Secrets of using acrylic powder to strengthen nails

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.

What is it and what is it for?

Well-groomed women's hands with a beautiful manicure are the first sign of a woman who takes care of herself. But many girls have many problems with their nails: overgrown cuticles, hangnails or small cracks. However, with proper care, all these problems can be solved.

A layer of acrylic powder helps strengthen cracked or flaking nails. It is used in the acrylic extension process, and as a result, girls get beautiful and durable nails created artificially. This manicure lasts quite a long time, so the procedure is in demand.

Acrylic powder looks like a fine powder that is mixed with other ingredients when applied. Many people doubt that this product can be used on their nails at all. The point is the negative reviews that girls left earlier when she first appeared.

The reason is that initially in order to increase the shelf life and make the result more durable. For this purpose, methyl methacrylate was present in the composition. When combined with other elements, acrylic powder became gel-like and could harden when exposed to ultraviolet light. The powder was toxic, harmful and could cause fungus. Hence all the negativity towards such a product.

But today the composition has changed. Now the base is ethyl methacrylate. It is of better quality and, of course, safer than its predecessor.

This material mixes well into a gel mass and hardens to create durable acrylic nails. Initially, the powder allowed only transparent or white marigolds to be made. But today, experts have learned to use different colors to create interesting nail designs and simply a bright, rich manicure. In addition, you can even create three-dimensional elements on the surface of the nail plate, which also looks very unusual and original.

What are the advantages of this tool

Acrylic powder is a modern material for nail art and manicure, which has a lot of advantages:

Using this material, a woman has the opportunity to have well-groomed hands. Nails, even with extensions, look as natural as possible.
Wide range of applications, versatility in solving a wide variety of problems.
Easy to apply and use. Acrylic powder can be applied in a beauty salon, in a nail bar, at home with a private master, or independently at home.
The product is also easy to remove; the surface of the nail plate is not damaged in the process.
An incredibly large selection of colors - from transparent to the most pigmented bright red and black. This makes it possible to implement any design, no matter how original it is.
The structure is quite porous, which allows the nail plates to breathe under the dense polymer coating.
Protecting fabrics from the effects of negative environmental factors - ultraviolet rays, dirt, frost, chlorinated water and household chemicals.
Composition safe for nails. The use of acrylic powder does not cause allergic reactions, chemical intoxication or other complications in 95-97% of visitors to beauty salons. This material can be used for manicure by women of any age, even teenagers and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. However, during pregnancy and lactation, it is advisable to do an acrylic manicure not on your own, but in a salon, after making sure that the master will use only high-quality material with a safe composition.
Optimal consistency - the powder does not spread over the surface of the nail, does not clog into the side rollers, does not flow onto the cuticle, which not only spoils the appearance, but also reduces the quality and durability of the manicure.
Increased strength of the material, which not only helps protect nails, but also extends the “life” of the manicure. For a long time, the coating made of acrylic powder does not split, crack, delaminate, or undergo other damage. Therefore, a woman can count on the fact that a manicure made with acrylic powder will last as long as necessary, and will look great all this time.
If acrylic powder is used, you can always repair or correct the manicure. If the surface of the polymer coating is damaged for some reason (cracked, chipped), you can sign up for correction and correct the defect.
As the nails grow, corrective measures can be carried out without removing the main layer of coating. Thanks to this, the nails experience less stress and are not subject to unnecessary stress.
To use acrylic powder, you do not need to have a special drying lamp. This distinguishes this material from shellac and gel polish, which are also used to strengthen nails and manicure.
The consumption of acrylic powder is quite economical. Experts say that 20 grams of powder is enough to carry out 20 to 30 procedures to strengthen or extend nails. Half of this amount of the drug is enough to make from 10 to 15 colored Frenchies.
The powder is available in packages of different sizes, which is very convenient both from an economic point of view and in terms of ease of use. Small jars are suitable for use at home, while large jars are an excellent solution for salons with high customer traffic.
Working with acrylic powder does not take much time. Hardening, that is, polymerization of the material, takes a few minutes, especially if you use powder marked high speed, which dries faster than others. However, you have to work with such material very quickly; it must be used by people with appropriate qualifications.

