What Is Acrylic Liquid?
Acrylic nails (also known as false nails) have become one of the most popular trends in the beauty industry. They’re a true fashion statement because they look beautiful on everyone and they’re extremely strong with amazing lasting power, which means that you will have long and beautiful nails that won’t break or chip for a longer period of time. But, what is in acrylic nails and how are they made?
Acrylics are artificial nail enhancements that are made by mixing acrylic liquid and powder together, or as nail technicians commonly call them – monomer and polymer respectively. These two products combined together will form a soft ball that can be easily made into different nail shapes that can be either oval, almond, square, coffin, or stiletto. When the nail technicians apply the acrylic to their clients’ nails, the material will quickly harden and become solid, and then it can be filed and buffed to the client’s liking.
Acrylic liquid is basically the most essential ingredient used in acrylic manicures, and when it is mixed with a polymer powder, it can give you gorgeous nails with a smooth finish that are impossible to chip. But, do you know who created the first acrylics? Acrylic nails as we know them today were invented in 1934 by Maxwell Lappe. He was a dentist from Chicago who created artificial nails to help his patients to stop biting their nails. However, this type of acrylic nails looked very fake and thick. Later, another dentist Stuart Nordstrom developed the liquid and powder system that is most used by nail technicians even today. In the 1970s, dr. Nordstrom even created his own company CND, a beloved nail brand that is still in use nowadays.
How to Do Acrylic Nails at Home
Now that you know what acrylic liquid is, you might want to give acrylic nails a try. Obviously, the best thing to do is to have them professionally applied at a renowned nail salon, but if you want to, you can also do your own acrylic nails at home. With the right products and tools and a bit of practice, you can learn how to do your own acrylic nails at the comfort of your own home. First, you will have to buy a high-quality acrylic nail kit from a good brand – the kit should contain an acrylic liquid, powder, and a brush. You will also need a few other supplies like nail clippers, files, nail tip glue, acrylic bowls to mix the liquid and powder, nail primer, nail dehydrator, and an acrylic brush. Next thing you need to do is to prepare your nails by removing any old nail polish, trimming your nails, and buffing them. Use a nail dehydrator and when it’s dry after a couple of minutes, apply nail primer that will get your nails ready for the acrylics. Then, take the acrylic nails and file them to your desired size. Apply only a small amount of acrylic glue on them and then stick them on your real nails. You will need to press and hold each nail for at least ten seconds.
Mixing Acrylic Liquid and Powder
Now comes the fun part, when you have to mix the powder and liquid for acrylic nails. Getting the ratio right is crucial when it comes to creating beautiful nails that will last you a long time. Keep in mind that you should never exceed a liquid-to-powder ratio of 2:1. The suggested ratio is generally between 1 ½ :1 and 2:1 (liquid to powder), so you may have to practice a few times in order to achieve the correct ratio. Because, an out of balance ratio that is too wet can result in excessive shrinkage, peeling, and lifting. On the other hand, an acrylic mixture that’s too dry can cause chipping and cracking of the nails. The small ball of acrylic should be spreadable and damp, but not too wet. So, practice a few times until you achieve the ideal ratio of liquid to powder. Always have paper towels at hand in case you need to brush off the extra moisture or to wipe the brush between strokes, so that the acrylic doesn’t stick to the brush. Also, if you have an acrylic ball that isn’t the proper ratio, clean your brush completely and then start again.
Then you will have to apply the acrylic mixture on your nails, as slowly and neatly as you can. Don’t forget to wipe the brush after each nail and take from the mixture again. To avoid lumps on your nails, it’s better to use small single strokes in the same direction. After doing all nails, let the acrylic dry for ten or fifteen minutes, shape the tips, and paint your nails with the color of your choice.
Will Acrylic Nails Damage Your Natural Nails?
Acrylics will not cause any more harm than the other types of manicure, but they can really make you look and feel more put-together. Acrylic nails can make your natural nails thinner and weaker, but if you look after them properly and keep them hydrated, your nails should stay healthy and the damage will be minimal. Some people can have an allergic reaction to glues or dyes that are used at home or in nail salons. But, when they’re done properly, acrylic nails shouldn’t damage your natural nails much. However, you will have to maintain them – if your fake nails are damaged or if you let them grow too long, a gap can develop between your acrylic and natural nail, which is the perfect environment for infection. You can also get an infection if your nail technician uses unsanitary tools, so if you’re not doing your own nails, make sure that your technician properly sterilizes all tools before starting the treatment. You can also bring your own nail file, because they can’t be sterilized like the other tools.
How to Remove Acrylic Nails Properly?
The removal of the acrylic nails is definitely considered to be the most irritating part of the whole process. Therefore, if you can, it’s best to get your fake nails removed professionally, but you can also do this at home. There are a few ways to remove acrylics, and the safest and most commonly used method is with hot water. Put hot water into a bowl and soak your nails for fifteen to twenty minutes. When the acrylic nails start to loosen, take tweezers to separate the acrylics from your natural nail. Then, moisturize your cuticles with cuticle oil or regular moisturizer. You can also soak your nails for thirty minutes in a bowl filled with acetone-free nail polish remover. Avoid scraping the acrylics off, because this can seriously damage and weaken your actual nails. If they’re removed improperly, your nails will become very thin, weak, sensitive, and visibly discolored.