Why do I have problems with acrylic lifting?

Answer

Placing the apex in the wrong spot on the nail does not necessarily cause lifting. The apex should be over the center of the nail where the free edge is, but lifting is generally caused by two things. One is prep, of course, and I would have a seasoned nail tech evaluate your prep technique just to make sure you are doing it correctly. And second is an inexperienced application technique that places the product too close to the cuticle area. Less is more in this case, so you want to be extra careful to make sure your product doesn’t run onto the cuticle. -Vicki Peters, President of Vicki Peters Nail Products

 RECOMMENDS:

• Always properly prepare nail plates using the OPI Enhancement Prep Method prior to acrylic application.  One of the main causes of lifting is non-living tissue remaining on nail plates.
• The use of Bond-Aid pH Balancing Agent improves adhesion of all artificial enhancements. 
• Apply only one coat of Bondex Acrylic Bonding Agent.  Using more than one coat will interfere with proper bonding. =
• Use the proper acrylic working consistency.  Follow the individual guidelines for each OPI acrylic system to achieve the proper liquid to powder ratio.
• Prevent product crystallization with the OPI HeatEQ Liquid Monomer Temperature Equalizer.
• Avoid touching the cuticles with the brush at all times.  Prevent getting product on cuticles by leaving a small margin around cuticles and sidewalls.
• Finish services with only Avoplex Oil and Lotions.  Avoplex products are free of mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients which can cause lifting.
• Clients should avoid frequent exposure to water and chemicals; advise the use of cotton-lined gloves for washing dishes and cleaning.
• Recommend that your client have regular bi-weekly fills and use only OPI Avoplex products to care for cuticles and skin between appointments.