Acrylic nails - french tips

| September 22, 2009 |

When you are first starting out don’t be afraid to use help when you can. There are many different kinds of tips you can purchase that will give you beautiful pink and white acrylics. Just do a little experimenting until you find the one you like.

I love samples and have found some of my favorite products through samples. Many of the manufacturers know that samples are a great way to get you to try a product you normally might not. Don’t be afraid to call them and ask for samples, many of them are not only willing, but eager to send them to you. Even if you can’t get a free sample they may offer you a discount or special package.

Tips are one of the more common items that manufacturers love to give you samples of, I get them all the time. So ask around, make a few phone calls and you should be able to get your hand of a few different types of french tips to experiment with. I prefer the super white ones. This way i can just overlay them with clear or pink acrylic and still be able to see a crisp, white c-curve.

Using french tips are also a great way to practice your c-curve. Once the tip is glues to the nail and filed, take your white acrylic and overlay it onto the french tip and about 1/16th onto the nail plate. This will help you learn the feel of a good c-curve and strengthen the tip. Once the white acrylic is applied, use clear or pink to finish (I have posts all about how to do acrylics, just find them on the side bar for more instructions).

After you’ve done this a few times you can practice sculpting the nails with white acrylic. Don’t be afraid to use a tool to help you out, they make quite a few that will help you form a perfect c-curve. I usually just use my brush to wipe away any excess. You can decide for yourself how curved you like your smile line to be. I don’t like it to be to curved and usually try to follow the natural arch of the nail, unless my client instructs me to do otherwise. Everyone has different shaped fingers and nail plates so keep in mind that what works for one client may look ridiculous on another.