Disadvantages of the material

There are not too many disadvantages of acrylic powder, but you need to know about them when deciding whether or not to use this material for manicure:

When working with some types of acrylic powder, a sharp, very unpleasant odor may arise, which can even be intoxicating. Therefore, this substance should only be used in a well-ventilated area and using a medical mask. However, today such products are becoming less and less common on sale; they are being actively replaced by acrylic powders, which have a neutral odor.
This substance is quite expensive, which often discourages those who want to get an acrylic manicure. However, it is worth considering that one jar of powder lasts a long time, especially when it comes to manicure at home.
You need to work with diluted acrylic powder quickly, otherwise you will not be able to do without the need to redo the result. The average hardening time of the acrylic mass is half a minute.
The acrylic mass may chip off the nail plate. However, the main reason for such troubles is the inexperience or negligence of the master who did the manicure.
Strengthening and extending nails using acrylic mass can take a long time - approximately 1.5-2 hours. The duration of the procedure depends on the qualifications of the master and the complexity of finishing techniques. However, it should be borne in mind that the procedure is performed quite rarely - once every few weeks, so its duration should not cause much inconvenience.
The nail plate may be injured during the process of removing the material. This problem also arises due to inexperience and lack of skill in handling abrasive tools and cutters.

Acrylic powder has no other disadvantages, so it is widely used both in beauty salons and at home, making women's lives more comfortable.

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

Types of acrylic material for strengthening nails and manicure

There are several types of acrylic powder, each of which has its own application in manicure and nail care. The main types of this material:

Universal transparent powder. This powder has a wide range of uses, but is mainly used to strengthen the nail plate, as well as to build up (lengthen) natural nails. If we consider the function of transparent acrylic powder in decorative manicure, then it is excellent for performing the French technique. You can add a variety of pigments to the transparent mass, giving it the desired shade, varying the color saturation. Additives such as glitter, rhinestones and other decorative elements can also be used. The finish of transparent powder can be either glossy or matte.
Camouflage acrylic powder, usually in a flesh-colored, close to natural shade. It is used mainly to hide aesthetic defects, irregularities, and damage to the structure of the nail plates. This material is slightly denser than transparent powder. But it is distinguished by excellent plasticity, pliability, and flexibility. This allows you to effectively strengthen the weakest nail plates.
Colored product - used to strengthen nails and at the same time for design and decoration.
Neon powder - used for decorative holiday nail coating.
Preparation for finishing coating. This material is used to give a manicure a finished look, achieve the desired aesthetic effect, and give the coating shine and gloss. This powder models well, is easy and pleasant to work with, and can be easily processed with professional tools.

How to choose

If you are a beginner and don’t know whether to choose biogel or acrylic, consult experienced professionals on the forums. Before ordering any products, read reviews in online stores for the highest-rated products from well-known brands, watch video reviews and master classes from bloggers. Experiment with different manufacturers to find the right product for you.

It will be easier to decide on the type if you understand in advance for what purpose the powder will be used:

Strengthening and building. When the nail plate has no external flaws, ordinary transparent acrylic powder is suitable for home and professional use. It can be used to create classic manicures and French manicures. Camouflage powder is an excellent solution for problematic nails with unevenness and spots.
Design. For lovers of nail art, it is better to buy several types of different colors, with sparkles or neon. You can mix them with each other and surprise others with a new manicure every time.
Professional goals. Every self-respecting master should have several types of acrylic powder. In such cases, it is better to buy a set from a well-known brand, because the price will be significantly lower.

