21st Oct 2025
By Megan Colley, Senior Digital Content Writer
Master prescriptive manicures with HONA
Want to know the secrets to creating beautiful, long-lasting HEMA-free gel manicures for your clients? Well, HONA have the answer. Prescriptive manicures are all about tailoring products to meet your client’s needs, delivering enhanced performance and personalised results – after all, you wouldn’t apply the same cream to your face, as you would to your feet! Each client is different, and one size doesn’t necessarily fit all.
The beauty of HONA is that all their gel systems are hypoallergenic and HEMA-free, including their HONA builder gel, gel polish and hard gel ranges. From thorough preparation to assessing individual client needs, here’s your guide to creating ultra-durable, flawless-looking HONA nails that last.
The core principles of prescriptive manicures
Preparation is key
Effectively preparing the nails is the foundation to long-lasting gel manicures. From precision cuticle removal to thorough sanitisation, nail prep is an essential step in making sure the gel polish adheres to the nail plate.
How to prep the nails for HONA:
Step 1: first things first, it’s essential to carefully sanitise your client’s hands using a sanitiser spray to create a clean surface.
Step 2: put on some nitrile gloves and dehydrate your client’s nails, scrub the side walls and under the free edge to ensure all oils and residue have been removed. HONA recommend using acetone for this step.
Step 3: precision cuticle work is key. Push back the cuticle using a cuticle pusher and remove dead tissue from the nail surface.
Step 4: saturate a lint-free wipe with 100% acetone to remove all debris and excess oils from the nail surface.
Step 5: file the free edge using either a 150 or 180 grit nail file, depending on the health of the nail plate, then dehydrate the nail with 100% acetone again before product application.
Following these steps will ensure the nails are prepped to perfection, creating the ideal base for all HONA nail enhancement systems.
How to prep the nails for HONA:
Step 1: first things first, it’s essential to carefully sanitise your client’s hands using a sanitiser spray to create a clean surface.
Step 2: put on some nitrile gloves and dehydrate your client’s nails, scrub the side walls and under the free edge to ensure all oils and residue have been removed. HONA recommend using acetone for this step.
Step 3: precision cuticle work is key. Push back the cuticle using a cuticle pusher and remove dead tissue from the nail surface.
Step 4: saturate a lint-free wipe with 100% acetone to remove all debris and excess oils from the nail surface.
Step 5: file the free edge using either a 150 or 180 grit nail file, depending on the health of the nail plate, then dehydrate the nail with 100% acetone again before product application.
Following these steps will ensure the nails are prepped to perfection, creating the ideal base for all HONA nail enhancement systems.
Identifying your client’s needs
Whether your client has weak, fragile nails that are prone to breakage, or short, stubborn nails that just won’t grow, it’s important to assess exactly what your client’s nail type, condition and lifestyle is before deciding which HONA gel system will work best for them. Identifying these needs will help improve client satisfaction and ensure long-lasting results. HONA offer a variety of gel polish and builder gel systems, so whether it’s flexibility, strength or extensions that your client needs, HONA have you covered.
Product options within HONA’s gel systems
HONA have developed several hypoallergenic nail enhancement systems to help perfectly tailor your services to the needs of you and your clients. These systems include:
TrueFoundation
This is a hybrid builder gel system with a built-in rubber base, providing enhanced flexibility that’s ideal for clients with weaker nails. Infused with keratin, this hybrid builder gel system is a highly versatile formula that can be used as a builder gel, an adhesive for HONA’s full coverage gel extension system, SwiftTips, or as a strengthening overlay.
TrueBuild
Formulated with a thicker viscosity, HONA’s TrueBuild system is a traditional builder gel that adds excellent durability and strength to the nails. This HONA builder gel is ideal for sculpting and building overlays, providing enhanced control and flawless, self-levelling application.
BuilderPot
Designed for nail techs who prefer to work from a pot (as opposed to a brush-on bottle), BuilderPot is the same formula as TrueBuild, but with a thinner viscosity.
SwiftTips
Enabling you to create flawless gel extensions with ease, SwiftTips is a soft gel extension system that’s ideal for clients who want to add instant length and shape to the nails, offering long-lasting results.
TrueSculpt
HONA’s TrueSculpt range is a hard gel system that’s available in three formulas, known as Core, Express and Fibre – enabling you to personalise your treatments depending on you and your client’s needs. TrueSculpt provides excellent strength and sculpting properties, offering nail techs a go-to system for creating bespoke nail extensions, overlays and repair work.
Why hypoallergenic matters
Helping to future-proof the nail industry, HONA’s hypoallergenic gel formulas help to reduce the risk of developing allergies for both you and your client, providing a safer alternative to traditional nail enhancements. HONA’s builder gel systems are free from HEMA, HPMA, IBOA and TPO, making HONA an excellent choice for clients with sensitive skin.
Application tips and best practice
Refine your prep
The secret to long-lasting gel nails is all in the preparation. Always make sure the nails are properly prepped before product application, including sanitisation, cuticle removal and dehydrating the nail plate.
Prescriptive manicure guide
Deciding which product to use for your client isn’t always easy, that’s why HONA have put together the ultimate guide to help you make the right choice:
Please note: sometimes people don’t always fall into these boxes and an individual assessment of lifestyle and nail type is always recommended.
From perfecting your prep to personalising your products, you can be sure to satisfy your clients with HONA’s prescriptive manicure guide. Whether you want to create stunning HEMA-free gel nails with the HONA builder gel range or add durability to weak nails with the innovative HONA hard gel system, HONA have everything you need to tailor your treatments and keep your clients coming back.
You can shop the full HONA nail range here.
Discover more about HONA on our blog, the future of safer, stronger and smarter nail systems.
Discover more about HONA on our blog, the future of safer, stronger and smarter nail systems.