All about gel powder and its use in manicure, review of brands • NAILS Magazine

Do you know what mineral powder, or gel powder, is for nails? I bet many nail technicians haven't heard of it, let alone the average nail industry user. Such powders appeared several years ago and gained popularity in Europe and the States, while in our country gel-varnish coatings walked in orderly rows across the beauty industry. However, our masters are increasingly looking towards foreign experience.

At the moment, powder systems DIP, NeLak and Mart are available to Russian craftsmen and their clients, but if the idea actively spreads among the people, I am sure that there will be more of them: for every taste, color and budget. So far the cost of this toy is quite high.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any product, gel powder has its advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing a product, you need to understand the pros and cons of the product.

Advantages:

The relative speed of the procedure using the product. You can create a custom manicure in just 30 minutes;
No ultraviolet exposure to nails and skin of the hands - the product composition does not require drying in a UV lamp;
The coating stays on the nails for about a month without cracking or fading;
Products intended for coating do not have the chemical smell inherent in many products in the nail industry;
In addition to the aesthetic function, it has the property of strengthening the nail plate;
In beauty salons, the speed of the procedure allows the master to increase the number of clients;
The organic composition eliminates the possibility of allergic reactions that manicurists often encounter;

Flaws:

To achieve maximum effect, you will have to purchase products from one manufacturer. When working with gel polishes, for example, it is allowed to use top and base from different companies and the result will not suffer from this;
The products dry out quickly, so to get a high-quality manicure you will have to first master the technique.

Correct Application

If used incorrectly, chips, detachments, abrasions and cracking of the material may occur, which is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, you should first thoroughly understand how to dilute acrylic powder, how to use it and how to dry and wear it correctly.

Tools and materials

Any job usually requires special tools, and for acrylic they will also be necessary. It is better to purchase materials at official retail outlets, otherwise you can simply lose money on low-quality compounds that will not give the desired effect.

Acrylic powder of the selected type or a complete set, which is now sold at any specialized retail outlet.
Liquid with which to mix powder (liquid). This substance is a monomer that does not change the color of the source material, but it contains plasticizers that mix with the base and harden, forming a sticky layer. This solution significantly reduces dust levels during final shaping.
Special flat long brush.
Degreaser for nail plates.
Files and buffs for polishing.

The cost of a jar of acrylic powder is quite high, which often scares off buyers, but everything is not so simple. The fact is that one small jar of powder, if applied and used correctly, will last for quite a long time, especially when it comes to home manicure.

Strengthening

Not all girls understand what is better, strengthening with acrylic powder or gel, and not every master will give an intelligible answer to this question. Gel is much easier to work with, but it causes allergies many times more often than acrylic, and it sticks to the nails somewhat worse. Basically, it’s a matter of taste, who likes what more, the powder gives a more durable and reliable result, but the choice, of course, is up to you.

Before performing any manipulations with materials, do a standard, hygienic manicure and remove the cuticle at home.
Degrease the nail plate with a primer, and if necessary, apply a bonder, which is already dried under a UV lamp.
Apply gel polish base.
Using a spatula, placing your nail over a jar or sheet of paper, sprinkle the damp, undried base with acrylic powder.
Dry the surface under an LED or UV lamp.

If necessary, the procedure must be repeated, after which the nail plate can be sanded and the final pigmented coating and top coat can be applied. To strengthen your nails with acrylic powder, you need to follow a sequence of actions; this is quite enough to avoid making annoying mistakes. After this procedure, the gel polish will stick much better, you will be able to avoid peeling and chipping, which is very important.

Building up

When planning to do nail extensions, you first need to decide on the color and texture of the material, what to mix acrylic powder with, how best to do it, and when doing artistic sculpting, also come up with a drawing and design concept.

Remember

The only difficulty with working with acrylic powder is that it dries out quite quickly. If you place the composition unevenly on the nail plate, you will have to shape it for quite a long time using a nail file, or even file it off completely and start over. Therefore, it makes sense to conduct several training experiments on the model.

Perform a standard hygienic manicure, not forgetting to thoroughly and thoroughly disinfect the instruments.
Degrease the surface of the nail, and also apply primer to it, dry it and apply bonder, after which drying should be done in a lamp.
Pour liquid (a special liquid for diluting acrylic) into a small container (glass) for ease of use.
Secure the extension forms in the desired position.
Lightly dip the brush into the liquid, and then into the powder so that it sticks in a small lump.
Apply the acrylic solution to your nails and spread evenly over the entire plate, forming your new, elongated nail. You need to work quickly and clearly, which is possible after a little training on a special finger model.
After the material has dried, carefully remove the forms and bring the nails to perfection using a regular nail file or a special router.
Finish polishing with a fine buff.

