Acrylic application

[Gillian Mc 78]

Hi, I am a newbie so apologies if I am on the wrong forum! I am coming to the end of completing level 3 in nail technoolgy and had an assessment in acrylic last night. Although I passed, I am not happy with the end result. I feel as though the acrylic was far too thick even though I tried not to let this happen. Will a smaller brush help with getting the right consistency or is it really a case of keep practising? Many thanks, Gillian

 

[Trinity]

Both, smaller beads will make it easier not to overload the nail, and makes for less filing, but you must still ensure you build the structure in and yes, it's just practise, practise and more practise.....and then some more! It look me probably 2 years to be happy with a set of nails and confident to deal with whatever presented at my desk. That said we are never happy with the work we do, it's what makes us good techs

 

[Gillian Mc 78]

Both, smaller beads will make it easier not to overload the nail, and makes for less filing, but you must still ensure you build the structure in and yes, it's just practise, practise and more practise.....and then some more! It look me probably 2 years to be happy with a set of nails and confident to deal with whatever presented at my desk. That said we are never happy with the work we do, it's what makes us good techs

Thank you very much for replying. Im worried about practising on people though and making their nails look horrific! I have a training hand and I seem to do ok on this but there's nothing better than the real thing is there. I can't really practice on my own nails as I have over worked them and caused nail bed separation (it is getting better thankfully!) I'm going to have to bite the bullet and ask my friends to volunteer lol. Thanks again

 

[Trinity]

Thank you very much for replying. Im worried about practising on people though and making their nails look horrific! I have a training hand and I seem to do ok on this but there's nothing better than the real thing is there. I can't really practice on my own nails as I have over worked them and caused nail bed separation (it is getting better thankfully!) I'm going to have to bite the bullet and ask my friends to volunteer lol. Thanks again

Natural nails and real hands are always the best training ground, make it clear you are practising, they will have to sit a while longer, and that you will be doing what you want, not what they request. Stay away from art, bling and colours on practise sets, it's all about perfecting the shape and structure. Don't be wasting models time on art and faffing. Save practising that for the practise hand.

Many newbies try to disguise bad nails with polish, gems and art - it's pointless - you wouldn't decorate a house that's falling down, you fix the structure first then make it look pretty. Same with nails. Clients will come back for nails that stay on and don't break, they won't come back just because they were pretty but only lasted 2 days

 

[NZNailz]

I would stick to a size 8ish brush and stick to the 3-4 ball method while you build confidence picking up different sized beads to suit the nail

 

[pinkmolly226]

if the acrylic is too thick then you need smaller beads. You need to practice consistencies with all brushes. A smaller brush won’t automatically give you the right consistency, only you can determine the consistency depending on your polymer/monymor ratio, whether you use a size 8 or 28 brush! but a smaller brush will give you smaller beads, which in turn give you less thickness/filing. I agree with NZnails, size 8 brush is what I use and practice building the nail up in 3/4 beads. Acrylic nails take so much time to master so keep going! practice makes perfect. It took me a good year and a half before I was confident. Watch tutorials on YouTube or go back to whoever you trained with and try and get a couple of hours 1-1 training and focus on what you’re having trouble with. Good luck

 

[lisalovesnails]

I'm having awful problems with acrylic lifting on my nails. I did mine a week ago, and already can see a thing white "lift" line all the way around the nail bed, and the free edge is starting to peel away from the acrylic as well. And on my 'other' hand, it's a lot worse than that. Nothing is at the point of breaking off, but I can't risk causing an infection. Any idea what I could be doing wrong? Thank you all!

 

[Trinity]

I'm having awful problems with acrylic lifting on my nails. I did mine a week ago, and already can see a thing white "lift" line all the way around the nail bed, and the free edge is starting to peel away from the acrylic as well. And on my 'other' hand, it's a lot worse than that. Nothing is at the point of breaking off, but I can't risk causing an infection. Any idea what I could be doing wrong? Thank you all!

Tell us details, products used? Your training experience? Step by step process. It could be a number of things

 

[lisalovesnails]

Not much experience, I'm just getting started with acrylics, and I would love to know more than everyone else in class does I've been using Beauty Secrets dehydrator, primer, monomer, and acrylic powder. I go over the natural nail with a 180 grit hand file before I start, and I use rubbing alcohol to take off the dust before I start with all the products. I have an oval #8 brush now that I really like. I was using a smaller one but the teeny beads were leaving lots of bumps and it took too much filing. I have a feeling my liquid to powder ratio may be off, but I'm not exactly sure how to fix that. I keep hitting my cuticle too, but I always wipe it off with an orange stick before it sets if I do. Thank you for taking the time to answer me!