Strengthening nails with acrylic powder: step-by-step instructions

A manicure that makes the nail plate stronger and can maintain a neat and new appearance for a long time is the dream of almost every woman. Modern technologies in this area have stepped forward, making it possible to quickly and affordably make a special strengthening coating using acrylic powder.

The material can be used for extensions, or applied to increase the strength of shellac on your natural nails. In the latter case, the manicure will look more natural due to the application of a thinner layer. Read on to learn how to use an acrylic hardener, what materials are needed for the procedure, and what subtleties there are in covering nails.

Features and benefits of acrylic powder

The hardener is a finely ground dry powder based on a polymer, which, when interacting with a special liquid - monomer, makes the nail harder. The powdery composition on the nails looks natural and stylish. The advantages of using it include the following:

Acrylic powder has a porous, breathable structure, which allows air to flow to the nail plate, which is beneficial for blood circulation.
The hardened composition provides strong protection, without unsightly bubbles, strengthens them as much as possible, which means the nails will not break or peel. The manicure will not be afraid of frost, ultraviolet rays, or household chemicals during home cleaning.
A large assortment of colors makes it possible to bring any design you like into reality, or choose a colorless coating.
It’s easy to work with the material even at home, and it won’t take much time to cover your nails with acrylic.
Powder can replace extensions, but its layer is not so thick on the nails.
Correction will be needed only after 2-3 weeks. Removing acrylic is not difficult if you use special tools.

Acrylic Powder

What kind of material is this, how is it used in nail art?

Acrylic powder is a synthetic, that is, not a natural material. Essentially it is a powder made from plastic, from artificial polymers. Previously, this substance included a component very harmful to the human body - methyl methacrylate. This substance contributed to the occurrence of allergic reactions and had a negative effect on internal organs - kidneys, liver, central nervous system. In the modern production of acrylic powder, methyl methacrylate has been replaced with another component; it is of higher quality and safer, or rather, practically harmless. This component is called ethyl methacrylate.

Acrylic powder, applied to the nail plates using a simple technology, protects the surface from negative effects, promotes strengthening and growth, helps to form the correct shape or lengthen the nails.

How acrylic works: how does it strengthen nails?

Some girls have naturally weak nails that constantly peel and can break at the first opportunity, but this is not a reason to give up a beautiful, fashionable manicure and grow the desired length. Acrylic powder also provides a long-lasting white or colored finish that allows nail plates to be permanently strengthened, unlike regular polish. With its help, you can extend your nails, or you can do additional extensions, or simply strengthen your manicure. The effect is achieved due to the fact that the powder is mixed with liquid; it fills absolutely all micro cracks on the surface, leveling the texture to a smooth, shiny state.

Colored acrylic powder options

As a result, you get a neat and stylish manicure that is resistant to mechanical stress and temperature changes. You can calmly do household chores and allow your hands to come into contact with water for a long time when washing dishes or wet cleaning, your manicure will remain intact and unharmed. Nail service specialists recommend applying a special vitamin coating under the powder to provide additional protection.

Strong marigolds

What is better to buy - original or analogues

Manicurists and nail art experts recommend, if you have the financial opportunity, to buy products from well-known brands and in trusted stores. Products from companies such as Kodi, Irisk Professional, TNL, InGarden, RuNail, INM, EzFlow Nail Systems, CND will not harm your health and will allow you to get high-quality, lasting results.

However, the products of these brands can be too expensive; not all women can allocate the appropriate amounts from the family budget to spend “on marigolds.” In this case, you can consider the option of purchasing an analogue of the original acrylic powder. This drug can be ordered on a Chinese or Korean website. And even find options with free shipping, saving on this point as well. However, by making such a purchase, you risk buying not just a cheaper counterfeit, but a product that can harm your nails and your body as a whole. The fact is that in China and Korea, dangerous methyl methacrylate is still used in the production of cosmetics. It is not prohibited in these countries. As a result, saving on the purchase of powder, you will get an unpredictable effect and the risk of intoxication.

How to check the quality of a product if you doubt its safety:

Carefully read the information on the packaging; if it is written in a foreign language, you can use, for example, Google translator. Make sure that the composition does not contain harmful substances, especially methyl methacrylate.
Evaluate what acrylic powder smells like; there should not be a pronounced chemical smell.
Experiment with the layout before using the material on your fingers. The substance should not spread and create nodules or tubercles. If there is the slightest doubt, it is better to refuse to use such a product.
Still, it is better to use original products from the listed companies. In the assortment of modern online stores of cosmetics, you can find quite acceptable offers in different price categories - from 200 to 1000 rubles for a bottle weighing 15-40 grams.

Are there any disadvantages to acrylic powder?

