You may be surprised by the number of choices you now have for nail products. Traditional liquid nail lacquer is still available, but you can also choose gel, dip, or acrylic powder finishes. Here’s what you need to know about nail acrylic powder.
Nail Acrylic Powder Is Different Than Dip
The primary benefit of nail acrylic powder is that it lasts longer than other applications. The main difference between acrylic powder and dip is in how your nail technician applies it. Dips use an adhesive to stick the powder to the nail and an activator to cure and seal the powder prior to applying a topcoat.
Acrylic powders require a monomer, which is a liquid that creates a chemical reaction between the powder (a polymer) to create the acrylic that then binds to the nail.
Preparation Is Critical
Without proper preparation, nail acrylic powder will fail to adhere to natural or artificial nails or may cause lift, ruining an expensive manicure and possibly causing permanent damage to your nails. Your technician will remove all old polish from the nail and buff the surface to remove the shine. Then, your nail technician will apply primer/bonder to guard against the acrylic lifting after application.
Creating the Polish
A liquid monomer turns acrylic nail powder into a spreadable acrylic that can be applied directly to the prepared natural nail or acrylic nail tips that have been applied and bonded correctly. Technique is very important, as too little monomer will result in a bead of polish that’s too dry, and too much will make a bead that’s too wet. Your professional nail technician will know how to tap the brush to make sure the monomer bead hangs from the end, how to pick up the powder with the monomer bead, and how to carefully apply it from just above the cuticle to the nail tip.
When the acrylic is completely dry, the nail can be hand-filed to shape and smooth the sidewalls and buffed to smooth the main top surface of the nail. Finally, your nail technician will apply a topcoat.
Checking Ingredients
What you need to know about nail acrylic powder includes knowing that the products involved can cause serious harm to your nails. Back in the 70s, the FDA sued to remove bonders made of methyl methacrylate (MMA) after receiving and confirming complaints of nail injury from the use of MMAs. Confirm with your nail salon that they use only EMA (ethyl methacrylate), which has not been associated with such injuries.
That’s why, if you’re going for acrylic nails, you should employ a licensed professional nail technician to apply them. Check that your salon uses only EMAs and maintains strict infection control procedures; using the same jar of dip powder on multiple clients can spread infection.
Nail Company Wholesale Supply stocks acrylic nail powder and liquids for professional use. Check out these products and look for them in your nail salon.
