For many women, due to a lack of vitamins and daily housework, their nails break. Therefore, to save time and keep your hands in order, it is customary to build them up. Due to the high cost of the procedure, some girls think about self-extension. Content:
- Extension types
- Acrylic
- Gel
Extension of nails is a popular procedure that allows you to forget about manicure for 1 month. You can build up nails using acrylic and gel. These are fundamentally different ways, each of which has its own fans and opponents.
Types of nail extension
Now you can build up your nails with gel or acrylic. The gel is considered a safer material, in addition, there is no unpleasant odor during the modeling procedure. Regardless of the material, it can be extended to tips or shapes. When using tips, an artificial free edge is glued to the tip of the nail, and the nail bed is covered with acrylic or gel. This method of modeling reduces the time, but, unfortunately, do not walk with such nails for a very long time. Therefore, if you are going to show off your perfect manicure for more than one month, choose an extension to the forms.
Acrylic nail extension
When building up, a substance is used that consists of powder and monomer (liquid). When liquid is added to the powder, it acquires a mushy consistency. Thus, the resulting mixture can be applied to the nails with a brush. After 30-90 seconds, the mixture hardens.
Advantages of building with acrylic
This method of building is suitable for beginners, since it is easier to work with acrylic than with gel. But first you have to spend a decent amount of money to purchase materials and tools. Acrylic is used to decorate nails using sculpting. Due to the plasticity of some substances, it is possible to create relief figures and beautiful patterns.
What you need for acrylic nail extension
You will need the following materials:
- primer;
- sub-primer (degreaser);
- brashliner (brush cleaner);
- acrylic Powder;
- monomer (liquid);
- paper forms;
- brushes;
- grinding files (180 grit);
- bafiki (soft grinding);
- decor.
Watch a video about home acrylic nail extension:
Acrylic nail extension at home
If you follow all the instructions carefully, you will be able to grow your nails on your own. Of course, it is inconvenient to work with the left hand, but over time you will get used to it. The main thing is patience and accuracy. The easiest way to build up is under varnish. For this, transparent or camouflage acrylic is used.
How to make acrylic nails: step by step instructions
Consider in detail the step-by-step instructions for building acrylic nails at home:
- Before carrying out the procedure, it is advisable to make an edged manicure 2-3 days in advance. This prevents the acrylic from peeling off the nails. It is necessary to carefully remove the cuticle and pterygium, since with the gradual regrowth of the nail, acrylic will exfoliate precisely at the points of contact with the cuticle and a thin film (pterygium). It is undesirable to take a bath or do a manicure just before the extension procedure. The nail plate will become very wet and it will be difficult to remove water with a primer.
- Next, you need to remove the glitter from the nail. This is done with a 180 grit file. There is no need to “brush off” the surface. You should remove the shine and roughen the plate. Be sure to carefully treat the areas around the cuticles. After that, secure the paper form. Apply a layer of degreaser (primer) to each nail. Next, primer your nails. You can take an acidic one, but it can burn, as it contains acid. This product prevents the growth of bacteria under the acrylic. When the primer is completely dry, you can start building. If this is your first time extending your nails, pour some liquid into a glass and pour a teaspoon of powder into a glass container. Soak the brush in monomer and remove excess. Rotate the powder in a circular motion. This will make the balloon the size you want. A thick drop will appear on your cyst. Rather, transfer it to your nail. Use a patting motion to press the plastic mixture into the mold.
- You need to start working from the free edge. The forms have corresponding marks. Choose the desired length and from this mark apply acrylic from top to bottom to the very nail. Do not apply too much acrylic; smooth out the plastic balls thoroughly. After applying each drop, wipe the brush on a paper towel. After the formation of the free edge, proceed to laying out the nail bed. At the very end, treat the places near the cuticles. Do not allow acrylic to flow into the cuticle and side ridges. There should be a small distance (0.3-05 mm) between the artificial material and the side ridges.
- The more carefully you apply acrylic, the less time you will spend on sawdust. Before fully curing, you need to give the nail a natural curve. This is done with tweezers. You can use straws when installing forms. After the acrylic has completely hardened, remove the molds and start sawing. This can be done with a router or manually. Usually, a file with a large grain size is used first. At the final stage, a buff is used. Lubricate the cuticles with oil and coat. For decoration, you can use glitter, foil or acrylic paints.
Gel nail extension
Gel is a ready-made building material. It is found in jars and resembles jelly. After being applied to the nail, the gel does not freeze on its own. For its polymerization, you need to use UV rays.
Using nail gel at home
To build up, you need the following materials:
- primer;
- sub-primer (degreaser);
- gel;
- base;
- the finish;
- paper forms;
- alcohol;
- brushes;
- grinding files (180 grit);
- bafiki (soft grinding);
- decor.
It is more difficult to work with a gel than with acrylic, since you need to very carefully apply a viscous mass. Each drop must be carefully stretched to form a flat surface. You should use a brush to make a perfectly straight nail, which will only have to be placed in the lamp for polymerization.
The very procedure for molding a nail with a gel differs from acrylic:
- At the initial stage, you need to do everything, as in the first case - prepare the nail and treat it with a primer.
- Next, you must apply the base. It is laid out in a thin layer and provides excellent adhesion of the natural nail and the subsequent layer of gel.
- After applying the base, dry it in the lamp and remove the sticky layer with rubbing alcohol.
- Set the shapes and model the nail using the gel.
- It is applied in two stages. The substrate is the base first and, after drying, the final layer.
- After that, remove the molds and remove any irregularities with a sanding file.
- Apply finish and cure in lamp.
The best gel for nail extension
At home, it is easier to use not a three-phase, but a single-phase system. It is a versatile gel that does not require a base coat or topcoat. It already contains all the necessary substances that give the artificial nail strength and hardness. The use of a single phase gel shortens the build-up time.
Among the most popular manufacturers of single-phase gels are the following:
- KODI. The price of a small jar with a volume of 15 ml is 800 rubles;
- Global. Cost for 15 ml - 400 rubles;
- NFU. Price for 14 g - 500 rubles;
- YRE. Price per jar - 400 rubles;
- Salon. Price for 15 ml - 600 rubles;
- Lina. The cost of the jar is 200 rubles.
As you can see, prices vary widely, but it is impossible to say for sure that the cost directly depends on the quality. There are craftsmen who work great with inexpensive materials. First of all, pay attention to the consistency of the gel, usually single-phase systems are liquid, so it is more difficult to work with them.
Below is a video about building gel nails at home:
Do not think that extension is a salon procedure. Such manipulation can be done at home, it is enough to purchase the necessary materials and have a little patience.