Before use, many ladies may have a question: is it harmful or not to apply this coating, which strengthens, under gel polish. If everything is clear about the advantages of acrylic technology and its benefits, consider the existing disadvantages:

If you suffer from various types of fungal diseases, diabetes mellitus, or herpes infection, you should refuse the procedure, as it is contraindicated in this case.
Acrylic powder does not treat weak, brittle nails, but only creates a protective barrier to prevent damage.
“Repair” of nails should be carried out no later than 3 weeks, otherwise the condition of your own nail plate will worsen.
A manicure will cost more than a simple polish, and you will also need to have special devices and an ultraviolet lamp on hand.
Acrylic has a specific, pungent odor; you will need to ventilate the room and wear a protective mask.
Strengthening must be carried out in strict sequence, according to these instructions or the lessons in this article.

Wear a mask before the procedure.
Also, it is important to consider that low-quality, cheap products can lead to disastrous results, for example, to the appearance of tubercles and uneven layers. Therefore, you need to choose trusted manufacturers; which one is better can be found out from customer reviews. Top brands that are popular include acrylic powder kodi, rio pro, formula pro, runeil, pattern, ezflow, powder, carving, colorful.

Cody powder

Rules for use in salons and nail salons

Design example

Low cost, speed of application and relative safety make gel powder attractive for beauty salons. All the advantages of the master have already been appreciated, but in pursuit of increasing the average daily check, you should not neglect two tips.

A jar of powder is a potential home for bacteria.
Every day, dozens of people pass through the master, each of whom dips his finger into the container. From a sanitation point of view, this process can hardly be called safe, therefore, in order to avoid unpleasant situations, you should not neglect the simple rule: For each client - a separate container.

In addition to the sanitary side of the issue, it is necessary to clearly explain to clients that the removal of the coating should only be done by a professional. Independence will lead to thinning of the plate and deformation of the nail shape.

What set of tools is needed for the procedure at home?

To strengthen your nails with acrylic powder, you will need a set of special items, which are difficult to do without to achieve the desired result. Get to know them better:

The components for preparing the modeling composition are acrylic powder and a mixing liquid called monomer.
Degreaser or manicure remover.
Solution for disinfection and cuticle removal.
Files for shaping and polishing nails and buff. You should choose different abrasiveness in order to process from all sides.
Cups for material and brushes, thin and wide, allow you to apply acrylic, mix and dilute the solution, and remove excess dust.
Primer for better adhesion of components.
Transparent and rubber base for gel polish and camouflage pink
Neon lamp for drying powder and subsequent layers of manicure.

Depending on the intended design, you need to choose the appropriate color of varnish; whether it is better to use biogel or gel depends on your preferences. You also need to purchase a variety of decor, for example, powder for velvet flock or pebbles for a fashionable jacket.

Strengthening Tools

Manufacturers

Despite the simplicity of the procedure using gel powder and its economic benefits, not all manufacturers have decided to launch their own line of products.

Mart

The Russian brand Mart offers a wide selection of powders, necessary coatings, as well as related products. The company’s online store also offers several options for starter kits, which allow you to immediately acquire everything you need for coverage.

The price of the kit depends on its contents. The minimum set will cost a little more than 6 thousand rubles, and for the maximum set you will have to pay about 19 thousand rubles. Regardless of the set, a gel powder remover is purchased separately.

One jar of Mart colored powder costs around 900 rubles.

There are significantly more positive product reviews than negative ones. The main disadvantage is the high cost.

RobyNails

Immersion system made in Italy. Products for the gel system are sold both individually and in a starter kit. In addition to all the necessary materials for gel-powder coating, there is also a special bath for immersion.

Peculiarities:

The products in the system are odorless;
A palette of 36 shades of colored powder - from red to green-blue;
The base layer contains vitamins A and E and calcium. The components care for the nail, strengthening and moisturizing it.

The cost of the starter kit is about 7,500 rubles. Russian craftsmen who have already tried the products of the Italian brand give mostly positive reviews.

SNS

A representative of an American manufacturer, focused exclusively on gulp powder and related products. The starter kit here will cost 9 thousand, and the extended kit will cost almost 25 thousand. Gel powder in one shade will cost 1,200 rubles.

The company offers a wide selection of shades - currently there are more than 350 of them. The products contain calcium and vitamins, which allows you not only to create a beautiful coating, but also to saturate the vitamins with useful substances.

Cuccio

Like previous brands, Cuccio offers several options for starter kits, but finding them on sale is quite problematic. The cost of an average set is 6 thousand rubles.

The cost of one jar of gel powder fluctuates around 1000 rubles, so buying a kit in this case is clearly justified.

Low price and good quality were the main reasons why Western manicurists liked the products of this brand. But the Finnish manufacturer has not yet established itself in our country.

