Acrylic powder for nails: how to use, strengthening nails step by step for beginners

Those with fragile, soft nail plates cannot fully appreciate all the benefits of gel polish coating, as they often experience chipped and broken nails. Fortunately, this is not a reason to abandon artificial turf.

The nail industry has given the fair sex many options for strengthening their nails. One of them is strengthening with acrylic powder.

What kind of material is this? How to work with it? Is it possible to use it at home? Let's find out in this article.

Acrylic powder: what is it and what is it for?

Acrylic was originally used in dentistry to create fillings and dentures. And then this plastic, but at the same time durable and lightweight material was used in the nail industry. Today, manicurists use it to strengthen and extend nail plates and create various designs.

Acrylic nail powder is a polymer powder, most often based on methacrylic acid ester - ethyl methacrylate. Thanks to its properties, the powder hardens under the rays of a manicure lamp or upon contact with a special hardening liquid - monomer.

Benefits of acrylic powder

is hypoallergenic, suitable for almost everyone. Allergic reactions occur in only 5% of cases;
easy to use, does not require much time;
It is characterized by increased durability, therefore reducing the risk of nail breakage.

Disadvantages of acrylic powder

There is an opinion that acrylic negatively affects human health. Is it so? The material itself is absolutely safe. Its vapors are harmful. But their toxicity persists only until the acrylic dries, that is, literally a few minutes. Another small minus is that the material has an unpleasant, pungent odor. How to get rid of these shortcomings? Wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area.

In what cases should acrylic powder be used for strengthening?

Nails are weak and often break because of this;
Artificial turf lasts less than a period of time; detachments, cracks, and chips constantly occur.

It should be remembered that acrylic powder does not heal the nail plate. Strengthening occurs due to the creation of an additional protective layer.

Contraindications to the use of acrylic powder are:

fungal diseases;
individual intolerance to components;
undergoing chemotherapy;
taking antibiotics.

Compound

To increase shelf life and make the result more durable, acrylic manicure powder used to contain methyl methacrylate, which is now banned in many countries. The product was toxic because methyl methacrylate can cause allergic reactions and has a depressant effect on the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. It is quite natural that negative reviews remain to this day.

Recently, the composition has changed and the base is ethyl methacrylate, so there is no longer any reason to worry. This is a colorless liquid, slightly soluble in water, and its properties resemble its predecessor. The irritating properties of ethyl methacrylate are less pronounced, it has a neutral odor, is of higher quality, harmless and safe.

Types of acrylic powder. Which to choose?

Today on the shelves of manicure stores you can find several types of acrylic powder. Let's figure out how they differ from each other and what they are intended for.

Transparent acrylic powder is usually very finely ground. It does not stand out at all on the natural nail plate. Universal. This type of powder is used to create a base layer, strengthen, and build up the nail plate. With its help you can eliminate unevenness of the nail and model the tip. It is also suitable for designs.

Acrylic Powder Expert Clear NeoNail 30 g

Camouflage powder is opaque, similar to the natural shades of the nail plate. It has a denser texture and is more flexible. Even its thin layer perfectly masks nail imperfections: unevenness, yellowness, white spots, grooves and other defects.

Acrylic camouflage peach powder Cover Peach InGarden 20 g

Matte powder hides imperfections in the nail plate and visually evens it out. Suitable for base coat when strengthening and extending the nail plate.

Colored powder is used to create designs. There is a huge palette of colors on the market to suit every taste. Using colored powder, you can create different designs on your nails and achieve the “sugar nails” effect.

Neon powder comes in bright, rich shades and glows when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Glitter powder can come in different textures and grinds. Accordingly, the size of glitter (sparkles) varies. Great for finishing coats or creating bright, sparkling designs.

Summarize:

to strengthen and correct the shape of the nail tips, choose transparent acrylic powder;
in order to achieve a smooth surface of the nail plate and hide imperfections, use camouflage powder;
To create designs, colored, neon powder, and glitter powder are suitable.

INTERESTING!

Acrylic powder is ideal for creating a textured, voluminous manicure. Want to create contrasting textures? Make the design with powder on a glossy base. Want to achieve the effect of “sugar” marigolds? Cover the nail plate completely with powder. You can also make a “knitted” manicure using powder.

Modeling with acrylic

Acrylic nail modeling is one of the extension techniques in which the master works with acrylic. This is a durable material, the distinctive feature of which is the production of a thin plate. Acrylic is a powder and a liquid monomer substance; when these components are combined, a very pliable, plastic mixture is obtained that immediately hardens. There are various options for textures and shades, allowing you to create a unique and original manicure.

Acrylic nails are extended in two ways, the only difference is in the fastening:

Tips are blanks made of plastic or plastic that imitate the shape of a nail. They are glued to the tip of the nail with special glue. The nail is filed together with the tip and the required length is set. Next, acrylic is applied, polished, and, if necessary, a design is made.
On the forms - special blanks made of paper or other materials are fixed under the natural nail, then acrylic is applied and modeled, cut down to the required size and polished.

