Nail extension with forms and tips at home. Step-by-step instruction

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• 08-01-2019
• Author: Mysekret Team
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Nail extension is the modeling of natural nails in order to correct existing defects. Extension also means artificially increasing the length of nails.

What you need for gel nail extensions

Artificial nails do not lose their presentable appearance for a long time - gel nails are worn on average for 3 weeks without adjustment. Gel nail extensions require the use of additional materials and special devices. A good master has the entire necessary arsenal of extension products - in the salon you can choose the type of gel, manicure shape, color and texture of the coating.

Materials

It is not enough to buy gel for nail plate extensions. In addition to it, many additional products are used, without which it is impossible to create a beautiful and durable manicure. Any nail extension materials store offers customers gel manicure products:

• Gel. This substance has an elastic, jelly-like consistency and can be clear, white or pink. Single-phase, two-phase, three-phase gels are used - they may contain components that strengthen nails, protect against fungus, etc.
• Tips. This is the name for artificial nail plates that are attached with glue. Tips are made of transparent plastic, they are very thin and strong. The overlays have all sorts of shapes and lengths, which the master and the client select individually.
• Primer. This product, the so-called “cosmetics for nail extensions”, is used in the process of preparing the nail plates for the purpose of effective bonding with the overlay. There are acidic and acid-free primers, the second is considered safe and more effective.
• Degreaser. Before using the primer, the nails are prepared - degreased using a special alcohol-based composition.
• Forms. There are disposable and reusable templates designed to hold the shaping gel. After the gel base has hardened, the mold is removed from under it. Disposable templates are made of paper, foil, and polymer. Reusable ones come in plastic or metal. Any type of template implies the possibility of modeling, giving the desired shape to the future manicure.
• Napkins. A consumable material that can be used to wipe the plate after using a primer or degreaser is manicure wipes, which are made from lint-free raw materials.
• Finish gel. This product fixes all layers of varnish and gives the finished coating shine.
• Cuticle oil. After extensions, it is important to use oil, which will make the cuticle soft and prevent it from drying out.

Nail extension tools

During the procedure, the master uses special tools that help perform the job accurately. Devices used in the extension process:

• Files. You can give your natural or artificial nails the desired shape with a nail file. It is advisable to have several of these tools with varying degrees of abrasiveness - to model the shape, create a smooth and shiny texture.
• UV lamp. This device is an integral attribute of a nail salon; it helps to harden the gel base and dry the coating. UV lamps have different powers - up to 36 W are used at home, and more powerful ones are used in nail salons.
• Buff. A convenient and multifunctional bar in the hands of a master - buff - grinds and polishes artificial and natural nail plates. Each of the four sides of the foam base has a different finish - for filing, sanding or polishing.
• Wire cutters. A tool used to model the shape of artificial plates. With the help of nippers you can easily remove excess from tips or hardened gel.
• Cuticle pusher. A double-sided tool, at one end of which there is a spatula that pushes back the cuticle, at the other there is a hatchet that separates dead tissue.
• Orange sticks. A universal manicure tool - use an orange wood stick to push back the cuticle, stick on rhinestones, apply a pattern and remove any remaining gel.
• Brushes. The gel is applied to the form or tip using a synthetic brush that has flat bristles. Using brushes of different thicknesses, model the base and apply a design.
• Boat. This is what nippers for cutting tips are called. Using a cutter, you can remove an excess piece of overlay in one movement without damaging the entire work.
• Brush. During the sawing process, a lot of dust is generated, which can ruin subsequent work. You can remove excess with a miniature brush.

Auxiliary tools and basic consumables

In addition to the main devices, such as a lamp, a manicure machine and gels, the master also purchases auxiliary and consumable materials - they need to be regularly updated and replenished, so at the first stage there is no need to completely fill the desk drawers, it is enough to select the essentials in the amount of 5-6 pieces per item.

Types of consumables:

• gloves – 1 box. A master who works with gloves not only ensures safety for himself, but also shows respect for the client;
• masks – 1 pack. Masks are used not only to protect against viruses - they also need to be worn when working with the device, since fine dust from the nail being filed scatters throughout the office;
• brush for removing dust. Wiping the table with a cloth will not be enough; fine dust gets clogged into the manicure machine and other areas;
• cotton pads. It is better to choose discs and, in addition to them, lint-free wipes. Before you do your first manicure, it is recommended to test them on yourself, since even the smallest particle of lint can greatly spoil the design and complicate the task;
• nail polish remover;
• acid-free primer;
• rubber base;
• cuticle oil.

Also, consumables are purchased for nail design - glitter, rubbing, rhinestones and sliders of different colors.

What you need for acrylic extensions

The next method of nail extension is acrylic mass. This material requires high professionalism from the master, since it hardens within a couple of minutes. During this time, it is necessary to create the desired form, which is difficult to correct later. A manicure made using this technology is durable and elastic - its base does not crack with strong bends and does not lose its appearance for 3-4 weeks without adjustment.

Tools

When working on acrylic manicure, special tools are used. Many of them are also used when working with gel materials, but in the case of acrylic their functionality may be different. Accessories and products for acrylic nail extensions:

• Orange stick. It is used to move the cuticle away from the nail plate; a pusher spatula is used for the same purpose. The latter is equipped with a hatchet at the other end, which is used to cut off excess skin.
• Tips and glue for them. Artificial nail plates - tips - can have different shapes and sizes, and you can choose the right ones for any type of nails. Tips must be fixed and repaired (cracks removed) using cyanoacrylate-based glue.
• Forms or patterns. To apply acrylic mass to nails, they are lengthened using forms made of paper, plastic or metal. After the base has hardened, the molds are removed - some of them are thrown away after use, reusable ones are used again after disinfection.
• Type cutter or boat. This device is used to trim the tips before they are coated.
• The brush for applying acrylic is made from natural materials - sable, mink or marten fur. To prevent acrylic particles from sticking to the hairs, the products are impregnated with a special composition. The shape of the brushes is different, most often flat or round.
• Files and buff. Devices that give shape to natural or artificial nails.
• Nail scissors. A tool with sharp thin blades is used to trim the cuticle; with a tool with wide blades, nails are cut. There are also universal nail scissors.
• A brush for removing dust is a mandatory attribute of a nail salon.

