Acrylic nails - application part 4

| October 2, 2011 |

The best way to apply acrylic is by forming a small ball on your brush and placing it near the back cuticle edge. Leave about 1/16 of an inch around the cuticle area. This will give you enough room to file everything thin and flush. If you can feel any edge it may catch and lift the entire nail. Once you start in the back, move your acrylic towards the free edge or extension until the product has covered the nail.

If you are applying tips, you need to do this before you follow the nail prep instructions. Choose the tip with the best fit, file it as needed and use glue to apply it to the natural nail. Then lightly file the tip, being careful to avoid filing the natural nail bed. You want the tip to be almost flush with the natural nail. The acrylic will fill in the difference. Once the tip has been applied and filed, prep the nail in the same way we learned to prep the natural nail.

If you are sculpting the nails then follow the natural nail preparation. Prime the nail if required, then fit the finger with your form of choice. I usually do one finger at a time. I apply the form and once it’s right I apply the product. I find that if you try to fit all the forms first you will just frustrate yourself and waste time, as the forms will never stay. First form the extension, most nail techs choose to use white powder and create a clean smile line. I’ll have a special post on that soon. Once the extension is created, overlay the product starting at the back of the nail and move towards the free edge/extension.

I know this seems tough and there are a lot of rules to follow, but you will get the hang of it. If you have applied the acrylic correctly you will have very little filing to do followed by a little buffing. You can then apply polish or buff to a high shine.