Acrylic is a very durable material, although it can be damaged. To make a beautiful manicure make you happy and last longer, you need to use these tips:

Protect your hands from cold and too high temperatures, for example, do not mess around in ice and hot water, wear gloves in the cold.
Try not to hit the hard surface with your nails so as not to injure them.
Wear gloves when cleaning the house, acrylic does not like exposure to chemicals.
Take care of your cuticles in a timely manner.

Acrylic nails can be worn for months, but it is recommended to take a break from time to time to allow natural nails to rest and recover. Many people love extensions precisely for their durability. You need to go for correction on time, since the nail grows in 2-3 weeks.

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

Strengthening your nails with acrylic powder at home is quite simple; you don’t need to master any special skills. Below is a detailed algorithm of actions.

Step one: get your nails in order

Necessary tools:
Nail file classic white 180/200 g ParisNail

Cuticle Eliminator Be Natural 59 ml

Pusher PK-154 METZGER

Cuticle scissors, manual sharpening (long handles) 1343-PB-SH-Salon Paris Nail ZINGER

Orange sticks medium 17.8 cm IRISK 90-100 pcs

First you need to do the manicure yourself to get your nails in order.

Using a nail file, give the free edge the desired shape;
Apply cuticle remover to the cuticle and side rollers;
Place your hand in a bath of warm water for 3-4 minutes. We wipe our fingers and start manicure;
Use a pusher to push back the cuticle;
Remove the cuticle with scissors (tweezers, nippers);
With an orange stick dipped in water, we go along the contour of the nail and clean the pterygium.

Step two: preparing the nail plate

Necessary tools:
Buff mini 100/180 White Monami 50 pcs

E.Mi Dust Brush

Napkins in a roll 30*30 spunlace white “Choice” White Line 100 pcs

Degreasing and removing agent Vanilla ParisNail 200 ml

Nail dehydrant “Dry nail” Nayada 25 ml

Acid-free nail primer Nayada 25 ml

Then we move on to preparing the nail plate for coating. This is a very important stage, since it determines how well the adhesion of the natural nail and the artificial coating will occur.

We treat the surface of the nail plate with a buff to lift the scales of the nail plate and improve adhesion;
Remove dust with a special brush;
Apply degreaser to a lint-free cloth and wipe your nails;
For those with wet, oily nails, to improve adhesion, apply a dehydrator to the entire surface of the nail and air dry it for a minute. You can also apply a disinfectant;
Then you need to apply primer to the free edge of the nail. Depending on the purpose and condition of the nails, we choose acidic or acid-free. The free edge is one of the most vulnerable places, and thanks to the primer, the adhesion between the nail plate and the artificial material improves, which contributes to longer wear of the coating. We also air dry the primer for one minute.

Step three: strengthen the nail with acrylic powder

Now you can move on to strengthening with acrylic powder.

Apply a thin layer of base coat to the surface of the nail plate. DO NOT dry;
Scoop up acrylic powder with a spatula and sprinkle it on the nail plate;

Lightly tap the knuckle of your finger to shake off excess powder;

LIFE HACK!

To use the powder sparingly, sprinkle it on the nail plate directly above the jar of powder. In this case, the excess that does not stick to the nail will fall back into the jar.

Dry your nails in a lamp;
Remove excess powder with a special manicure brush;
Now you can remove the sticky layer, buff your nails and leave them like that;
Or you can coat it with gel polish or just a transparent top coat to give your nails a glossy shine.

IMPORTANT!

The base should suit your nail type. If you are doing strengthening, you most likely have thin, plastic nails, so choose a flexible base coat. Read more about choosing a base in our article “Base for gel polish. What is it and what is it for?

Rating

The cost of acrylic powder depends on the quality of the product and the manufacturer. In order not to harm your health and beauty, it is recommended to buy products from well-known and trusted brands. The following brands have received particular love and popularity in the beauty industry: Kodi, Irisk Professional and TNL. At large fashion and beauty conventions in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities, products from InGarden, RuNail and INM were repeatedly presented. The ranking of the most popular brands is closed by the well-known companies EzFlow Nail Systems and CND.

These beauty products are sold on many domestic online sites, so you can order acrylic powder at any time, with delivery by mail or courier service directly to your home. When making a purchase, carefully read the composition and make sure that you are not allergic to any of the specified components.

How to remove acrylic powder

You have done the strengthening, walked away for the allotted time with a wonderful manicure, but the moment has come when it’s time to remove the coating. How to do it?

There are 2 ways to remove acrylic powder:

using a special acrylic remover (remover);
using the device.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

To remove acrylic using a remover you will need:

a rough file, the abrasiveness of which is approximately 100 grit;
cotton pads;
scissors for cutting cotton pads;
remover;
aluminum foil (you can use food grade foil instead of professional grade);
orange stick or metal pusher;
buff;
file for natural nails.

What are we doing?

