When getting manicures, most of us are familiar with acrylics or gel nails. We usually get them done in a salon because they are too complicated for most of us to do ourselves. Acrylic or gel nail polish don’t always last very long unless you have fake nails done. Since that will keep your nails from being too flexible, the liquid gel polish on its own won’t make your nails as durable. Recently, a new method has been reintroduced to the spotlight! DIY powder nails have made a comeback through social media. When you find out how easy they are to apply, you just might want to give them a try!
Nail dip powders have been around longer than most people realize. They were previously popular in the 1980s, although they’ve been around even longer. They soon faded out and weren’t as popular as the other options like acrylics or gels. After learning more about them, I have no idea why they drifted out of the spotlight! Nail dipping powder is much easier to use on your own and isn’t as harmful as fake nails. But they similarly strengthen your nails. They are by no means perfect, but they are another great option. DIY powder nails could be the ideal manicure to do from the comfort of your own home!
What is Nail Dipping Powder
Nail dip powder is made of an acrylic polymer. All nail polishes or manicure options are in the acrylic family. The other polish products that come in DIY powder nail kits are used to bond everything together. Dipping powders are used with an ingredient called cyanoacrylate, which is the main ingredient in super glue. That explains why DIY powder nails last so long!
Dipping powders are not an all-natural option, so don’t choose this method if that is what you’re looking for. However, dipping powders do not contain ethyl methacrylate, which is an acrylic monometer found in acrylic or gel nails. It damages your nail beds easily, so DIY powder nails can be used instead to keep your nails a little healthier than the alternative manicure options.
How to Use Kits for DIY Powder Nails
Dipping powders are easier to use at home because they do not need a UV lamp to dry your nails. They also do not require you to shape your nails perfectly like the gel nails. The bond coat and base coats will help bind everything together. Then you will finish the process off with a seal protectant and a top coat. The top coat will require a little longer to dry, but will protect your manicure and give added shine.
The steps are simple because it is a somewhat repetitive process. There are quite a few kits on the market, but Kiara Sky Professionals makes a very popular DIY powder nails kit. It is a bit on the expensive side, but gets excellent reviews. Getting a DIY powder nails kit is a great way to save some money in the long run if you get manicures regularly.
Step by Step DIY Powder Nails: Kiara Sky Professionals Kit
DIY powder nails are very straightforward, so don’t be too intimidated! It will take a little practice if you’re a beginner. But honestly, if you have been painting your nails most of your life, this is the same thing. The dipping powder tends to be a little bit messier. But it is an excellent way of getting perfect nails!
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Start by prepping for your manicure. So that means you need to clean your hands, push your cuticles back, and lightly file the surface of your nails to give them a rough texture. Brush off any dust after getting rid of your nails shiny surface.
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Apply the bond to your entire nail.
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Apply the base coat to ¾ of your nail, leaving space between where you start and your cuticle. Then dip into natural powder.
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After those steps, you will apply the base coat to the entire nail. Then dip into whichever colored powder you have chosen. Repeat this step twice.
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Then you will apply the base one more time and let it air dry for a minute or two.
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All that is left is to apply the seal protectant. File away any rough spots or shape as needed and wash your hands.
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Then apply another coat of seal protectant and let it air dry.
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Lastly, you will apply two coats of the top coat. Let the first coat dry before applying again and dry the second before touching your nails.
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You can also apply the cuticle oil to keep your nails healthy and strong.
I know that seems like a lot, but each step will dry quickly. So you will move through these steps as fast as you can. By the end, you will have a gorgeous color that will last for at least two weeks. If not longer!
How to Remove Dip Powder Nails
Removing dip powder manicures is as simple as any other. You will need 100% acetone to get the job done. Anything less than 100% won’t work very well. First, you have to file the surface of the nail polish to remove the protective top layer. Then you can take cotton balls soaked in acetone and place them on the nails. It may be a bit tricky getting them to stay put. But most people like to take small pieces of tin foil and mold them around the cotton ball and your fingers.
You could also fill a bowl with acetone to soak your fingertips, but you will use a lot more acetone using that method.
The longer your polish has been in place, the longer it may take to remove them. Soak your nails anywhere from 15-30 minutes to remove them successfully. Repeat the process if they did not come off entirely.
Do not scrape off any excess. Keep using the acetone until your dip powder polish comes off completely. By scraping it off, you will only end up damaging your nail beds, which defeats the purpose of using this less-harmful method!
Acrylic vs. Gel Nails vs. Dip Powders: The Showdown
There are only three options to choose from. So you’d think it would be an easy choice, right? Well, not for everyone. A lot of us are set in our ways and swear by one method or another. I have only ever tried gel nails a few times, and I would love to try the DIY powder nails. But I want to quickly explore the best and worst features of each to give you an idea of what to expect.
Acrylics
We all know acrylic nails can be used to lengthen your natural nails. But acrylic also comes as a nail polish, which is what most of us have in our homes. Acrylic fake nails or polishes are not everyone’s favorite product because they tend to have a much stronger odor than the other options. However, they are the most affordable. Keep in mind that acrylic nail polish will not last long for most people. It usually works best if you have fake nails in place as a rigid surface. Your natural nails flex and cause this paint to chip easily.
Gels
Gels also can be found as a nail polish or used to apply fake nails. Gels usually come in second place as far as prices go, at least as a color option. They require UV lighting to cure and typically stay beautiful for around two weeks before they start chipping. Although, keep in mind that this is only true when you have fake nails done as well. Gel nail polish will last longer than acrylics on natural nails, but don’t usually have the longevity of dip powders.
Dip Powder
DIY powder nails are easy to do at home and last about two weeks or longer. They take quite a few steps to finish and are the most expensive type of nail color to get done in a salon. But they are easy to do at home which could save you a lot of money in the long run! They do not contain the same harsh ingredients as acrylics or gels, which I touched on before. But that does not mean that they won’t cause any harm to your natural nails. They are just slightly less harmful.
As far as colors go, the dip colors will last the longest and help strengthen your nails without applying acrylic or gel fake nails first. By going through the steps and layering the product, you will be creating a stronger surface which will help the color last.
Have Fun Dipping Ladies!
It is easy to get cute nail looks with any of these options! But if you are on the market for long-lasting color and don’t want fake nails, DIY powder nails could be the answer to your prayers. They are easy to do at home, although they can be a little messy. Dip powders are making a comeback for a good reason! You can only use the powders to get a solid color or ombre effect, but you could still apply designs over them.
I will be trying them out to see how long they last. I have a terrible time keeping my nails looking perfect. They are too thin, and color chips off right away. Fake nails destroy my nailbeds, and I don’t want to pay the extra money to keep up with them. If you’re having the same problem, DIY powder nails might be worth a try. Although you may want to get dipping powder nails done at a salon first to see the results before you commit to buying an expensive kit.
I know this is all a lot to take in, but I hope all this information helped you figure out your next manicure! The key is not being scared to try new things. You might be pleasantly surprised by the results!