What is the difference between a primer, a bonder and a nail dehydrator? Is there a difference?

Modern technologies for treating nails and applying artificial decorative coatings are aimed at preserving the final result for as long as possible. Even ordinary varnish can last more than a week with proper preparatory work on the nail plate, which does not require professionalism and experience at home, but only the use of high-quality products, among which a dehydrator occupies an important place. It is logical to assume that many will be interested in the question: “What is a nail dehydrator for?”

Primer application

A high-quality, long-lasting manicure, both in a salon and at home, cannot be done without the use of special degreasing products for the nail plate, the most popular of which are dehydrators and primers. Their use allows you to completely remove any dirt, excess moisture from the nail, disinfect and degrease the surface. The use of these products is relevant not only for gel and acrylic nail extensions, but also for the usual application of decorative varnish.

Applying decorative varnish

What is a nail bonder?

This product is used to better bond the nail plate to the artificial one and improve the quality of application. The substance has a gel consistency. The bond must be carefully applied with a regular brush. It is important to avoid contact of the substance with the skin, since the aggressive chemical composition can cause irritation.

Ultrabond is considered an important product used in nail extensions. Its main properties include the following:

1. It is applied to the nail plate after the primer, which is a gentle primer.
2. Features a sticky gel-like texture.
3. Provides reliable bonding of artificial material to the nail.
4. Needs to be dried in an ultraviolet lamp.

Is it possible to combine the use of a primer and a dehydrator?

Nail technicians may often hear questions from their clients who want to do their own manicures: Is it possible to mix a dehydrator and a primer? There is only one answer: it makes no sense!

The fact is that these two products, even in their pure form, can perfectly cope with their task, preparing the nail for the application of basic manicure products. The main thing is to use high-quality products that have a natural composition and do not have irritating components that can cause a negative reaction when faced with damaged skin.

Interesting! To understand which product will be more effective in your individual case, you can do a small experiment: apply a primer to the nails of one hand, and a dehydrator on the other. After 1-2 weeks, you can notice the results and effectiveness of the products.

For the nuances of using nail primer, watch the video:

What is a primer?

This term refers to a product that improves the adhesion of the natural nail plate and artificial material. The composition is most often used in the case of nail extensions with an acrylic system.

Also, women with capricious nails need a primer. It is used when the humidity of the plate is high, which is surrounded by many sweat glands. At the same time, the nails remain constantly wet. Therefore, even after a short period of time, many detachments appear on them.

In this case, primers are acidic and acid-free. The first category includes methacrylic acid, which makes the surface of the nails more porous and slightly raises their scales. Thanks to this, the artificial layer holds better.

There are no dangerous components in the acid-free primer. It is suitable even for those with sensitive nail plates. The composition is also safe for the cuticle and adjacent areas of the skin.

What is a dehydrator used for?

This product is recommended to be used to remove moisture. It is important to consider that there is a certain amount of moisture on the nail plates. It is a kind of film that improves the appearance of the plates. However, it will not be possible to attach artificial material to a wet surface. If you do this, after a short period of time the coating will simply fall off. To prevent this from happening, you need to use a dehydrator.

Why do you need a degreaser?

A common product that is often used to perform a manicure is a degreaser. This composition is designed to remove oil and dirt from nails.

It's no secret that during human life, the sebaceous glands produce a certain amount of fat. This helps prevent the surface from drying out and protects the skin from negative environmental influences. However, synthetic materials have difficulty adhering to oily surfaces. After some time, this leads to peeling of the coating.

Expert opinion

Karnaukh Ekaterina Vladimirovna

Graduated from the National University of Shipbuilding, majoring in Enterprise Economics

To avoid such problems, surfaces are degreased before fixing the artificial material. Typically, cosmetic products contain liquids with acetone, which help get rid of oil on the nails.

Answers to questions from a nail technician

The nail plate, roughly speaking, consists of a “layer of fat” that does not allow the base coat to adhere well, and preserves a beautiful, expensive manicure only for a few days. To avoid such unpleasant situations, you need to know all the features of proper application of products before coating, and also rely on the best advice from specialists who can boast of extensive experience.

The primer dries out my nails. What to replace it with?

