Pamela Yip changed the Aussie nail game with her creative approach to DIY nails.
The nail guru became a social media sensation thanks to her company By Me & Crew and their quick hardening gel nail stickers.
Yip has sold a staggering 70,000 sets in just the last year alone and has amassed a whopping 300 million views across her platforms.
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With an easy application process and an array of gorgeous nail art designs that look salon replicated, Yip’s gel stickers are a DIY dream.
But when it comes to doing your own nails at home, there’s one mistake Yip cautions.
“We tell people to make sure to avoid putting the stickers onto your skin because it’s oil that will cause the lifting,” Yip tells 9honey Style.
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“If we have customers who ever have any issues getting them on, it’s usually nine out of 10 times they might have accidentally touched their skin and they might not have pushed back their cuticles,” she explains.
In recent years, gel nails have been on the rise as a less damaging alternative to acrylic.
But with many opting to try DIY their own gel nails, Yip has one very important tip for what you need to be on the lookout for.
According to the nail guru, looking at what’s actually in the gel polish is a must – especially when it comes to avoiding one particular ingredient called HEMA.
“Sometimes you might find something like in store or online that’s a lot cheaper.”
“100 per cent make sure to check on the ingredients and make sure it’s HEMA free because it’s actually one of the number one cause for allergies from doing DIY nails.”
HEMA or hydroxyethyl methacrylate is a monomer that reacts to UV light and essentially gives your gel nails that shiny finished look.
The issue with HEMA nail products however is that it can for some cause irritation or allergies if it comes into contact with the skin.
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“[An allergic reaction] doesn’t happen right away. It might happen like six months into doing it,” Yip explains adding to also check for other toxic ingredients in the bottle.
Instead, Yip says that BIAB nails, which stands for builder in a bottle, have emerged as a popular and “safest” new alternative to acrylic or SNS nails.
Additionally, checking for vegan ingredients and making sure no animal testing has been done are both things Yip recommends looking for before purchasing a polish.
Another no-no when it comes to DIY nail care Yip says is attempting to remove the nails yourself at home.
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“If you’re doing the gel nails from salons, don’t pick it off. That is usually the removal process that causes the most damage,” she explains.
Especially in today’s economy, DIY has become a popular way to save time and money while still having your nails looking fresh and photo ready.
But Yip urges its important to visit the salon every once in a while for general nailcare.
The nail guru says going to the salon can be good “especially for cuticle care and pedicure care in terms of like trimming down your actual skin and your nails” which can be a bit trickier to manage on your own at home.
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