Technique

When you use colored acrylics to create nail art, do you file the acrylic smooth? Can you use any liquid with colored powders?

December 01, 2004 | Bookmark +

When you use colored acrylics to create nail art, do you file the acrylic smooth or do you leave it? What if it’s 3-D? Also, can you use any acrylic liquid with colored powders?

Answer

 On filing, it depends on whether you’re doing an inlaid design or a 3-D design. For an inlaid nail, I will file the acrylic to a smooth finish then apply a UV-protectant sealer. (You can also use a clear gel or acrylic.)

 

With a 3-D design, I smooth and seal the underlying nail, but there is no need to file the 3-D portion since I use my brush to form the design itself. I also omit sealant on the 3-D design. As to whether you can mix and match monomer brands, it depends on what brand of colored powder you are using. Some colored powders can be used with any company’s monomer, but others recommend against mixing and matching. Just check with the manufacturer and follow their recommendations.

 

— Elaine Watson

 

 

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How can I prevent lifting when my client's hands are constantly in water?

I have a client who is in the medical field so her hands are constantly in water. She has me keep the length of her acrylic nails short. No matter what I do, she always has at least one nail that comes off, and she always has lifting and gets water under the acrylic. I prep the nails correctly, I have a cuticle bit to clean the cuticle area, and I wipe the nail with alcohol, dehydrate the nail, and prime the nail. What should I do?

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