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List of materials for acrylic nail extensions

Acrylic nails are made using special materials. Many of them are similar to those used when working with gel:

• Acrylic mass. The base of the artificial plate is made from a mixture of acrylic powder and a low-molecular substance - monomer (liquid). After mixing the selected components, the master applies them to the prepared templates, and after a while the acrylic hardens.
• Dehydrator and primer. These compositions are used in extensions of any type of nails. A dehydrator serves to prepare the nail plate for extensions - it degreases the surface and removes any contamination. The primer is applied after the degreaser - the liquid enhances the adhesion of the artificial material to the nail.
• Liquid for rinsing brushes from acrylic powder is a necessary element of the nail extension procedure. The master periodically rinses the brush in the solution, which helps maintain the elasticity of the bristles while working.
• Finishing gel – to fix the color coating and give it a uniform glossy shine.
• Cuticle oil is necessary to ensure that the thin skin around the nail plate does not dry out.

Sterilization and disinfection of instruments

The key to the health of the master and clients is the correct, high-quality processing of all tools, so this step should not be neglected. It may seem to a novice craftsman that simply treating scissors and tweezers with an alcohol-based disinfectant solution is a sufficient measure, but this is not the case.

Anyone who wants to become a professional and do manicures for clients on an occasional basis should have in their arsenal special chemical solutions, as well as a dry-heat cabinet or a UV sterilizer.

At the very beginning, it is enough to use a disinfectant like Optimax Prof.

A complete set of tools and devices for high-quality sterilization of work equipment:

• disinfectant solution marked “for treating surfaces and instruments;
• hand sanitizer – the hands of the master and the client are treated before the procedure begins;
• box for pre-processing scissors and nippers;
• gloves - put on before starting processing;
• craft bags with adhesive base for sealing clean instruments;
• face masks or respirator. Protects the respiratory system from fine dust that appears when working with a router.

This may seem like an impressive list, and at the very beginning of work you can do without these devices, but this is not so. The better the master takes care of cleanliness and safety, the higher the level of service he provides, so you should set the quality bar high from the very beginning and not lower it.

How to choose the right UV lamp

Gel-based nail extension equipment includes an ultraviolet lamp. This device is also used to secure certain types of coatings. The performance of the master and the quality of the finished manicure depend on the power and type of UV lamp. Today such a device can be bought in an online store or shopping center. Selection rules:

• For home use, you can choose a lamp with a power of 24 to 36 W. This parameter affects the polymerization time of the composition. The higher it is, the faster the gel or varnish will harden. Professional devices have a power of 36 W.
• For a beginner, it is better to choose an inexpensive fluorescent lamp rather than an LED lamp - the latter option is used only for certain types of materials.
• What matters is the type of lamp ignition - with an electronic or induction circuit. The first method makes the device cheaper, but is considered less reliable - the lamp may fail when there is a voltage drop in the network. The second option involves using a starter, which extends the life of the device.
• It is convenient if the llama has additional functions - a fan for quick drying of the varnish, a timer.

Ready-made starter kits - pros and cons

If you enter the request “Buy a starter kit for nail design” into a search engine, Google and Yandex will return thousands of relevant pages with offers to buy budget starter kits, but this is not the best idea for a novice master.

IMPORTANT! The main reason why you should not purchase a ready-made set made in China is its low quality. To attract buyers, manufacturers fill the set with cheap, low-quality goods and set an attractive price.

The right way is to independently purchase the necessary equipment and consumables according to the checklist that you will find in this article. The online store pilitte.com always has the necessary tools and consumables in stock. It is enough to decide on the direction in nail design and collect the necessary base.

How to choose files for a beginner

The manicurist has a large assortment of nail files. These devices have varying degrees of abrasiveness, which is measured in grits. The rougher the instrument, the lower the number of grits it has. Files of 80 – 180 grits are used only for processing artificial plates, 180 – 240 – for natural nails. There are files with a grit of 240 - 500 grit - they are used for grinding, and over 1000 - for polishing. The file is a consumable item and quickly becomes unusable, so it’s worth ordering a set.

General recommendations for beginners when purchasing a starter tool kit

To make starting work as easy as possible, the master should take care in advance of having all the necessary materials, but most importantly, check their quality. Saving is not the best option when it comes to providing nail design services, especially if you want to develop a base of regular customers.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION! Cheap gels and bases do not stick well to the nails, causing chips and cracks to form - all this contributes to customer dissatisfaction, which is best avoided. In addition, materials of the middle or high price category are much easier to work with - they “lay” on the base easier and more beautifully, dry faster and hold up well.

In addition to cost, you should pay attention to such characteristics as; expiration date, presence of markings with the batch number and manufacturer, integrity of the packaging, as well as the presence of a warranty card.

The easiest option is to purchase a complete starter kit, but this is not recommended - most often such kits are of dubious quality and are produced in cheap factories in China.

A good way is to assemble the first set yourself, taking into account the chosen direction in nail design, the season and the expected number of first clients.

Price

Materials for nail extensions may vary in cost, it all depends on the composition, brand and specific outlet. In the catalogs of manicure accessories in Moscow stores, products are sold at the following prices: