Acrylic nails are made of a combination of liquid and powder that's laid over your nail with a brush. Once the mixture is applied, your nails are filed and shaped to emulate the look of natural nails. It's then given the desired shape, where it hardens in place to add strength, length, and thickness to the nail. Then ready to be polished / designed to your happiness. This is a form of beauty that makes us more confident and positive with ourselves. It is a great technique for many activities and a great way to experience "new nails."

Supplies

Nail tips / super glue
Cuticle Pusher
Nail File & Buffing Block
Nail Prep/Dehydrator
Nail primer
Dappen Dish (s)
Acrylic Nail Brush
Acrylic Powder
Liquid monomer
Polish (If using gel polish make sure to have cleanser as well!)

Step 1: Wash Your Hands (as Well As the Client)

Before any service it is great to wash your hands as well as having the client wash their hands to prevent any germs and to start the service clean!

Step 2: Push Back Cuticles If Needed and File Real Nail

If needed take a cuticle pusher and push back any loose or un-belonged cuticle in the area of the nail. After the cuticle is pushed back and in place use a nail file and file the nail along the edges of the skin. (Be careful not to file at an angle in the corner of the nails creating painful hangnails).

Step 3: Remove Dust From Nail, Add Nail Primer, Then Add Nail Tips

After the nail(s) are filed and the cuticles are in place remove any dust from the nail that the filing could have brought up, and then add nail primer to the real nail. After this step is completed use the acrylic nail tips to then place on the nail with super glue. If needed file along the artificial nail against the real nail to prevent any glue / bump that is present.

Step 4: Apply Liquid Polymer and Monomer to Form Nail

Next after the nail(s) have the nail tips and are filed you are going to take a brush and dip it into the polymer then into the monomer to form a nail bead. After bead is formed and it's not to thick / to runny place the bead on the real nail and begin to form the nail and shape.