After completing the extension procedure, you can fix the extended nails in special clips to give them a natural arch shape, which is most preferable with a square shape. The surface can be coated with acetone or gel polish; incredible paintings and artistic modeling can be created on it. True, it’s better not to do such a bulky manicure every day, but to time it for a special occasion. Unlike gel and biogel, removing material from nails can only be done by cutting and nothing else.

Nail art

When figuring out what to do with acrylic powder, do not forget about its decorative use in nail design, as it can come in handy and give your nails a unique look and texture. The surface of the finishing coat, sprinkled with plastic powder, looks like velvet or suede.

Do a regular hygienic manicure and adjust the shape of your nails.
Apply primer.
Alternately apply bonder and a special base for gel polish, drying each layer under a UV lamp.
Carefully and evenly apply the pigmented gel polish of the desired shade. If necessary, it can be applied in several layers, each drying in ultraviolet light.
Without removing the dispersion sticky layer, sprinkle the surface with acrylic powder on one or all nails.

The top can be applied at the end of the procedure, or you can discard it, as it will smooth out the rough, velvety surface of the powder. In the same way, you can draw various patterns or monograms, or even entire pictures, for example, by applying them with a transparent top and sprinkling them with polymer powders of different colors.

Coating technology

To create a manicure with perfect coverage you will need:

Primer;
Base;
Powder;
Siller;
Top;
Lint-free wipes for treating nails with primer;
Buff;
File for shaping the nail;
Brush.

Step-by-step instructions for working with the gel powder system:

Remove the top glossy layer from the nail. This step cannot be skipped - with a glossy surface the adhesion is much worse;
Treat the nail surface with primer. The product degreases and disinfects the nail plate;
Apply a thin layer of base product as evenly as possible;
Without waiting for the base to dry, dip your nail into a jar of powder. Brush off excess with a brush.
After the layer has dried a little, apply a second layer of base and dip the nail into the powder again;
The next layer is applied sealer. It is this that will combine the previous layers and give the coating strength;
After the activator has completely hardened, the nails are given the desired shape. All application unevenness and excess are cut off.
The final step is to apply the top. The fixative will make your nails glossy and hide any roughness caused by cuts.

After the procedure and all layers have completely dried, moisturizing oil can be applied to the cuticle to give the hands a healthy look and moisturize the skin.

What is nail powder

Crushed acrylic, which instantly hardens upon contact with gel or varnish, is powder for manicure. The material is produced in jars and sold in professional stores for nail artists, although given its popularity, you can try looking for the product in regular household chemicals stores. Previously (and still) the powder was used in dentistry to strengthen tooth enamel. Nowadays they also get unusual manicure designs.

The material thickens the nail, protecting it from cracks, breaks and other damage, which is why it is used to build up and strengthen plates. In addition, manicure powder has the following beneficial properties:

Hypoallergenic. Can be used harmlessly.
Wear resistance. Extended or strengthened nails do not break, chip or flake.
Elasticity. A thin layer of material does not deform the nail plate.
Strength. Due to this, the substance is also used for artistic modeling.
Closer to natural nails. If you choose a natural shade, the plates will not look like extensions.

The advantage of using powder for design is the fast speed of the procedure - the material hardens instantly. Flaws:

Difficulty of processing. It takes practice to learn how to quickly and accurately apply the product.
Smell. Acrylic nail powder does not contain the most fragrant fluids. They are not dangerous (if you do not inhale the vapors of the material that has not yet hardened), but because of this feature, it is recommended to work with the substance in a mask.
No therapeutic effect. Keep in mind that strengthening occurs only at the physical level. The powder will hide the delamination and prevent the plate from breaking, but if fragility appears due to vitamin deficiency or some kind of disease, it should be treated, so consult a doctor.

Building up

In addition to the standard coating, using gel powder you can carry out extensions on tips.

Nail extension with tips: materials, step-by-step instructions and nuances

For nail extensions with gel powder you will need:

Primer;
Base coat;
Powder;
Siller;
Top;
File;
Buff;
Tips;
Gel glue;
Base for extension;
Brush.

