SLX Combined (Online)
Gel Builder and Acrylic, taught together. From foundational structure through to advanced artistic design.
Or 3 monthly payments of £299 with Klarna
ABT ACCREDITED · LIFETIME ACCESS · SELF-PACED
For anyone serious about nails as a career.
SLX Combined is the beginner-to-professional foundation. You don't need previous experience or existing qualifications. What you need is the intention to do this properly.
By the end, you'll be ABT-accredited across both builder gel and acrylic. You'll understand the technique, the artistry, the client experience, and the business alongside it.
Nothing about being new is a disadvantage here. Every professional nail artist started at zero. The question is where you go from there.
- You're starting your career in nails and want a real qualification, not just a certificate
- You've been doing nails for friends and family and want to turn it into a business
- You've completed shorter courses but feel gaps in your foundation
- You want both builder gel and acrylic taught together, not sold separately
What's inside SLX Combined
A complete curriculum across both techniques. From the foundations of nail anatomy and safety, through application and artistry, into the business of turning your work into a career. ABT-accredited throughout.
The Gel Builder curriculum
Foundations
Nail anatomy, hand anatomy, and the professional standards behind safe, healthy work.
- Nail structure: plate, bed, matrix, lunula, cuticle
- Hand anatomy: phalanges, metacarpals, carpal bones
- Salon hygiene protocols
- Health and safety, insurance basics
Client safety
Recognising what to work with, what to avoid, and how to protect yourself and your clients.
- Contra-indications: fungal, bacterial, viral, skin conditions
- Contra-actions: allergic reactions, chemical burns, over-filing
- Allergies and overexposure
- Ventilation, storage, and safe disposal
Nail preparation
The prep work that determines whether your set lasts three days or three weeks.
- Sanitising protocols
- Cuticle care and non-living tissue removal
- Shaping and filing
- Shine removal and surface preparation
Tip application and shaping
Getting the foundation right before any product touches the nail.
- Sizing and tailoring tips
- Blending and glue application
- The seven core nail shapes: squoval, oval, square, almond, stiletto, coffin, ballerina
Gel builder application
The core technique, taught properly. Slip layer, apex construction, curing.
- Dehydrator and preparation
- Slip layer application and curing
- Building the apex with a liner brush
- Multi-layer curing protocols
Refining and finishing
The details that separate a good set from a great one.
- Removing the tacky layer
- Nail refinement and buffing
- Top coat application and curing
- Cuticle oil and final finish
The Acrylic curriculum
Foundations, safety, and prep
The same foundational work as builder gel, applied to acrylic. Anatomy, hygiene, contra-indications, client safety, prep protocols. Because good acrylic starts with the same foundation as any other technique.
E-file technique
Using an electric file safely and effectively, which is where most acrylic technicians either level up or plateau.
- E-file bits: mandrel, carbide, ceramic, cuticle, buffer
- Speed control and safety
- Directional rotation
- Avoiding heat buildup and over-filing
Tip application and shaping
Sizing, blending, and shaping for acrylic. The seven core nail shapes taught with acrylic-specific application in mind.
Acrylic application
The monomer-to-polymer ratio that determines whether your set adheres, cures, and lasts. This is where the technique lives.
- Dappen dish setup with monomer and polymer
- Brush preparation and saturation
- Powder-to-liquid ratio: getting the bead right
- Bead placement: tip down to cuticle
- Building beads gradually as your technique develops
Refining and finishing
File back to shape, refine with e-file, buff, top coat, cuticle oil. The finishing sequence that turns a good acrylic set into a professional one.
Design and nail art
The artistic side. Dotting tools, liner brushes, airbrush technique, 3D gel work, blooming gel effects. Building the artistic vocabulary that becomes your signature style.
The business alongside the craft
Every SLX course teaches the technique alongside the business of turning it into a career. Because knowing how to do the work is only half the picture.
- Client care and the professional standards that build repeat bookings
- Aftercare protocols that protect your work and demonstrate your expertise
- Infill and removal maintenance that keeps clients returning every 2-3 weeks
- Setting up as a nail technician: legal, insurance, tools
- Social media fundamentals: showing up in a way that attracts the right clients
- Pricing your work with confidence
A look at what you're getting.
A preview of SLX Combined inside the Thinkific platform. Full course includes video lessons across both builder gel and acrylic techniques.
Everything you get with SLX Combined.
One payment. Lifetime access. No hidden extras.
Every module across builder gel and acrylic, taught step by step. Watch, pause, and re-watch as often as you need.
Practice worksheets, reference sheets, and technique guides you can print and use during practice.
Recognised UK beauty accreditation across both techniques. The qualification that unlocks professional insurance and industry credibility.
A physical certificate issued once you complete the course and assessments. Yours to display in your studio or share with clients.
Learn at your own pace. Come back to any module, any time, for as long as SLX Combined is offered.
Your first 3 months of the SLX community included with your enrolment. Ongoing learning, peer network, and Sarah's monthly masterclasses.