We lay out all the necessary materials and tools in front of us, spread out a paper towel or napkin. This is necessary so that the debris from the removed acrylic can be immediately rolled up in a napkin and thrown away. It won't get in the way and you won't have to pick it up from your work surface.
Cut the cotton pads into 4 parts, cut the foil into 10 pieces. Each piece of foil should be of such a size that you can wrap your finger in it.
Use a nail file to remove the top layer of coating.
Apply gel polish remover to pieces of cotton pad, place them on each nail and wrap in foil, leave for 10-15 minutes.
After the specified time has passed, carefully remove the softened coating from the nails using an orange stick or pusher. Do not remove all the foil at once; work with each finger in turn.
After we have cleaned all the nails, we treat them with a buff. Using a natural nail file, give the free edge of the nail the desired shape.
At the end, it is advisable to apply cuticle oil and moisturizing or nourishing hand cream.

You can also remove acrylic with a machine. In essence, this is “cutting off” the coating with a special manicure cutter. At speeds of 25,000 rpm, it gently and painlessly removes layers of artificial material.

Note! Removing the coating with a manicure machine requires certain skills. To do everything correctly and not damage your nails, we recommend that you take a hardware manicure course.

Analogs

You can buy inexpensive analogues on the Chinese market, but before purchasing you should carefully read the composition and manufacturer. This is the case when cheap does not mean good. In Korea and China, methyl methacrylate is still allowed. When buying an untested product, be prepared for the fact that the result will be unpredictable and, possibly, harmful to your nails. Experiment with caution and attention, and if in any doubt, do not use such a product.

To create the effect of acrylic powder, some imaginative girls use chalk shavings and other crumbly materials. There is no point in talking about strengthening or long-term manicure, but as an option for one evening, such a creative approach is interesting and safe for health.

DIY: DIY NAIL POWDER

Nail extensions using acrylic powder

Finally, let's pay attention to the important function that acrylic powder performs - nail extension.

For extensions, powder is used in combination with a special colorless liquid, which is called monomer or liquid. When mixed, a plastic, viscous material is obtained, which is used to “sculpt” an extension of the nail plate using a brush.

The peculiarity of the resulting material is that it does not need to be dried in a lamp; it hardens upon contact with air. The master needs to work quite quickly - he only has a few minutes to apply the extensions, since after this the material will harden and the extended nail will have to be corrected with a file.

Acrylic powder is a material that allows you to extend the life of your manicure, create interesting designs, and increase length. And as you can see, there is nothing difficult in working with it. Don't be afraid to experiment and test different materials. They are created to simplify your work and improve your life!

Indications for use

Acrylic powder helps solve many problems with the condition of the nail plates:

Thin, brittle nails.
Unevenness of the nail plate, the presence of tubercles or other defects.
Changes in nail color, partial pigmentation, spots.
Nails do not hold up well to any decorative coating, including durable ones like shellac.
Acrylic powder can also be used on healthy nails to create nail art of any complexity.

Price

The table shows current prices for acrylic powder in the Moscow region from popular manufacturers.

Manufacturer	Series	Type	Weight, gr.	price, rub.
CND	Perfect Clear	Transparent	22	1107
InGarden	Acrylic Powder White Pearl	With glitter	20	500
INM	Acrylic Powders	Transparent	42	590
Irisk Professional	Cover Beige	Camouflage	25	190
Kodi	G2	Colored	4,5	250
RuNail	Pink	Colored	28	510
EzFlow	Nail Systems	Transparent	28	200
TNL	Classic	Camouflage	15	220

Reviews

“You don’t like acrylic? You just don’t know how to work with him!” – this is exactly the review left by a girl under the nickname swollow about acrylic powder from the TNL brand. With the help of acrylic, she managed to create both classic ornaments and designs using the “velvet sand” technique on her nails, a design made for knitting and “Chanel”.

Other girls advise not to spend money on expensive powders, overpaying “for the brand.” A 30-gram jar of Buyincoins powder in the popular online store Aliexpress costs only a dollar, but the final effect is not much different from more expensive analogues.

What other products can a novice master use?

Today, the following means are used to strengthen the nail plate:

construction gel;
biogel;
acrylic;
thick base for gel polish.

For all these materials, it is necessary to purchase accompanying products: degreaser, dehydrator, gel polish with a sticky layer.

Reference. You need to choose the material for strengthening individually and it will not always be possible the first time.

It is necessary to observe how the strengthener is worn and conduct a comparative analysis. For some, the product is selected the first time, while others have to experiment for several months.

Polygel is one of the latest developments in the field of nail services

But in order to keep your nails healthy and beautiful, it is important to choose the right material and use it. It's better to leave it to the professionals

Manufacturers

The most popular manufacturers of acrylic powders for nails in Russia are the companies RUNAIL, CND and ENTITY. ENTITY specializes in selling powder in sets, the purchase of which is ultimately cheaper than purchasing RUNAIL products individually. The cost fluctuates around 300-500 rubles per jar. CND sells its products not only at retail, but also wholesale. In the catalogs of this company you can find jars with a capacity of both 100 and 900 ml.

Despite the fact that ordinary water can be used as a fixing liquid, special monomers for acrylics are sold that provide better adhesion of the solution to the nail. The main producers of monomers are CND and RUNAIL. 50 ml of such a solution can cost from 300 to 1000 rubles. Such liquids belong to the category of professional products, so if you are going to do a manicure at home, do not rush to buy expensive consumables - first try performing the procedure using plain water.