Free Beauty Tips









Easy do it yourself Acrylic Nails! Sick of paying $50 a fortnight on your french tips? would
you rather spend less than $30 for 3 months worth of acrylic nails? Read on and we'll
show you how!!

The two components of this system are:



monomer liquid



polymer powder



When liquid and monomer is mixed with polymer powder it changes from a liquid to a solid. This
process is called polymerisation.


Advantages of this system

Nail extensions can be flexible, thin and natural looking. Sculpting is successful. A permanent
French manicure can be achieved. It is the strongest system for heavy handed clients.
Maintenance is quick and easy once proficient it can correct irregular natural nail shapes. Some
products can be heat sensitive.

Tools needed

  • towels
  • cuticle oil
  • Tip cutters (or just a normal large nail clipper)
  • files and buffers
  • primer
  • Acrylic powder
  • Acrylic liquid
  • dappen dish
  • base coat, top coat and chosen polish ( for french tips you will only need a base coat and top
    coat)
  • sable brush
  • Tips

All above tools excluding towels can be purchased at your local chemist in the nails section.

Brush Care

A sculpting brush to a nail technician should be the same as good quality scissors are to a
hairdresser. Some of the top hairdressers can pay hundreds of pounds for the right scissors and a
nail technician should always use the best quality brushed to create beautiful nails. The right brush
will not only last longer but will perform better when being used. Your brush should be personal to
you and never shared. You will personalise the shape of your brush to suit the techniques you
prefer working with and if another technician borrows your brush they can undo all of your good
work in moments

When you first purchase a new brush you will need to carry out basic maintenance, including:

  • Training your new brush
  • Cleaning your new brush
  • Storing your brush
  • Training

Like a new haircut, your sable brush must be trained to your touch. Before using, dip the hairs into
monomer to saturate the brush, then glide it through a towel or tissue to taper it. Guide any flared
hair back into the taper by continuing to dip the brush in to the monomer and guide it back through
the towel until trained. Any singe hairs that will not reshape should be put at the base and not
plucked.

Once trained, be careful to protect, store and properly care for your brush to ensure a longer life.


Cleaning

Only ever clean your sable brush in monomer. Never wash in soapy water, acetone or brush
cleaner. These substances will dry out the hairs of the brush and make it difficult to use. If the
brush clogs, soak it in monomer until the product has softened and then guide the brush through a
paper towel using an orange stick for any stubborn particles. Reshape the brush in monomer, wipe
and store correctly.


Storing

Storing your brush safely is very important. If the brush is not stored horizontally or flat the old
liquid could contaminate the next set of nails. The barrel of the brush may hold excess liquid if it is
not stored and cleaned properly and if your experience any yellowing of the product this is usually
the reason why. Your brush should always be in its own container or wrapped in tissue after use. If
it is left on a nail desk, or in a drawer with files, it could collect debris that will contaminate your
clients nails.


Safety rules

Do not touch the cuticle or soft tissue with the brush or product. Never use monomer without the
polymer. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for application

Before you begin, pour your acrylic liquid into your dappen dish. Only pour a tiny amount, a little
below half way.
Spread your towel out on your table/work area to ensure acrylic does not stain or damage your
table/work area.
        Application!

This procedure for Acrylic liquid and Acrylic powder application is generic and in no way takes the
place of specific manufacturers instructions.

Perform steps to prepare the natural nail for the nail application. (these steps are shown under the
manicure section)

  • Apply tips, shape and blend(as shown in the tip application section).
  • Cleanse and dehydrate nails again, on one hand only use primer sparingly, if required.
  • Dip the clean brush into liquid and pull up the side of the dappen dish ensuring the amount of
    liquid is not excessive.







  • Draw the very tip of the brush through the surface of the powder, drawing a fine line across
    the surface. The amount of line your draw will determine the size of the bead you pick up.









  • You need to decide the size of bead in relation to your nail size. So grab yourself a decent
    size bead. Big enough to cover your entire nail and your tip!
  • You may need to alter the amount of liquid in your brush to alter your bead size.
  • Check with your manufacturer what the right consistency or mix ratio is for your chosen
    product. (if you have bought your kit from the chemist, it should tell you what ratio mix you will
    need)
  • Make sure all the powder is absorbed into the bead on the tip of the brush before placing it
    on the nail.

  • If there is excess powder left then it is usually means your consistency is too dry.
  • Place your bead on the very back of your nail, near your cuticle and flatten it using your brush.
  • Once you have flattened your bead push you bead towards the back of your nail closer to
    your cuticle using the tip of your brush.
  • Roll the bead until it has covered the bottom end of your brush.
  • Once you have covered the lower end of your nail ( end near your cuticle) use your brush to
    pull the acrylic to the tip of your nail tip. ( DO NOT ALLOW ACRYLIC TO TOUCH YOUR
    SKIN OR CUTICLES! THIS WILL CAUSE THE ACRYLIC TO LIFT AND WEAKEN)
  • At first it will look all lump and uneven, but thats ok!!! that's what you have your files for!!
  • File the top of your acrylic using your file until the acrylic is'nt making your nail look like a
    mountain
  • Smooth it out with your buffer
  • Apply your base coat
  • Wait until your base coat is dry
  • Then apply your top coat
















After care advice for liquid and powder

  • leave only 2-3wks between appts
  • always use non acetone polish remover
  • always use a base coat under a coloured polish
  • always use a top coat to keep polish neat and chip free
  • wear cotton lined rubber gloves if using bleach or detergents
  • use a cuticle cream or oil daily to keep skin soft and supple
  • use a hand lotion daily to keep hands looking good
  • treat nails as jewels not tools, do not use them to pick.
Acrylic Nails