Unfortunately, not all nail products, just like cosmetics, are ideal for every woman. Dry nails after primer are a fairly common problem. To avoid it, you can use a dehydrator, which does not have such a strong effect on the nails, but still prepares the nail plate for the main procedure.

If exactly the same reaction occurs to a dehydrator, you can use folk remedies, in particular table vinegar. It is enough to distribute it on a cotton pad and wipe each nail with it. He quickly disinfects the plate, dries it a little, and prepares it for manicure. Table vinegar is used in minimal quantities.

Important! You must first do an allergy test, because vinegar can be an allergenic substance for many.

Can I replace a nail dehydrator with alcohol?

Sometimes even a dehydrator causes a negative reaction in the body and requires replacement, and sometimes it is simply not available at the right time. What to do in such a situation? The dehydrator can indeed be replaced with medical alcohol, but experts do not recommend doing this regularly. The fact is that any analogs dry out the nail plate as much as possible, as a result of which the acid-base balance of the nails is disrupted. If you do this rarely and only when necessary, you can avoid negative consequences.

What is the difference?

The funds under consideration have many characteristic features. This must be taken into account when choosing a specific option.

Purpose

Many people try to replace nail products with each other. Doing this is strictly prohibited, since all compounds have their own unique purpose and differ in tasks. Thus, the primer is used to fluff up the nail plate and scales. This helps prevent bacterial growth.

However, the dehydrator has a different purpose. In order for the use of funds to give the desired result, it is important to know what and when to use:

1. To do an ordinary manicure with classic varnish, a degreaser must be used. However, it should be used immediately before the start of the procedure.
2. When extending nail plates with acrylic, there is no need for a degreaser. In such a situation, it is worth using an acid primer. It is also permissible to use a bond or dehydrator.
3. If the extension is done with gel, a degreaser may also not be required. However, it will not be possible to do without a primer in such a situation.

Compound

The products under consideration have different compositions. In this case, all primers are divided into 2 categories - acidic and acid-free. The first category includes methacrylic acid. This remedy helps open the scales of the nail plate. Thanks to this, it becomes rougher, which improves the fixation of modeling materials.

The acid-free primer is an ultrabond that does not contain methacrylic acid. Its base is the solvent – ​​ethyl acetate. The main ingredient of the dehydrator is an organic solvent - butyl acetate, which effectively removes moisture from the surface of the nails.

Application

When performing a manicure, the products are applied in the following order:

• degreaser – removes sebum and nail cuttings;
• dehydrator – helps get rid of excess moisture;
• primer – has a drying and adhesive effect;
• Bonder – increases the adhesion of the natural nail plate to the coating;
• base;
• colored varnish;
• top

When using substances, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Before purchasing, study the label to determine the compatibility of the product with other materials. Some substances can only be used for gel or acrylic.
2. Do not apply the composition in more than 2 layers. Each new layer of the product presses harmful components into the plate. They do not evaporate or wash away, but are absorbed into the nail bed and penetrate the bloodstream.
3. If a burning sensation occurs in the nail plate or nearby, be sure to rinse the area with running water. Such symptoms may appear due to hypersensitivity. If measures are not taken in time, there is a risk of burns.
4. The product must be applied in a neat and thin layer. It is important to avoid contact with skin.

Drying

The products in question are dried in different ways - in air or in a lamp. Recommendations are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

What is the difference between a dehydrator and a nail primer?

There really are differences between a dehydrator and a primer, and it’s worth knowing about them before choosing one or another product. They differ from each other not only in composition and cost, but also in the characteristics of their impact. Let's look at how one product differs from another, and what they have in common:

• Statistically, using a primer results in longer lasting manicure integrity when compared to a dehydrator.
• Both products are applied before the base coat to degrease and dry the nail plate.
• The primer protects the nail plate from harmful chemical compounds, as well as from various viruses, bacteria and microbes that can form after an unsuccessful manicure with cuts.
• After applying the dehydrator to the surface, the nail plate remains unchanged, but after the primer it becomes noticeably rougher.

The difference between a dehydrator and a primer is obvious, and based on the comparison obtained, we can conclude that the primer is a more effective and reliable means for strengthening the nail plate.

Important! The primer and dehydrator dry without exposure to ultraviolet rays, so there is no need to heat them in a lamp.

comparison table

The main features of the ones under consideration are given in the table: