Gel manicures with a clear base at the bottom

Regular gel manicures are one of my favorite life indulgences, because it falls into my favorite self-care pattern:

1) let an expert care for me once in a while

2) do zero maintenance or ongoing care till the next appointment

3) look great all the while

I get a new manicure every 5-7 weeks, and I maintain that by always getting a design that’s clear at the bottom, so that the grow out is almost invisible. Here are some examples, and in the bottom-right, that’s a five-week-grown-out mani! Of course you can tell if you’re looking closely, but the illusion is good enough for me.