NE'LAK

A relatively new manufacturer offers mineral-based gel powder. Titanium dioxide, a fine mineral powder of organic origin, is used as an active component. The powder also contains benzoyl peroxide and acrylic polymer.

In addition to the powder itself, the coating will require Safe Bond - a preparatory agent to improve adhesion, Basic Gel - a base layer, L-sealer - a polymerizing agent, Fixing Top - a finishing coat. The manufacturer regularly conducts training on working with its materials and has its own application method, which ensures a high-quality and beautiful coating.

The brand has a fairly extensive palette of colored powders - there are more than 70 different shades of powder in the catalog, from classic options for a French jacket to bright and rich ones. At the start, it is more profitable to purchase boxes - there is a special set for French manicure, MINI, MIDDLE and MAXI. The cost of the sets is from 6,600 rubles, but there are promotions and discounts.

UNIDIP

The name UNIDIP is not yet widespread, since the UNIQUE brand only recently decided to change the name, so if you see these names somewhere, know that they are one and the same. The system, like all previously described brands - preparatory product, base gel, activator, top.

There are not many shades - about 20, but the manufacturer suggests connecting your inner artist and playing with mixing different colors of powder to get new, unique colors. There are separately sold gels and powders and sets. The cost of sets starts from 5,500 rubles.

Preparatory stage before starting work

Proper preparation will contribute to the correct distribution of the powder and maximum bonding of the material to the surface. Why do this? In order for the chosen design to be neat and retain its novelty for a long time.

Initially, we remove from the nails the remnants of previous varnishes, old decorative elements, various applied products or vitamin compositions. It is not recommended to cut cuticles right before application; it is better to do this a day or two before to avoid irritation or allergies. Remove the cuticle with a pusher or a special product.

Next, you need to wash your hands with soap and wipe until dry. It is imperative to treat each nail with an antiseptic. If this is not available, use an alternative - hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.

Then you need to trim the length using a rough file, model the shape, leaving the edge free. Using a soft nail file or pad, we remove the shine, file, sand, and degrease. After all the manipulations, we move directly to the strengthening process.

Preparatory process

How to make acrylic reinforcement correctly: step-by-step instructions

Strengthening nails with acrylic powder must be done quickly and efficiently, making all movements clearly and carefully, so as not to redo it later. For a general overview of the process, you can watch various videos on how to make gel polish and strengthening step by step and get started.

The step-by-step sequence of strengthening with acrylic powder is as follows:

Ensure the room is well ventilated or, in warm weather, sit on the balcony. This is done in order to prevent allergies, since the material has a rather pungent, unpleasant odor. You can put a regular medical mask on your face to avoid inhaling the released ingredients.
Place the tool set in front of you.
Apply primer to your tidied nails and let it dry.
Coat each nail plate with monomer. Next, using a pusher, sprinkle generously with acrylic powder, holding your fingers over the jar of acrylic for economy. There is no need to be afraid of the appearance of lumpiness; high-quality material does not give such an effect. To apply gel polish you will need transparent powder.
Place your nails under a lamp to dry for a couple of minutes. Remove excess powder with a wide brush.
Polish and sand the surface for a smooth finish.
Apply gel polish of the desired color and decorate with decor.

Applying acrylic powder

You can apply two layers of acrylic for increased durability. This is true for very brittle and weak nails. If you already have application experience, instead of sprinkling, you can dip the brush with monomer directly into the powder and apply a thin layer. To correct the shape and length, pour the monomer into a glass and dip a brush into it. We put acrylic on its tip, then form a ball, place it on the nail and level it, then dry it.

Strengthened marigolds

How to remove acrylic coating?

The strengthener needs to be removed after a few weeks. The process is not complicated, unlike its application, so you can do it at home. The actions are performed very carefully and accurately to maintain the beautiful and healthy appearance of your own nails. They are performed in the following sequence:

Remove a layer of glitter from all nails.
Apply nail polish remover to cotton pads and apply to each finger.
Each finger needs to be wrapped in foil and kept for no more than 10 minutes.
Remove the remaining material using an orange stick.
We file the shape with a file and thoroughly clean it to the desired result.

Removing acrylic

Additional recommendations from the experts

To do a chic, professional manicure at home, you not only need to train a lot, but also listen to the advice and tricks of real experts. It is advisable to include calcium, vitamins A and B, iron and foods rich in calcium in the diet, because the hardener does not treat nails, but only masks the problem of a fragile plate.
The coating will ensure a long-lasting manicure, but as a precaution, still wear protective gloves for housework, especially laundry, wet cleaning and dishwashing.
Don't forget to give your hands a gentle massage, use hand moisturizer, and stay hydrated.
And most importantly, remember that your nails will need periodic rest from the material to prevent their condition from deteriorating. After using acrylic for a long time, take a break and provide the necessary rest from the procedure.