How to do your own acrylic nails - Ashleigh

The feeling after getting your nails done is almost incomparable. Having pretty nails to complete your look is always a confidence boost. However, accessorizing yourself should not be so expensive! This is why I’m going to show you how to do your own nails with the hopes of finding you a new hobby and saving money.

Materials Needed:

All supplies can be found on Amazon.com

• ●  Nail tips

• ●  Dip powder kit

• ●  Nail drill

• ●  Nail glue

• ●  Acrylic nail clippers

• ●  Gel clear top coat

• ●  UV nail light

• ●  Nail dehydrator

  Step 1: The first part of this nail process is making sure you have a clean, organized workspace. Working with clutter can be very difficult and make the process longer than it has to be. Then you'll want to make sure that all of your tools are cleaned and sanitized. Having clean and sanitized tools is very vital to the nail process because dirty tools can lead to nail infections, harming yourself and/or your clients.

  Step 2: The next part is the actual nail prep. You'll need to clip down your natural nails and buff them as well. Buffing your nails allows the acrylic nail tip to adhere better to the nail bed. Then you'll want to file your natural nails down so they don't show when the nail tip is applied.

  Step 3: Now that your nails are properly buffed and prepared, this next step we are about to dive into is crucial to the nail process. First you'll apply your nail dehydrator. The nail dehydrator helps keep the nail tips from lifting from your nail bed. Then take your nail tips and size match them to each of your nails. You don't want the nail tips to be too big or too small or else your nails won't last long. If the nail tip is too small it will be difficult for you to press it down on your nail bed without bending it, and if it is too big the nail tip will touch your skin. Now that you have found the right size nails, you can apply a small amount of glue to each nail tip and press them on.

  Step 4: Give yourself about 5 minutes to fully allow the nail glue to dry or else they will pop off once you start filing and shaping your nails. Depending on your desired shape the filing process will be different. Personally, my favorite is the coffin shape so this is what I’ll explain.

You'll need to take nail scissors and cut each side of the acrylic nail tip where its almost a point at the top but not quite. Then take your nail clippers to cut the length of your nails. (leave them longer than you want because you'll file it down). Now use your nail file to shape the nails and make the edges straight. Lastly, you'll need your nail drill to even out the surface. File down the nail tip to your natural nail bed to create an even surface.

https://www.cakesincnails.com/a-59950012/nail-glue-tips/cakesinc-nails-pro-x-coffin-500- clear-nail-tips/

Step 5: Here comes the fun part. This is where you'll add color to your nails and finally see it start coming together. Pick out the color powder that you want and now take the step one bottle and apply it to your nails. This bottle is what will make the powder stick to your nails. Apply the “step one” then slowly dip your nail into the powder, now tap your finger to remove the excess powder. Then apply the step 2 bottle. This hardens the powder and turns it into acrylic. Repeat step 1 and 2 about two times unless your color is light. If your color is a lighter color like white you may need to dip your nail three times.

https://styletips101.com/nail-care/everything-you-need-to-know-about-dip-powder-nails.html

Step 6: This step is similar to step 4. When you add the acrylic to your nail it could get messy and ruin the shape you previously had on your nails. The acrylic can get uneven and make the surface a little bumpy. This is why we use our nail drill again to even out the nail surface. Make sure to not hold the drill down too long on your finger because this could deteriorate the color and also burn you. Once you have evened out the surface, you can now reshape the sides and top of your nail with a nail file until you achieve your desired shape.

Step 7: This step is where you add your final touches. If you would like to add nail art now is the time to do so before we apply the top coat. Some examples may consist of flowers, stripes, hearts, seasonal themes, etc. Once you have finished with that you may now apply your clear top coat. For this you will need your UV nail light. You just apply this top coat on like

regular nail polish and place your hands in the UV light until it turns off. This top coat helps protect your nail color from chipping away so hopefully they last as long as possible.

https://www.makeup.com/nails/all-nails/acrylic-coffin-nails-inspiration

Step 8: Lastly, it is time to clean up. Make sure you wash your hands to get rid of anything that dries out your hands. Then clean up and package your materials away. Hopefully you were able to learn how to create your own nails and save money. It may be difficult at first but it'll come with practice.