit claims to provide a super strong and long lasting “gel” manicure that you can do at home. You should be able to get a smooth and shiny finish without buffing or additional work. In this updated kit you get 40% more glue, as well as a wider brush for even application.
In this kit you get everything that you need for two full manicures, as it has 24 French tips and 24 natural for a total of 48. Everything should dry in five minutes with no UV light needed or curing time. The tips should be seamless as well as durable. Here is the complete packing list:
- 48 Easy-Apply Tips (24 Natural Tips, 24 French Tips)
- Brush-On Gel Glue (0.25 oz)
- Brush-On Gel Activator (0.25 oz)
- Brush Cleaner (0.50 oz)
- Mini File
- Manicure Stick
- Replacement Gel Brush
- Instructions
Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit Tutorial
Now I will take you through Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit step by step. Besides the the items included in the box, I recommend something to protect your work surface like paper towels, a rag, or newspaper. Now is a great time to grab any nail polish and or nail art that you want to include. A dusting brush, acetone, and a cotton ball are also handy.
1) Prepare Nails
First for the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit tutorial is preparing your nails. You will want to reference my nail care routine and follow all of the steps leading up to nail polish application, then stop.
I will be applying the French tips here. You will need to pick out a tip that best fits each nail. They have size numbers! I recommend laying them out in order of your fingers. You may need to custome size some tips by filing the sides. Just like with glue on nails, you do not want the tips overlapping onto your skin.
While these are “short” length, they are still rather long. Feel free to cut or file the tips to your desired shape and length.
Then, grab the nail file and use the pink buffer side to gently buff the surface of your nails until you remove the natural shine. This will ensure there are no natural oils on the nail, and will also provide some grip. All of this helps with adhesion. Then, use acetone to remove all of the dust from buffing. These types of products do not adhere well with dust present.
2) Glue On Tips
Now for how to use Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit is all of the action with the half cover tips. You may want to practice the placement before using the glue.
The brush on gel glue is nothing more nail glue, but a little bit thicker, and it applies like nail polish. You will apply a small amount of glue to the underside of the nail on the clear band, slightly overlapping the white part. Be mindful of how much glue you are applying to avoid it oozing all over. Then, press the tip onto your natural nail with firm pressure for about 30 seconds. I do a combination of pressing the center and pinching the edges. I recommend starting with the pinkies and working up to your thumbs to make things easier.
Once you have all of the tips glued on, you can remove the tabs with a gentle up and down motion. Do not pull on them or rip them off. You may have a bumpy or jagged edge where the tabs were. A few passes with the pink buffer will smooth everything out.
3) Buff the Seam
Third for the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit instructions, we have to work on the seam of the half cover tips. You will need to carefully buff the clear part with the pink buffer. Be careful not to overdo this step, as you can scuff up the nail tip, or even remove some of the white. Honestly, this is not the easiest to do with the large file provided. I did not do a whole lot of buffing and the seams came out decent.
Once buffed, used a brush to clean off the dust. At this point, we cannot use acetone for that, or we will ruin the nail tip and glue. Again, these products do not like dust for proper adhesion. Finally, apply a coat of Brush-On Gel Activator on the seams.
4) Apply 4 Coats of Gel Glue and Activator
Next, the instructions tell us that we should apply two coats of gel glue and activator. I am going to be doing four. The reason is to avoid a common pitfall. In the other video tutorials, most people experience the gel layers cracking, almost like shattered glass, by day five. Usually, the tips are lifting up as well. Two layers is not strong enough to have these last.
When working with the gel glue and activator, be sure to remove excess product from the brush by running it along the neck of the bottles like you do with nail polish. We want to avoid being heavy-handed, which will flood the cuticles and also get product on your skin along the sides of your nails. If this happens, your final look will not be so cute. I definitely got some on my skin, but it lifts in one to two days. At that point, you can file off the overhang to make it look much better.
Working one finger at a time, you need to apply a coat of gel glue, then wipe the brush onto a paper towel. Next, dip that same brush into the activator and apply it over the wet glue. Wipe the brush on a paper towel again, and repeat that process for all of your nails. We will do this until there is a grand total of four layers of the glue and activator.
If your brush starts getting hard during this process, be sure to dip it into the brush cleanser. You may need to switch to the spare brush. I had no issues of my brush going hard.
As an optional step, I decided I wanted to apply some gems. After the four layers, I applied a small dot of gel glue and put the gems in place.
5) Apply Final Layer of Gel Glue
The last step is to apply a final coat of gel glue, as if it were top coat. From here, you can enjoy your look as is, or apply nail polish and any nail art.
Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit Review
Now it is time for my Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit review. The entire process took me about an hour and a half, which takes into account being a newbie in learning the process, and also having to take pictures to create this content. I find the kit to be easy for a beginner. I did have to custom size the tips.
All of the layers dried, hardened, and self-leveled quickly! There is no dry time or worries about denting your look. Surprisingly, the seams are hard to see. The final look is very shiny, and I get comments that it looks like I got my nails done profressionally.
After one day the seams became slightly noticeable with some white stress marks. Someone would have to be looking very closely to see that! After about 10 days I cannot see the white marks. I really do not even think the glued on tips are lifting. If they are, the four layers of product is forcing them to stay flush to the natural nail.
When writing this review I was going on day 13 of wear. I did not experience cracking or lifting of the tips! The manicure is so durable. By simply doing four layers, this is a kit that you can make last for weeks and put the other reviews to shame! It is much cheaper than the salon but it looks so nice. The tips are so durable, they never bend or crack.
You may want to perform a fill. All you need to do is use some actone at the cuticle area, then apply a layer of gel glue followed by the activator. If you plan on removing your nail polish and/or nail art but want to keep the kit on, be sure to use non-acetone nail polish remover. For removal of the kit, you need to soak your nails in acetone to break down the glue and plastic tips. It is recommended to trim as much of the tips off as possible first.
I am so excited to use this kit again for special occastions and travel! It is also great for when you feel lazy and do not want to mess around with your nails for weeks. I have already bough another kit, and I plan on using the natural tips too. You need to give this a try!
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs:
Let’s end with some frequently asked questions about the kit:
How do you use the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit?
You use the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit by first gluing on half cover nail tips. Then, you apply layers of the brush on gel glue and activator. Finally, you end with a top coat of brush on gel glue.
Does Kiss Brush On Gel need a UV light?
No, Kiss Brush On Gel does not need a UV light. The layers of nail glue and activator harden and dry very quickly, as well as self-level. There is no dry time or curing needed.
What is the Kiss Brush On Gel?
The Kiss Brush On Gel is nothing more than a thicker nail glue that you paint on like a nail polish. While it does dry shiny, this is not an actual gel kit.
Shop The Kiss Brush on Gel Nail Kit
Conclusion
In conclusion of the Kiss Brush On Gel Nail Kit, cast aside any bad reviews you have heard, or any concerns you have about the kit. You can make this manicure last virtually as long as you want by applying at least four layers of the product. They look beautiful as-is, or you may paint and decorate them as you please. You really can get a salon look at home at a fraction of the price. I would love to see Kiss come out with different colored and printed tips! Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
Do you enjoy the look of a classic French tip?
