Calgel Fill-In & Reverse Deep French w/ Pink Bling
17 Aug
In the name of being recessionista-conscious, I tried doing a Calgel Fill-In for the first time on Saturday. Calgel Fill-Ins are $45, as opposed to paying $20 to get the old set removed + $40 for a new set of Calgel. You essentially save $15. Having never done it, I gave it a whirl.
It’s been exactly 2 weeks since I got my last design. With Calgel, my nails grow incredibly quickly. See how far they’ve grown!
Here are some things I learned about Calgel Fill-ins and how they work:
- When you to a fill-in, they file down the top layer of calgel. In my case, I had the checkerboard design that was Black Acryllic paint over White Calge
- If you have holograms, they get filed off in the process.
- This is the reason why they don’t recommend getting rhinestones if you plan on getting a fill-in.
- If there has been any lifting by the cuticle, they take a cuticle clipper to snip off the lifted portions, then file it down so it’s smooth.
- Once the surface is filed down & buffed and perfectly smoothed, they place a base coat of Clear Calgel and start over.
- You can either get a color DARKER than the one you have, or get the same shade. (But since my checkerboards were filed off, I opted for a brand new design!)
It was my first time getting a Calgel Fill-In, and personally, I don’t ever think I would do it again. Yes, you save $15, but it took almost 2 hours JUST to finish filing down the nails in order to get that first base coat down. Normally when you go for a complete Calgel removal, yes, it costs $15, but it only takes around 30-60 minutes.
Some other learnings:
- Fill-ins are good for customers who do a single-color CalGel treatment.
- You can only get Fill-Ins a handful of times before the layers of Calgel get too thick and unnatural looking.
- I don’t recommend them for the impatient (ie: ME). I’d rather pay the extra $20 for removal + $40 to get a brand new set put in.
The ONE good thing is that I got to select a new design. I was really digging on having my “clear” cuticles, because you really can’t tell how far out the design grows out. So, during the 2-hour file down, I browsed through an issue of Nail Venus and found these suckas:
So, off we went. After the base coat of Clear Calgel, Maria applied 2 coats of the Black Calgel onto the nails. We selected Calgel #17 for the vivid pink shade. Unfortunately, neither of us were paying attention, and we forgot to do the ring finger Pink. So instead, I chose an alternate
On the Black Nails, there’s a silver line between the clear & the black. Maria used a Japanese Glitter Liner Polish with a thin, long wispy brush to draw this:
Then came the stone process. First the Clear Calgel on top to provide the sticky layer….the black nails were pretty simple: we placed the pink rhinestones centered on the silver line.
The Pink Nails were a bit more tricky. At first, Maria started by placing the diamond rhinestones out in a shape, BUT the star came out looking like a flower…
We had to enlist the help of Yukari to help. She took a different approach: she placed the silver beads in the outline of a SMALLER star first – set the beads, and then filled in the shape with the rhinestones.
Here is the final look:
Go see my girls at Sakura! Tell ‘em SeoulDiva sent ya!! 
1709 2nd Ave (btwn 88th & 89th)
New York, NY‎ 212.722.1334‎
Tags: CalGel, calgel fill-in, Japanese Nail Art, Sakura Nail, Sakura Nail Spa
you’ve had some incredible nail designs, but this is def my favorite of all (so far)!
I am really enjoying all your nail art posts! Sorely tempted to visit Sakura when I visit NYC next month but I’ve just removed my gels and determined to go aux natural.
This one looks very nice. Very tempted to do this instead of leopard prints the next time I go. Do they give discount if we said you send us? lol.
How come your Calgel Fill In for $20 only it’s usually $45.
You are so right about that. I will make that change to the post right now! I meant you “save” $20 by doing a fill-in. Thanks for the correction!!!
I’m sorry to correct you again but you save $15 not $20 because $60-$45 is $15… >.<
Thanks. I went in and changed it. My math skills must be seriously handicapped by that 6 hour plane ride last night, coupled with my 12-hour work day today!
But seriously though… Thanks for the correction! I thought it wasn’t right when I posted, but wasn’t sure!
love the new design! i go to sakura too for calgel and their amazing nail art. i save $ by soaking the calgel off myself at home the night before i go. you can get pure acetone at the drug store in the nail section.
great suggestion!!
My one worry is that the acetone is more harsh than actual Calaway Remover…so I’m worried it will damage my nails if I use it as a remover….
You can just use Acetone nail polish remover. It’s the usual stuff we use and it doesn’t really damage the nails. I did that a few days ago. My nails are nice and strong now.
These designs are so fun! I think I’d like to try calgel with just a basic color–are there any benefits to that?
Sure! The Calgel in a single color will still last for 2-4 weeks, and you get the benefit of having your nails grow and remain really healthy! (not brittle and thin like other UV gels).
Good luck!
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