Instructions for nail extensions using gel powder step by step:

Shape the nail using a file;
Cut off the lipid layer with a buff;
Treat the plate with primer;
Apply a thin layer of base for extensions;
Place the tip on half of the natural nail. Secure with special glue;
Give the tips the desired shape;
Apply a thin layer of base under the powder;
Without waiting for it to dry, dip your nail into the powder and remove excess with a brush;
Repeat application of the base layer;
Dip the nail into the container with powder again;
Wait a couple of minutes and cover the nail plate with sealer;
Correct the shape with a file, file away any irregularities with a buff;
Cover with topcoat and wait until completely dry.

Depending on the manufacturer, the application technology may include additional steps. Before use, read the instructions.

Flock

This is a separate type of powder for manicure, not related to acrylic in any way. It is a fine fiber made from viscose, cotton or wool. Flock fibers differ not only in the material they are made of, but also in length, so using it you can create different effects on your nails: plush, velor, or soft velvet. A distinctive feature of flock is its fragility, but it is a myth that the coating can be damaged by contact with water. The appearance of wet nails with this design will deteriorate, but to restore it you just need to dry the surface.

Removing the coating

Sooner or later, the perfect coating will require removal. Gel powder, like other coating products, requires a competent approach.

How to remove the coating:

Cut off the top layer to about half its thickness. It is important to get rid of top and sealer as much as possible, which create a dense coating;
Moisten a lint-free cloth or cotton pad with gel powder remover;
Wrap the nail and secure with a piece of foil;
Leave the remover on for 10-20 minutes and remove any remaining coating with light pulling movements.

Possible errors during removal:

The required time was not maintained, and the remover simply did not have time to act;
Preliminary cutting was carried out superficially;
Incorrect removal agent selected.

A simple technique for effective strengthening

To get the desired effect, you must follow all the points exactly:

The technique begins with degreasing the nails.
Apply the base in a thin layer.
Immediately sprinkle acrylic powder onto the base.
Then you need to use an ultraviolet lamp.
You can get rid of all excess with a special brush.
At the end, any coating is applied in the form of gel polish or regular varnish.

5 fashionable shades of manicure spring-summer 2020

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.

All criteria for the right choice

When choosing, you need to decide what result you need:

To even out the surface of the nail plate, you should give preference to camouflage powder. It is important to pay attention that its shade is natural. A light pink tone is preferred.
The transparent appearance of acrylic will help strengthen and correct the nail plates. It is also suitable for French manicure.
If you want to create a bright design, acrylic powder of any color is perfect.

Gel nail coating - instructions for beginners

When choosing this type of material, it is important to rely on your personal preferences in manicure.

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.

Rating of the best

The quality of acrylic powder is largely determined by its manufacturer. Therefore, when purchasing, it is best to take a product with a proven reputation.

Among those who professionally do manicures and nail extensions, brands such as Irisk Professional, Kodi and TNL are popular. They are easy to use and allow you to create durable and beautiful nails.

High-quality transparent powders are offered by the InGarden . So, if you are looking for a simple nail extension, then this option is perfect for you.

You can also find good products from brands such as RuNail, INM, EzFlow, Nail Systems and CND.

Glitter

Glitter is a type of sparkle, but larger in size. There is also glitter on sale - dust - sparkles crushed to the state of flour. Glitter can be classic shiny or holographic. Holographic glitter gives a multi-colored shimmer in the light.

Using glitter is no different from using sequins and depends on the desired design. For a classic decoration of a single-color coating, apply glitter to a sticky layer, dry it again in the lamp and cover it with a top coat. Use a separate brush or finish to work with glitter - the particles end up in the bottle.

Large particle glitter can be purchased from PNB, and powder glitter from TNL.

Glitter - features of the material and its use

How often to repeat the procedure?

The cementing properties of acrylic double the wear time of a manicure . With it, you will not need to correct your gel polish more often than once every 3-4 weeks. Accordingly, acrylic powder should be used with the same frequency. When performed correctly, the procedure will prevent chipping and peeling.

You should not overextend your nails, especially long ones. As the nail grows, the free edge becomes heavier, and the plate at the base remains unprotected and becomes vulnerable. The “center of gravity” shifts, which increases the likelihood of damage.

Shavings

Shavings or straws for design are dry small particles of an elongated shape, reminiscent of straws. The shavings can be colored or metallized.

The shavings can be used as an independent decorative element - just sprinkle it on the top before drying it in the lamp. Also, shavings are added to gels during the modeling process or when creating an aquarium design.