Checking the quality of a product is not difficult:

Before buying, look at the name of the company and the country of production so as not to stumble upon a fake or defect.
The material should not have an overly strong chemical odor.
When applying powder over your base coat, be careful not to smudge or form bumps. If this happens, most likely you are looking at a fake.

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.

What you need to use acrylic powder

Working with the drug, as with any other material for nail art, requires a certain set of tools. If you want to use the substance at home, you can buy a ready-made kit or purchase what is listed below separately.

A set of necessary tools and materials for working with acrylic powder:

Powder of the type you need.
A liquid used to dilute acrylic powder. It is called liquid and is a monomer containing plasticizers. The liquid does not change the original shade of the substance.
Primer and nail bonder. The use of a primer will allow you to obtain a durable coating, as well as eliminate microorganisms living on the nails, and prevent the development of fungal infections of the nail plates. The primer can be acidic or non-acidic. The first one is suitable if a woman’s hands often sweat. It has drying properties. The second is used if the condition of the nails leaves much to be desired. It optimizes the structure of thin and sensitive nail plates. The bonder will create roughness, which will promote better adhesion of materials.
A special brush that has a flat shape.
Forms for nail extensions (if you plan to carry out such procedures).
Special files, buffs, which will be used as a material for polishing.
A liquid that can be used to degrease the nail plates, thus preparing them for the application of acrylic powder. If you do not use a degreaser, the adhesion (adhesion) of the material to the nail surface will not be of sufficient quality.
It is important to buy all tools and materials exclusively from official retail outlets and trusted sites. Otherwise, you can easily get a counterfeit, expired, or simply low-quality product that will not give the desired effect and can be harmful to health.

How to use acrylic powder to strengthen your nails

To simply strengthen your nails without significantly changing the shape and size of the plates, you need to act in the following sequence:

A day before the procedure, you need to do a regular hygienic manicure. That is, wash your hands, straighten the length of the nails, adjust the shape with a brush, trim the cuticle and keratinized tissue on the sides of the nails. Don't forget to disinfect your tools first.
Degrease the surface using a special liquid or regular alcohol.
Apply a primer that will help improve the durability of your manicure.
Apply a base, you can use the one used in combination with gel polish.
Take a piece of paper and place your fingers over it. Using a small spatula, scoop up the powder and sprinkle it onto the wet base coat. Dry this layer using an LED or UV lamp. Pour the remaining crumbled powder back into the jar. The procedure can be carried out directly over the container with powder, then you do not have to pour the powder.
If necessary, if the nails are very weak and brittle, you can make not one, but several layers of acrylic powder. After this, the surface is sanded and a final pigmented coating is applied.
The second, simpler way to strengthen nails without using a drying lamp is to apply acrylic mass (powder diluted with liquid) to the prepared surface, carefully level it, and give the mass the desired shape. Then, when the substance has hardened, polish it and coat it with a finish.
To strengthen nails, it is not necessary to apply the material to the entire surface. In some cases, you can apply the drug only to the free edge and side edges. This way you can save powder and protect your nails if they tend to break constantly.

Why acrylic strengthens nails, its effect

The ability of acrylic to fill voids was originally discovered by dentists. It is this unique material that is used for fillings, filling holes in teeth. In the same way, the plastic substance fills the cracks of the nail plate, restoring its structure. The porous material does not seal the nail with an impenetrable film, but allows air to pass through, allowing it to “breathe.”

Acrylic nail powder under a microscope

Acrylic fluid mass fills all the smallest chips, evens out the surface of the nail, prevents its fragility and delamination, and increases strength. The coating plays the role of armor, preserving the integrity of the nail and protecting it from external influences. At the same time, the natural appearance of the nail is preserved.

Acrylic powder is also used to improve the adhesion of the nail surface to gel polish and other coatings, as well as the adhesion of the layers to each other. This ensures the durability of the decorative manicure. For strengthening, a transparent type of powder is used, so the color shades of the coating are not distorted.