The nail artists Sarah's already taught.
"[REAL TESTIMONIAL FROM PAST STUDENT — highlight what surprised them about learning from Sarah, or what changed for them after]"
"[REAL TESTIMONIAL FROM PAST STUDENT — focus on the business or career impact of training with Sarah]"
"[REAL TESTIMONIAL FROM PAST STUDENT — focus on the teaching approach or the depth of the curriculum]"
"[REAL TESTIMONIAL FROM PAST STUDENT — optional fourth angle]"
Sarah, founder of SLX.
Sarah built SLX from her bedroom before moving to her Brighton studio, teaching herself the craft alongside a business management degree. That combination shows up in everything she teaches: the technique matters, but so does the business you build around it.
She teaches nail artistry as a craft with a career attached to it. Which is why SLX Combined covers both the technique and the business fundamentals that turn a good set of nails into a career you actually want.
Check out our individual courses.
Each technique is available as a standalone course. Perfect if you want to focus on one before adding the other.
SLX Masterclass
The original SLX artistic system for qualified technicians. Advanced composition, colour theory, and signature style development.
SLX Gel Builder
The builder gel technique taught in full. ABT-accredited, self-paced, lifetime access.
SLX Acrylic
The acrylic technique taught in full, including e-file work. ABT-accredited, self-paced, lifetime access.
SLX Social
The social media and content strategy course. Build a brand that books clients while you sleep.
SLX Masterclass
The original SLX artistic system for qualified technicians. Advanced composition, colour theory, and signature style development.
SLX Gel Builder
The builder gel technique taught in full. ABT-accredited, self-paced, lifetime access.
SLX Acrylic
The acrylic technique taught in full, including e-file work. ABT-accredited, self-paced, lifetime access.
SLX Social
The social media and content strategy course. Build a brand that books clients while you sleep.
SLX Masterclass
The original SLX artistic system for qualified technicians. Advanced composition, colour theory, and signature style development.
SLX Gel Builder
The builder gel technique taught in full. ABT-accredited, self-paced, lifetime access.
SLX Acrylic
The acrylic technique taught in full, including e-file work. ABT-accredited, self-paced, lifetime access.
SLX Social
The social media and content strategy course. Build a brand that books clients while you sleep.
Things worth knowing before you enrol.
Do I need any previous experience?+
No. SLX Combined is beginner-friendly and starts from the foundations. Every module builds progressively, so whether you've never touched a nail before or you've been doing them at home for friends, you'll be able to follow along and build real skill.
Is this actually ABT accredited?+
Yes. SLX Combined is fully ABT-accredited across both builder gel and acrylic. On completion of the course and assessments, you'll receive an ABT-recognised certificate. This qualification is what unlocks professional insurance and lets you work legally as a nail technician in the UK.
What's the difference between SLX Combined and buying Gel Builder and Acrylic separately?+
SLX Combined teaches both techniques together at a single price of £897. Learning both techniques alongside each other deepens your understanding. Many of the principles that make a great gel set also make a great acrylic set, and Sarah teaches them in a way that reinforces both.
How long will the course take?+
Most of our courses can be completed in a couple of days but you can go at whatever pace you are comfortable.
What equipment do I need?+
You'll need your own builder gel and acrylic supplies to practise alongside the course. A full equipment list is provided in the first module, including specific product recommendations and where to buy them. If you're starting from zero, expect to invest around £150 to £300 in a starter kit. This is separate from the course fee.
Can I pay in instalments?+
Yes. You can pay £897 upfront, or split it across three monthly payments of £299 with Klarna. Both options are available at checkout.
What if I decide the course isn't for me?+
You have 14 days from enrolment to request a refund, provided you've accessed no more than 25% of the course content. This gives you time to explore the material and make sure it's the right fit. Beyond that point, refunds are at our discretion, so we ask you to consider carefully before enrolling.
Do I get a certificate?+
Yes. On completion of the course and assessments, you'll receive your ABT-accredited certificate digitally by default, sent straight to your email in a printable, high-resolution format. If you'd prefer a physical certificate posted to you, just let us know during or after your enrolment. We're happy to send one at no extra cost.
How does SLX Collective's free trial work?+
Every SLX Combined enrolment includes 3 months of the SLX Collective community at no additional cost. You'll receive an invitation within a few minutes of your purchase. After the 3 months, you can choose to continue as a paying member or let the trial lapse. There's no automatic charge and no obligation.
What if I'm outside the UK?+
SLX Combined is available worldwide. The course itself is delivered online in English, and the video lessons work on any device with an internet connection. ABT is a UK accreditation, so if you plan to work as a nail technician in another country, check whether your local licensing body recognises ABT or requires separate certification. We're happy to help clarify. Just get in touch.
Both techniques. Business fundamentals. ABT-accredited.
The complete foundation for a career in nail artistry, taught by someone still doing the work.
ABT ACCREDITED · LIFETIME ACCESS · SELF-PACED