Learning how to apply acrylic nails is a valuable and fun skill! You can create an amazing manicure at home with the help of these nail beauty tips. If you want to learn how to do your own acrylic nails at home, keep reading to find out!
What Are Acrylic Nails?
Acrylic nails are extensions placed over the natural nail. You use a mix of a liquid and powder monomer to create a “polish” that will go on top. Acrylics are long-lasting and great for people who want long or strong nails.
Are Acrylic Nails Easy To Do?
Though acrylics are a popular manicure option in nail salons, you can do them at home. Learning how to do your own acrylic nail set isn’t difficult, and it’s a skill worth having. However, it’s important to note that your first set may not come out perfect, but with practice, you can achieve great-looking nails!
Materials You Need
If you’re ready to try acrylic nails at home, you must gather the right materials. Check out this list of everything you need:
- Nail polish remover (if you need to remove an old manicure)
- Nail file
- Nail clippers
- Nail buffer
- Nail tips
- Nail glue
- Acrylic brush
- Bowl of liquid monomer
- Nail dip powder
- Clear top coat polish
Materials for Removal
- Acetone-free nail polish remover
- Bowl (for dipping your nails)
- Tweezers
What You Need To Know Before Applying Acrylics
Before applying acrylics, you should know that the process can be lengthy (especially for first-timers). From selecting the right nail tip size to prepping your nails, different components can take time. Don’t rush through the process, and make sure you’re satisfied after each step because it will affect the results of your manicure.
Essential Preparation Steps
Thoroughly prep your nails before acrylic application.
- Remove old nail polish. Before starting any manicure, you must remove old nail polish. Doing so will give you a clean surface to apply your acrylics nail tips.
- Push your cuticles back. Gently push your cuticles back and trim your nails. You want short nails before applying nail tips.
- Buff and file your nails. After trimming your nails, file them to remove any snags. Then, buff them to allow the nail tips to have something to grip.
- Wash your hands. Before the application process, wash and dry your nails to remove natural oils.
Guide to Applying Acrylics
Now that you’re ready to apply acrylics, follow this step-by-step guide.
- Get your nail tips and size them to your nails. If the tips are too big, file them to fit your nail. But you should avoid tips that are too small because they will pinch and cause discomfort.
- Once you size all your nail tips to your nails, grab your nail glue. Dab a small amount of glue near your cuticles and place the nail tip on the top. Hold the tip down for 10 seconds to allow the glue to dry.
- Now that your acrylic nail tips are on, you can start the nail dip process. Grab your acrylic brush, a bowl of liquid monomer, and dip powder.
- Slightly dip your acrylic brush into the monomer bowl (don’t over saturate the brush). Then, tap the brush on the side of the bowl to remove excess liquid.
- Next, dip the brush in the nail dip powder, starting just above your cuticle, and extend it to the end of the nail tip. Sculpt the acrylic by pressing the brush flat on your nails and spreading it evenly. Tip: While applying the dip powder, smooth out the edges of your nails to avoid clumps.
- Repeat steps four and five until you apply the dip powder on all your nail tips.
- Wait for a few minutes to allow your nails to dry. Acrylics are temperature-sensitive, so they will dry faster in a cooler room.
- After drying, you can file to nail to your desired shape.
- Finish your acrylic set by applying a clear top coat polish on your nails and letting them dry. This should take three minutes.
- Congratulations, you completed your acrylic set!
Important Maintenance Tips
After applying acrylic nails, it’s essential to maintain your manicure because various things can hinder your look. Unlike traditional manicures, you must take special care of your nails to keep your acrylic set fresh and healthy. Here are a few important maintenance tips:
- Treat your nails gently. When it comes to aftercare, it’s essential to treat your nails gently. Avoid picking at or lifting the acrylics because they will come off.
- Wear gloves and limit your exposure to water and chemicals. Exposure to water, chemicals, and dish detergent can weaken your acrylic nails and cause them to lift or separate. When handling substances, it’s best to wear gloves to avoid damage.
- Keep the skin around your nails healthy. Moisturizing your hands and using cuticle oil will keep your hands soft, but it will also reduce skin from peeling around your nails.
- Avoid acetone. Never use acetone nail polish remover on your acrylics because the chemical compounds deteriorate the acrylic nail.
- Keep an eye on your natural nails. If you notice discoloration or irritation on natural nails, it could indicate a chemical exposure issue. In that case, you may need to remove your acrylic set.
Removal Process
With the right care, an acrylic nail set can last between two to three weeks. After that time frame, your natural nails will begin to grow and “push” the acrylic away from your cuticles. When you’re ready to remove your set, you must follow the correct procedure.
How To Remove Acrylic Nails
- Pour acetone-free nail polish remover in a bowl (make sure there is enough to fully submerge your nails).
- Place your nails into the bowl and allow them to soak for 30 to 40 minutes.
- When the acrylic nails start to loosen, take a pair of tweezers and remove the acrylic tips from your nails.
- Thoroughly wash your hands after removing the nails tips and put on hand moisturizer.
After looking at these nail beauty tips and learning how to do your own acrylic nails at home, we hope you feel ready to give yourself the perfect manicure. In addition, if you’re interested in buying bulk acrylic powder, you should browse through Nail Company Wholesale Supply’s selection of material. We guarantee you will find something that you love!
