More and more nail technicians are opting to do waterless manicures on clients, citing that it’s better for the health of the skin and also helps retain polish better. The theory is that when nails are soaked in water, the plate expands slightly, and when the polish is applied and the client goes home, the plate shrinks back down to its normal size and causes the polish to chip.
A waterless manicure can also be a great way to introduce your client to warm conditioning oils with light scents that help moisturize and cleanse the skin. If you’ve ever thought about trying a waterless manicure, here are some easy steps* from Lynn Ackerson-Warren, guest artist and educator for OPI.
*Before starting any service, the nail tech and client should wash and sanitize their hands, and since this is a waterless service, a waterless antiseptic hand wash gel should be used.
1. Remove polish with polish remover.
2. Apply a cuticle treatment to soften the cuticles, making for easier removal and cleaning of the nail plate.
3. Clean the nail plate of dead tissue and push back cuticles.
4. Massage hands and arms with a massage lotion.
5. Shape and detail nails and cuticles.
6. Cleanse the nail plate with a cleanser. This is important to prevent polish chipping. You have to make sure the nail bed is bone dry so the polish will adhere. Apply your polish and finish with cuticle oil or conditioning quick dry spray/drops.
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