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Luminary's Multi-Flex Gel is a soft gel with the strength of acrylic and flexibility of hard gel that has real staying power. It is a universal base product, builder gel, overlay gel, and extension gel, meaning you need one product to create a beautiful structured manicure, cutting down on time and money spent on multiple products. Because of Multi-Flex's semi-hard formula, it can be soaked off or backfilled, giving nail tech's all the flexibility they need in one product. Beyond all of that, Multi-Flex will not lift or chip, and lasts 2-3x as long as other products.




For professional use only.

Our gel is a self-leveling, medium viscosity product meaning it is both easy to apply and effortless to create a beautiful apex.  Even better, it can be used by both techs who e-file and who hand-file. 

Multi-Flex gel adds value to your service menu - it lasts 2-3x as long as other gel products, meaning that you can space clients out further, add more clients to your books, and charge more per service (the typical up-charge reported to us by techs is $10). There is no lifting or chipping with proper application, and the product never has to be removed (simply fill or "rebalance" the nail). Our product also saves time and cuts down on expenses - if your client loves the color, you've saved the time you would have spent applying gel polish. 

It is a universal base coat, builder gel, overlay gel, and extension gel all in one, making it a truly versatile product! Multi-Flex can be used for overlays, manicures, structured manicures, can be used to create short extensions, performs well over gel tips, works great with forms, can be used to adhere gems or crystals - the possibilities are truly endless.

Multi-Flex Gel is ideal for those who want to grow their natural nails long and strong with no lifting or chipping, or for those who like short nails but still want a beautiful, strong, no-chip manicure. Luminary will last them 3-4 weeks, meaning they can space out their nail appointments, saving time and money every month. 

Above all, Luminary prides itself on offering beautiful, high quality professional products, so your clients know that with Luminary, they will be receiving a high end service. Multi-Flex gel looks beautiful on its own but performs beautifully under art and polish as well. Our products are also Vegan, Cruelty Free (& not sold in China, thereby not adhering to their animal testing policies), and 5 free.

We highly, HIGHLY recommend that you use the Light Elegance Dot lamp. This is the only curing lamp we have tested Luminary with, and the only one that we can recommend you use with confidence. As a nail professional, it is of utmost importance that you use professional products, though they may not be as cheap as what you can find on Amazon. However, if you do not use a professional lamp, this can create many issues including but not limited to allergies caused by improper curing. It is essential not only safety but for your image as a professional that you use a branded, professional quality lamp that has scientifically tested lamp bulbs.

Link to purchase on Light Elegance's website: Light Elegance Website

Link to purchase from The Nail Hub: The Nail Hub website

Heat spikes, in a nutshell, are an exothermic reaction created by the gel hardening under the curing lamp and are experienced with most hard and building gels. They are normal and do not occur with every client; they tend to vary based on that clients' unique body chemistry.

Heat spikes can be explained to clients as the reaction created by the lamp when it cures and hardens the gel product. They can be prevented by flash curing or using the gradual cure function on the Light Elegance Dot (120 seconds).

A great resource for information on this is Jim McConnell's Chemist's Corner segment on the Light Elegance Youtube channel. Video linked here

You can watch this entire process on our Youtube Channel, where Luminary Founder Kelly VanDahl and special guests teach you all you need to know!

Applying to Short Nails

1. Prep the nail (perform cuticle work, file down product, etc.)

2. Apply a coat of "Commit" Primer if you are planning on filing down and filling. If you plan on soaking off at the next service, you can apply Commit to the free edge or not at all, your choice. This gel has great adhesion on its own, but each client has individual needs, so experimentation may be necessary if you do not want to use primer.

3. Apply a thin base layer of Multi-Flex and cure for 30 sec. LED (60 sec. UV)

4. Apply a thin layer of Multi-Flex. Do not cure.

5. Grab a large bead of gel. (we recommend using a jar along with your 10ml to make this easier. You can buy them empty, or they come full in our Starter Kits. Diamond Pros also come with empty jars).

6. Float the product onto the nail, letting it melt into the layer you just laid down. Grab more product with your brush as needed. You could also do a few thin layers. There are no rules with Luminary!

