Goth upkeep

 I'm teaching myself to do builder gel manicures at home. Last night was the first time I did one entirely by myself, and it went pretty well.

• It still took, start to finish, FIVE HOURS. Most of that time is the sanding off the previous builder gel. 
• The builder gel kit I got is the type with the gel in a tub, not a bottle. You apply it with a narrow brush, which gives a LOT more control.
• The gel top coat that came with the builder gel kit is terrible. It never entirely cured; it was still slightly tacky to the touch after wiping it down with alcohol, and this morning the edges of the top coat and the color underneath are lifting. The builder layers are solid tho', thank goodness.

So today's projects include peeling off the defective top coat (which I've already tested doing on two nails and is pretty much like peeling stickers off of something) and redoing the color & top coat with a product I know actually cures. 

Still. FIVE HOURS. I hope I can eventually reduce that time.