What’s the deal with ibd builder gel? What colors do they do? How easy is it to use?
If you’ve got questions about ibd builder gel, you’re reading the right post. We’ll go through your color options, and ingredients, and walk you through how to apply and remove ibd builder gel.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Ibd builder gel colors
Unfortunately, there’s no ibd color polish chart on the website.
It’s super frustrating when you can only read the name of the color and can’t actually see it.
So, here’s an ibd color polish chart I made to give you a good idea of what colors are available in the builder gels range.
There aren’t actually that many colors available in the ibd range, the main 3 colors are white, pink, and clear.
The rest are just shades or variations of pink and white.
Here’s the full list of ibd builder gel colors:
These are the ones that come in a pot:
- Pink
- Clear
- Pure White
- Ultra White
These are the builder gel in a bottle colors:
- Pink
- Sheer pink
- Bright White
- Soft White
And these are the colors for hard gels that come in a pot:
- Blush
- Clear
- Natural II
- White
- Intense White
- Pink
- Pink II
- Pink V
So, as you can see, it’s not that complicated.
Basically, the colors that are available are the french manicure colors with a little bit of variation to allow for skin tone matching.
If you’re using the ibd builder gel in a pot or in a bottle, there are actually only 4 choices.
It’s only when you branch out into the hard gels that more colors are added.
Ibd builder gel how to use
Ok, now that you know the colors, let’s talk about how to apply ibd builder gel.
For now, I’m going to walk you through how to apply ibd gel using a pot and a nail brush on natural nails. We’ll talk about how to do extensions later.
How to use ibd builder gel.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Push your cuticles back and remove any dead skin from around the cuticle area.
- Shape the free edge of your nails with a hand file (180 grit is perfect).
- Gently remove the shine from your nail plates with the 180 grit file.
- Wipe away all the filing dust.
- Apply a nail dehydrator to cleanse, remove moisture and balance the ph of your nails.
- Apply 1 coat of either primer, bonder or gel base coat. This helps the gel to stick better and helps prevent lifting.
- Cure if your primer, bonder, or base coat requires a cure.
- Using a nail brush, apply a thin layer of ibd gel, and paint it on like polish.
- Don’t forget to cap the free edge.
- Check that there is no gel on the skin around the nail. If there is, remove it using a cuticle pusher.
- Cure. Follow the instructions for the product and the lamp that you’re using. Cure for 1 minute if your lamp is LED and 3 minutes if it’s a UV lamp. Don’t wipe your nails after your done, you don’t need to remove the sticky layer at this point.
- Apply a second coat using your nail brush, just like you did for coat 1.
- Cure again. Make sure to follow the directions for your lamp and the gel. UV and LED lamps will cure ibd gels, but UV lamps take longer.
- Wipe away the sticky inhibition layer with a lint-free wipe drenched in rubbing alcohol.
- File and shape your gel nails so that the edges are smooth (use a 180 grit file).
- Apply an ibd top coat or finishing product of your choice. Make sure that what you are using works with builder gel.
- Apply cuticle oil (optional).
Step by step Video Tutorial
Here’s a great video that shows you exactly how to carry out the above steps for applying ibd builder gel:
What to do if your ibd builder gel is not curing:
If your gel nails are soft and mushy – It’s possible that your nails are under cured.
If you’re having problems with ibd gel not curing then there are a few things that you can try.
First of all, make sure that you’re using the right lamp. Ibd gel requires either a UV or an LED lamp to cure. Cure for 1 minute if your lamp is LED and 3 minutes if it’s a UV lamp.
Always check the instructions that came with your lamp to make sure that it’s suitable for the purpose.
Don’t forget to also check the instructions that come with the gel.
Different brands have different curing times so you may need to adjust the time depending on the type of builder gel.
If you followed the instructions to a tee and your builder gel still isn’t curing, it could be because the layer is too thick.
Try painting on a thinner coat and see if that helps.
Expired polish can also be the reason gel nails won’t cure, so check the expiration date, too.
Ibd in a bottle
The ibd builder gel in a bottle is easier to use.
You don’t need to buy a separate brush, because the builder gel comes in a nail polish bottle.
If you’re used to using nail polish, you should find that you get the hang builder gel in a bottle easily.
Here are the builder gel in a bottle instructions:
- Push your cuticles back and remove any dead skin from around the cuticle area.
- Shape the free edge of your nails with a hand file (180 grit is perfect).
- Gently remove the shine from your nail plates with the 180 grit file.
- Wipe away all the filing dust.
- Apply a nail dehydrator to cleanse, remove moisture and balance the ph of your nails.