7. Turn your clients hand upside down, let the gel self level into a perfect arch (move with a detail brush as necessary)

8. Turn the hand back over, let the gel settle, check your line of light, and then immediately have their hand go flat into the lamp for a 60 sec. LED cure (120sec UV, 120s. gradual cure)

9. Apply gel polish (see our gel polish tab for more info)

10. Apply Empower No Wipe Top Coat(60 sec. LED) or Empower Matte Top Coat (30 sec. LED)

Now, if you feel the need to finish file after you've applied Multi-Flex, you can do so. You'll need to cleanse the nail with alcohol beforehand and after to remove dust before top coat or gel polish. If you do remove the inhibition/sticky/tacky layer to finish file, be careful with hybrid polishes like OPI or Shellac. You'll want to replace this by doing a very very thin layer of Multi-Flex, then curing, OR you can do a layer of Commit (don't cure) then apply the hybrid gel.

Applying to Long Nails:

1. Prep the nail (perform cuticle work, file down product, etc.)

2. Apply a coat of "Commit" Primer if you are planning on filing down and filling. If you plan on soaking off at the next service, you can apply Commit to the free edge or not at all, your choice. This gel has great adhesion on its own, but each client has individual needs, so experimentation may be necessary if you do not want to use primer.

3. Apply a thin base layer of Multi-Flex and cure for 30 sec. LED (60 sec. UV)

4. Grab a large bead of gel. (we recommend using a jar along with your 10ml to make this easier. You can buy them empty, or they come full in our Starter Kits. Diamond Pros also come with empty jars).

5. Float the product onto the nail. Grab more product with your brush as needed. You could also do a few thin layers. There are no rules with Luminary!

6. Turn your clients hand upside down, let the gel self level into a perfect arch (move with a detail brush as necessary)

7. Turn the hand back over, let the gel settle, check your line of light, and then immediately have their hand go flat into the lamp for a 60 sec. LED cure (120sec UV, 120s. gradual cure)

8. Apply gel polish (see our gel polish tab for more info)

9. Apply Empower No Wipe Top Coat (60 sec. LED)

Multi-Flex Gel can be used for gel manicures or gel overlays, and performs beautifully with tips, forms, and full coverage gel tips. It also can be used to adhere gems, crystals, and other decorative accents for months. If you're using Clarity to secure your nail accents, rest assured they will not be coming off your clients' nails until you take them off. 

No, however, if you are doing a soak-off gel manicure we at least recommend you used our primer "Commit" to the tips and free edge of the nail.

Something to keep in mind is that every single client is different. Some may need a primer, while others may not depending on their body chemistry. If you are using Multi-Flex as an enhancement and would like to fill your clients, then you will need to use Commit. We recommend 2 coats of Commit before gel application for enhancements.

If your client tends to lift, then you can do two coats of Commit and cure the second layer of primer for a few seconds to warm it up. This will make it tackier and will adhere the gel to the product better, reducing changes of them lifting.

Nope! Our gel is a base and color in one! 

Luminary is a pure gel product, so while you can absolutely use gel polishes over our product, it is recommended that you use pure gels instead of hybrid products. Pure gels (Kokoist, Light Elegance, Akzentz Luxio) perform best, but there are some workarounds with hybrid gel polishes like OPI and Shellac.

Now, if you feel the need to finish file after you've applied Multi-Flex, you can do so. You'll need to cleanse the nail with alcohol beforehand and after to remove dust before top coat or gel polish. If you do remove the inhibition/sticky/tacky layer to finish file, be careful with hybrid polishes like OPI or Shellac. You'll want to replace this by doing a very, very thin layer of Multi-Flex, then curing, OR you can do a layer of Commit (don't cure) then apply the hybrid gel.

Applying Pure Gel Polish

1. Follow application steps in the Recommended Application Method tab

2. When you get to your gel polish step, you do not need to wipe the dispersion/inhibition/tacky layer but you can. Pure gels adhere with or without that tacky layer. EXCEPT for Akzentz Luxio. If you are using Luxio, you do need to cleanse the nail with alcohol before applying Luxio.

Applying Hybrid Gel Polish

1. Follow application steps in the Recommended Application Method tab

2. When you get to your gel polish step, do not wipe the dispersion/inhibition/tacky layer. Hybrid gels need help adhering, otherwise, they will separate. If you cleanse the nail, you'll want to replace the tacky layer by doing a very, very thin layer of Multi-Flex, then curing, OR you can do a layer of Commit (don't cure) then apply the hybrid gel.

 between pure and hybrid gels (Liz from The Nail Hub and Jim McConnell from Light Elegance)

First, Luminary's Multi-Flex is a pure gel product so if you are using OPI, Shellac, or Gelish hybrid polishes (just a few hybrid brands for example) it is possible you can experience discoloration if you do not take the proper application steps.