The strengthening properties of acrylic are especially appreciated by those with brittle nails. Today, this is the only opportunity for them to have a reliable manicure.

How to use this nail extension product

Acrylic powder can be used for extensions, which will also provide additional strengthening of the nail plates. However, a little difficulty may arise during the extension process. The fact is that this material loses its plasticity in air, that is, it dries out, which complicates all manipulations. Therefore, experts strongly recommend that before carrying out the first extension, you need to practice on a mock-up and gain the necessary experience and get better at it.

Sequence of steps for nail extension with acrylic powder:

Wash your hands and do the usual hygienic manicure as described above (one day before extensions).
Degrease the nail plates and let dry.
Apply nail primer and let air dry.
Apply bonder (a preparation used to bond natural nails and artificial material), dry this layer using a drying lamp.
Pour some liquid, which serves to dissolve acrylic powder, into a small container. You can use a glass.
Fix the nail plate extension forms in the correct position.
Dip the tip of the brush into the liquid and then into the powder jar to pick up a small amount.
Quickly apply the mixture to the surface of the nail, using a brush to evenly distribute the substance, including over the fixed extension form. All movements must be precise, since the time for correction is limited, the acrylic mixture begins to thicken and harden.
As soon as the extension procedure is completed, the forms must be carefully removed and the nails brought to the desired look using nail files and a buff. Extended nails made from acrylic powder can be removed by filing.

What is it for?

Modern manicure with acrylic powder includes design, extension and strengthening of the nail plate mechanically. To create marigolds, so-called transparent powder is used, the grains of which actually have a white tint. If for some reason the gel polish breaks off or a crack appears on the nail plate, the powder creates good adhesion between the coatings, ensuring strength.

The pliable material is mixed into a plastic gel mass and hardens, forming a durable nail that is resistant to external factors. When used correctly, it does not peel off. Able to hide and even out some damage to the nail plate. You can create an unusual design with acrylic powder on your nails using different colors, glitter or voluminous elements.

Strengthening nails with acrylic powder

Possible options for removing acrylic manicure

If your nails are extended, the preferred way to return them to their original state is to file them down. To do this, you can use regular abrasive files or resort to cutting using a special device.

If you used acrylic powder as a coating to strengthen your nails, then you can remove it using a more harsh method - by soaking it with a special solvent. You can first cut off a thin layer of coating so that the solvent acts faster. Then you need to act like this:

Take five cotton pads and cut each one in half.
Soak the discs with a special acrylic-dissolving liquid (you can buy it where you purchased the powder).
Apply half of the disc to each nail, making sure that the cotton wool soaked in liquid does not come into contact with the skin of your fingers.
Secure the discs with pieces of regular foil. Or use special nail tips for this purpose. Wait 10-20 minutes.
Remove one disc and treat the nail with a soft orange stick, removing any remaining product from the plate. Only after this can you begin to cleanse the second nail and all subsequent ones. Those nails that are awaiting treatment should be under the disc and foil (tip).
After the procedure for removing the acrylic layer is completed, you need to wash your hands and apply a restorative agent to the cuticles and nails.

How to remove acrylic coating

Removing acrylic coating from nails requires caution so as not to damage the nail plate. To do this, you should use remover - a special composition for dissolving acrylic.

To remove acrylic coating you need:

Carefully trim the extensions.
File off the finishing layer with a manicure file.
Apply a cotton pad soaked in remover to each nail.
Secure the cotton wool with foil caps for 20-25 minutes.
Alternately removing the foil and cotton wool from your fingers, use special sticks to remove the softened composition.
If necessary, remove the residue with a nail file or buff, and polish the nail.
Apply nourishing cream to your nails.

You can simply dip your nails in remover, but if exposed for too long, skin irritation may occur.

The popularity of acrylic nail powder is due to the combination of beautiful design, benefits for nails and relative ease of application. Strengthening, extending and decorating nails with its help can be carried out even by inexperienced nail technicians at home, following the instructions of professionals.