- Apply 1 coat of either primer, bonder or gel base coat. This helps the gel to stick better and helps prevent lifting.
- Cure if your primer, bonder or gel base requires a cure.
- If you want extensions, you can do that with forms or tips, so go ahead and apply your forms or tips at this point.
- Apply a thin layer (aka a slip layer) to your nail. This ensures that the whole nail is covered so your gel nails won’t lift. Just paint it on like you would with regular polish, but don’t cure it yet!
- Once you have covered the nail in a thin layer, apply a thicker layer and build your nail. Make sure that you swirl the brush around to get rid of any bubbles. I like to use a side-to-side sweeping motion starting from the bottom and working my way to the top.
- Once you’re happy with the application, hold your nail upside down for a few seconds to let the product settle.
- Cure for 1 minute in an LED lamp or 3 minutes in a UV lamp.
- Remove the sticky layer with a lint-free wipe soaked in rubbing alcohol.
- If you want to apply a gel polish color, go ahead and do that.
- Or just paint on a top coat, cure and you’re done!
Ibd builder gel removal
To remove builder gel you need to file it down (preferably with a nail drill) and then soak it off using pure acetone.
I have a full post on how to remove builder gel. It talks you through the process step by step.
Ibd builder gel ingredients
Here are the ingredients for ibd builder gel (clear)
Di-HEMA Trimethylhexyl Dicarbamate Isobornyl Methacrylate Trimethylolpropane Trimethacrylate Cellulose Acetate Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate Violet 2 (CI60725).
Here’s the list of ingredients for the ibd pink builder gel:
Di-HEMA Trimethylhexyl Dicarbamate Isobornyl Methacrylate Trimethylolpropane Trimethacrylate Cellulose Acetate Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate Polyester-3 Silica Aluminum Hydroxide Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) Violet 2 (CI60725) Yellow 6 Lake (CI15985).
Here’s the list of ingredients for ibd Builder gel in a bottle: (soft white)
DiHEMA Trimethylhexyl Dicarbamate, Sucrose Benzoate, Isobornyl Acrylate, Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate, HEMA, Trimethylolpropane Trimethacrylate, Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone, Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891).
Here’s the list of ingredients for ibd builder in a bottle: (pink)
DiHEMA Trimethylhexyl Dicarbamate, Sucrose Benzoate, Isobornyl Acrylate, Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate, HEMA, Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone, Ethyl Trimethylbenzoyl Phenylphosphinate, Polyester3, Rosin (Colophonium, Colophane), Silica, Aluminum Hydroxide, Red 6 (CI15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI77891).
ibd builder gel pink
The ibd builder gel in pink is available in a bottle or a pot.
It’s great for doing a natural, french manicure look.
If you want the most shade options, then the hard gel range is the one to go for.
The hard builder gel range has blush, and 3 different pink shades to choose from.
There are only 2 shades of pink (pink and sheer pink) in the ibd builder in a bottle range.
And only 1 pink shade in the softer builder gel range.
ibd clear gel is a great choice if you are using gel polish on top.
I’d recommend an ibd gel nail polish. There are over 200 colors to choose from and the chemicals won’t clash with your gel nails.
Ibd builder gel reviews
So, you might be wondering, Is ibd builder gel any good?
The answer is YES!
I’ve been using ibd builder gel for over 6 months now, and I absolutely love it.
It’s easy to apply, doesn’t smell too strong, and the finish is always perfect.
My nails have never looked so good. It’s easy to work with and doesn’t chip as much as other brands I’ve tried.
I’m not the only one who loves ibd builder gel.
There are tons of positive reviews online.
ibd builder gel scores 7.3 out of 10 on the review index.
and 79% of people give it 5 stars on Amazon.
Most reviewers seem to agree that this is a great product that works well and is worth the cost.
FAQ’s
Does ibd builder gel need a primer?
No, you don’t need to use a primer with ibd builder gel. But I do advise you use something under the gel to prevent lifting. A gel base coat or a bonder will do the trick.
How long do you cure idb builder gel?
Ibd builder gel cures under a UV lamp in 3 minutes. It cures in just 60 seconds under an LED lamp.
What is ibd builder gel used for?
Ibd builder gel can be used as a natural nail overlay or to extend the nails. It adds strength to your natural nails and makes your manicures last longer.
Final thoughts:
Ibd builder gel is a great choice for those looking for a strong and durable manicure. It’s easy to apply, doesn’t smell too strong, and the finish is always perfect.
If you’re looking for a gel that will give you salon-quality nails at home, then ibd builder gel may be the one for you.
I hope that you found this post helpful and that I was able to demystify ibd gels a bit for you.
Happy polishing!