Continuing with OPI as our hybrid brand example, we recommend using Clarity with light colored hybrids especially. After curing Luminary's base, do not wipe the dispersion layer after curing. If you need to file, then you need to get that tacky layer back by either applying a very thin coat of Luminary and curing or applying a coat of Commit primer  or the base coat that the goes with your gel color system before gel polish. Then, apply your gel polish. The most important step here is to use a top coat that is compatible with hybrid gel polishes. Luminary's Empower Top Coat is intended for pure gel products like Luminary, not for solvent based hybrids. We recommend sticking with the Top Coat that the manufacturer of your hybrid gel recommends.

It is super simple to transition your clients from hard gel or acrylic to Luminary! 

Transitioning:

1. Remove the acrylic or hard gel completely.

2. Prep the nail & cuticles

3. Apply Commit

4. Apply Luminary!

Filling over Acrylic/Hard Gel:

1. File down the product & blend the product to the natural nail with a sanding band or similar.

2. Perform your cuticle work and prep.

3. Two coats of Commit Primer.

4. Fill with Luminary!

For details on applying Luminary, please refer to the product application tab.

The best way to prevent Multi-Flex from lifting and chipping is by applying Commit before application. If your client is a known lifter, you can apply two coats and warm the second layer up in your curing lamp (cure for 5-10 seconds). This will make the primer tackier and helps gel adhere better.

Next, file after you apply the gel. Filing after instead of before not only prevents you from doing a ton of filing, but makes the nails much stronger. If you need to do significant reshaping or take down a lot of the length, then obviously do some filing before. Otherwise, file and take down length AFTER you've applied the gel. Then, the key to preventing lifting and taking down thickness is to bevel the free edge. You'll take a file and file at a 45 degree angle to blend together the free edge and the product, strengthening the nails.

Above all, a professional grade lamp is essential for properly curing product. We recommend the Light Elegance Dot (more info under the curing lamp question tab).

Many nail techs use Luminary to rehab clients' who come to them with short, bitten nails, or nails that have been damaged by other techs using careless techniques and cheap, poor quality product. Our product has been proven to help kick this habit!

Upcharging is a personal choice, but we firmly believe the answer is absolutely! You will notice a dramatic difference with our product and other gel brands. Multi-Flex gel has numerous benefits you can sell to your clients.

1. As strong as hard gel, so nails can be grown out naturally without any breaks!

2. Lasts twice as long as traditional gel manicure systems

3. No chipping! Because it's a base and color in one, gel polish won't chip

That is definitely a personal choice, but we believe the answer is absolutely!  You will notice a dramatic difference with our product vs. other gel brands.  Multi-Flex Gel has numerous benefits that you can "sell" to your clients:

1. As strong as acrylic/hard gel so your client can grow their natural nails without any breaks.

2. Lasts much longer than a traditional gel manicure.

3. No chipping! Because it's a base and color in one, gel polish won't chip

Trust us when we say, your clients will tell your over and over how much they love to wear this product.

Let them try it once for no additional charge. Your clients will come running back to tell you how much they love to wear this product.  They will have no problem paying the additional cost.

Most importantly, charge what you are worth!!

Yes!

Yes!

f you are seeing streaks or brush strokes on matte nails, be sure to float the top coat on. Otherwise, you could experience some inconsistencies in appearance. Demonstrated here. You can skip ahead to 7:00.00 in the video to see Kelly explaining the matte.

If you are seeing streaks in your Empower No Wipe Top Coat, the nails are too hot when you apply the top coat. You can wipe the nails with alcohol to cool them down before top coat, or wait for them to cool down before top coat.

We are asked all the time if the product in the refill is different that the product in the polish bottle.  The answer is no!  The exact same product is in both, the refill just gives you a ton of gel to put into your cute little jar so it's easier to grab a large dollop.

Shipping destinations:

At this time tarafiednails only ships Domestic.  Rates are calculated by weight at checkout. 

If you are international please order directly from luminarynailsystems.com

We highly recommend purchasing Route Insurance (automatically applied to your cart at checkout) for your purchase, as this streamlines claims for lost, stolen, or damaged packages. If you do not purchase Route Insurance, we do not take responsibility for incorrectly delivered, lost, damaged or stolen packages. Route Insurance will cover all of this.

Shipping times:

ORDER FULFILLMENT: We do our best to ship within 24 hours during business hours. Please note that the shipping rate you purchase directly correlates to how quickly the post office delivers, not how quickly we fulfill your order. All shipping times are estimates based on the postal service and the carrier you choose. Once your package has been dropped off at the post office, it is out of our control. Shipping time might vary depending on location, shipment method and other factors. U.S.P.S. First Class mail delivery time is estimated and not guaranteed. If you need your package to arrive in a timely manner, please choose Priority Mail.  We cannot refund shipping rates if the postal carrier takes longer than you expected; any and all inquiries about what to do if you wanted a package by a certain date for a gift/holiday must be directed to the respective postal carrier. 