Author: Dana Pyatak

Article design: Vladimir the Great

Is it possible to extend the service life of acrylic powder?

Using acrylic powder to strengthen, build or design and decorate nails is not a cheap pleasure. Even if you carry out the procedure yourself, without going to a beauty salon. And the cost of services of a good specialist is even higher. Therefore, women who often use acrylic powder for manicure begin to wonder if it is possible to somehow extend the time during which this protective and decorative material stays on the surface of the nails. Indeed, careful handling and care can ensure that the coating lasts much longer. What you can do:

Try not to expose your nails to any chemical or natural, but aggressive substances. If you wash floors or dishes by hand, always use thick rubber gloves.
Do not expose your nail plates to mechanical stress. This means that you should not use your nails as a scratching tool or for other similar purposes.
Do not expose your nail plates to sudden temperature changes. For example, you should not immerse your hands that were in hot water into ice water, otherwise the acrylic coating may crack.

By following these simple recommendations, you won't have to worry about your acrylic manicure cracking or fading.

Pigment

Pigment or pollen is a colored powder used to give nails or material the desired shade. The pigment can be applied directly to the nails or added to gel polish, gel paint and acrylic powder.

Happens:

color;
shimmery;
fluorescent;
magnetic – for cat manicure;
neon.

Rubbing, which is a type of pigment, is considered a separate type.

When used independently, the pigment is applied to a dried layer of gel polish with a sticky layer. A small amount of pigment is poured onto the surface, after which it is rubbed with an applicator, sponge or finger. Covered with a top.

Pigment manufacturers: Irisk, CND.

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.

TOP 5 best professional powders

The price of a small jar of acrylic powder from a well-known company can scare away a novice craftsman. But nail art professionals strongly recommend purchasing products only from trusted brands. Firstly, the powder is used sparingly, and a small container lasts a long time.

Secondly, by buying cheap Asian powders, you can not only get a poor-quality coating, but also cause harm to your health. The fact is that they still use toxic methyl methacrylate, which is banned in many countries. Reputable companies use safe ethyl methacrylate.

Low-quality powder has an intense chemical smell. When used, it bulges and blurs, and the adhesion of such powder to the nail is unreliable.

For high-quality nail art, you need reliable powder. Products from the brands TNL, Kodi, InGarden, Essie, INM, Irisk Professional, and CND have proven themselves well.

The TOP 5 acrylic powders include:

Transparent – produced by INM;
Camouflage – Irisk Professional;
Camouflage – TNL;
Color – Kodi;
Glitter – InGarden.

Products of popular brands are presented in many Russian online stores.

User reviews about acrylic powder

Acrylic powder and the advisability of using it to strengthen nails is one of the most discussed topics in the field of nail art. This drug receives many reviews, mostly contradictory and ambiguous. Fans of acrylic, as well as masters who prefer to work with this material, claim that the nail plates are well protected, acrylic-based manicures last well, and extended nails have natural flexibility and at the same time increased strength. Additional positive feedback arises regarding the fact that manicure can be adjusted without completely removing the previously applied material.

Negative comments mainly concern the following points:

Pathogenic microorganisms multiply under the dense coating, and there is a high probability of infection with a fungal disease.
Acrylic material strengthens nails, but in the process of removing it, which is carried out using fairly aggressive methods, the tissues are damaged and require some time to rest and recover. Therefore, after removing the persistent coating, you should not do a new manicure or wear long nails for a couple of weeks.
Acrylic powder is often counterfeited, as the product is very popular. In addition, if a manicure is performed in a salon or nail bar, it is not always possible to control the quality and safety of the materials used.

As you can see, both fans and defenders of this material have significant arguments in defense of their opinion. All you have to do is weigh the pros and cons, and, if the decision is positive, experiment with this substance at home or sign up for a procedure at a beauty salon.