Helpful Tips on How To Dip Powder Nails at Home
Dip powder nails have been a fan favorite for decades because of their properties providing the strength of acrylic while still allowing enough versatility for designs and nail art, all while being applied in half the time it would take other products. The biggest downside, however, used to be that you had to go to the salon every time you wanted them. Luckily, there are now dip powder nail kits that allow you to apply them yourself, but if you’ve never done it before, here are some helpful tips on how to dip powder nails at home.
What To Look For
Like with professional nail services, you want to find a quality product with lasting and consistent results. The first quality you should check is the consistency of the powder. In particular, the powder should be “free-flowing” to achieve a clean and even application. This will also help you cut down on the time needed to buff and file to perfect the look of your nails. The next quality you should examine is the activator cure time. While the application process is similar for all dip nail products, the cure time can vary, which in turn may affect your application.
Consider Best Practices
The most helpful tip on how to dip powder nails at home is to research the best practices that professional salons would use. There’s an art to dipping nails, and so there are various factors you should consider.
- Temperature – Heat accelerates the application process, including the temperature of your room and even your own body heat. Keep this in mind so that you’re not rushing yourself or not curing the dip fast enough.
- Thin Base Layers – A thinner base coat will ensure the dip powder doesn’t become too thick or uneven. While you can fix it through filing, it’ll save you a lot of time to apply it as cleanly as possible.
- Mix Dip Powder Before Use – Similarly, mixing the dip powder with a stick before using it will even out the colors and ensure consistency in the shade and coloration of each nail.
- Minimal Brush Strokes for Top Layer – This prevents you from overworking the product and potentially creating matte spots.
Removing the Dip
Dip removal is as much a process as applying it. You should always avoid picking or peeling at the product because it can potentially damage the natural nail underneath. Instead, you should follow the user manual’s instructions about soaking the nail in acetone before using a file to roll the product off. The product can get very gummy if you’re not careful, so resist the urge to use a pusher.