TRACKING YOUR ORDER: Once your package has been dropped off at the post office, it is out of our control. Please refer to the tracking information provided by email for any status updates; we have the same information you do in regards to tracking.

RETURN TO SENDER: If your package is taking what seems to be a very long time to be delivered, please check the tracking history on the postal carrier's website. If the package has been marked return to sender/no such number/insufficient address, you are responsible for paying the return shipping and providing the correct delivery address. All shipping labels are printed with the exact delivery information you entered and are unaltered on our end.

Shipping cost:

Orders in the U.S. and Puerto Rico over $100 receive free shipping.

Returns and Exchanges Policy: All sales are final.  We cannot accept returns or exchanges due to health and safety concerns. Should you receive a product with a manufacturing defect, it will be replaced.

We highly recommend purchasing Route Insurance (automatically applied to your cart at checkout) for your purchase, as this streamlines claims for lost, stolen, or damaged packages. If you do not purchase Route Insurance, we do not take responsibility for incorrectly delivered, lost, damaged or stolen packages. Route Insurance will cover all of this, even for International packages. 

Promotions and Discounts:

All promotional or discount codes must be entered at time of purchase. Luminary Nail Systems will not honor a discount for any reason after the original purchase has been completed. It is the customer's sole responsibility to enter their promotional codes at time of checkout. Certain codes may only be used once and only be used on full price products. Already discounted collections are not eligible for promotions.

Discount Codes:

We offer a monthly Color of the Month promotion on all products within a color range (including 10ml, 30ml, Starter Kit, and Diamond Pro Kit sizes). To stay up to date on these codes, you can sign up to receive our emails (you will receive no more than 3-4 emails per month), check the homepage of our website, or check social media.

In this case, your first step is to contact the post office to see if they can geo-track it for you. They sometimes mistakenly scan packages as delivered before they actually arrive to your mail box, or mis-delivered to your neighbor. If you purchased Route Shipping Insurance, you can also file claims with them to have your order replaced if it is missing

You can become certified in Luminary application at any of our educators' classes, which are held at least every month all over the U.S. and Puerto Rico. You can stay up to date on all our events and classes with our Events Calendar, and sign up for certification classes  via links the calendar.

Classes for sale directly on our website are taught by Luminary Founder Kelly VanDahl (@kelly_vandahl), who has been in the industry for over a decade and educating for quite a few years. She is certified in Russian manicuring, and her work has graced magazine covers (Modern Salon Mag) and been featured in the likes of NAILS Mag. and Nail Pro Magazine, as well as been on the hands of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Olivia Newton John. Joining Kelly is Luminary's only Master Educator Tara Robinson (@tarafiednails), who has a similarly long career in the nail industry and in educating.

We are in the process of building out our education program. Currently, the first required step is to have taken a Basic Luminary Certification class and an Advanced Certification class. From there, you will work with our founder, Kelly VanDahl, and Master Educator Tara Robinson to achieve the Certified Luminary Educator accreditation and be able to host your own Luminary certification classes.

Basic and Advanced Certification classes can be found on our Class Registration page and our Events Calendar.

We do not have an ambassador program and currently do not have plans to start one.

We do! You can find us here or by searching Luminary Nail Systems on Facebook. You will have to request to join the group, which is only open to nail techs, cosmetologists, and students in the related fields.

Yes!  @tarafiednails and @luminary_nail_systems for our headquarters page. Make sure to tag us in your pictures, we love to share!

Yes! We currently have distributors in Canada, Mexico, and Australia/New Zealand, as well as domestic distributors in Utah, Oregon, Missouri, Nevada, Puerto Rico.

Distributors and links to their websites can be found here.

First, you do not have to have an established business to become a distributor, but you DO need to be a licensed nail technician. A good number of our distributors have started their online businesses or nail supply stores with Luminary, and we love being able to support entrepreneurs in this way.

However, if you do not have an already existing business (online or physical retail store), you DO need to have an established social media presence. It is important to us that we can both benefit from this relationship! We need to see that you can market your business. Luminary does provide professional product photos for websites, pricing lists, and other helpful materials for getting started. 

To apply to become a distributor, click here to fill out our application!

Please contact us at tarafiednails@gmail.com