Your acrylic manicure can only be successful when you prepare your nails properly. Taking the time to clean, buff, and shape your natural nails gives you the solid foundation you need to create a neat and long-lasting manicure. You also need to use the right products and methods during the preparation stage to improve adhesion and achieve gorgeous results every time.
Don’t let rushed preparation or poor tools ruin your acrylic manicure before you can even apply it. Slow down and devote proper attention to nail prep so that you can enjoy stronger natural nails and higher-quality acrylic manicures. Learn all about how to prep your nails for acrylic nail application and achieve a salon-quality manicure with these expert tips.
Start by Sanitizing
Sanitation is the first step in any manicure. Clean hands, nails, and tools keep your natural nails healthy and minimize the risk of infection or other complications. Before you do anything else, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Use a clean nailbrush or other type of soft brush to scrub around the nail. Make sure you get under the nail plate to truly remove all dirt and debris from your nail before you begin your manicure.
Nails aren’t the only thing you should sanitize, though. Just as nail techs disinfect their work area between clients, you should make sure your table and tools are all clean and ready to go. Working with clean tools makes your job easier and ensures you take good care of your nails with every manicure.
File and Shape the Free Edge
Once your hands are clean and dry, you can start preparing your natural nails for the acrylics. The first step is to trim and shape your nail to your desired length. Remember that your natural nail bed acts as the structural foundation for your nail tips and the overall shape and look of your acrylics. If the natural nail is too long or doesn’t have the right shape to provide structural support, you’re more likely to crack or break your nails. This ruins the look of your manicure and can cause damage to the natural nail.
Ideally, you want the free edge—the outermost part of the nail beyond the fingertip—to mirror the base of the nail. This will give you the most solid foundation for your nail tips while preserving the strength and health of the natural nail plate. Finally, if you’re using nail tips, make sure you trim the free edge line down. A shorter free edge makes more room for the acrylic nails and allows for a stronger, more durable acrylic.
Dry vs. Wet Manicures
The next thing you want to do when prepping your nails for acrylic nail application is trim the cuticles and remove any dead skin. This will prepare your natural nail for buffing so that you can apply your primer and create a more adhesive surface for your acrylics.
You have two options for this step. You can perform a wet manicure by soaking the nails to soften the cuticles, or you can perform a dry manicure by exfoliating the nails and cuticles with scrubs, lotions, and an electric nail file.
Wet Manicures
Wet manicures are the traditional approach to caring for your cuticles before an acrylic manicure. They soften the nail and the surrounding cuticles, making it easier to lift and trim the dead skin. However, soaking the nails can make it harder to notice dry skin around the cuticle, so you may not fully remove the dead skin. This can lead to a messier look at the end of the manicure. Additionally, the natural nail expands and changes shape as it absorbs water. This can lead to separation and lift as the nail shrinks and dries out again.
Dry Manicures
Dry manicures skip the use of water and anti-bacterial soaks. This saves time and makes the manicure process more efficient. Dry manicures hydrate the nail without soaking the cuticles, making it easier to find and remove all dry skin around the nail. This creates a cleaner and more even nail plate for you to work with as you apply your acrylics, which in turn leads to a neater, longer-lasting manicure.
Buff and Clean
After cuticle preparation comes nail buffing. This step ensures that you remove all natural oils from the nail plate, leaving a dry surface that will adhere better to your acrylic polish. Buff the nail plate by moving your file in the direction of the natural nail growth. Be gentle and avoid applying significant pressure. By the end of this process, there should be no shine on the nail.
After you finish buffing your nails, wipe away any nail dust. Lingering dust and debris create a messy surface and can cause bubbling or lifting of the acrylic.
Apply Your Nail Tips
If you’re using nail tips, make sure they match the natural curve of the nail. Furthermore, make sure your nail tips are the same width as the natural nail. The sides of the tip should be parallel to the sides of the nail plate. If you need to, use tips that are slightly bigger than the nail plate and trim them down to match.
Apply your adhesive along the free edge of the nail. Hold your nail tip at a 45-degree angle to the free edge. Align the tip, then tilt it toward the natural nail until the tip is flat against the free edge. Hold firmly for a few seconds, but avoid applying excess pressure, as this can cause the tip to slide or set crookedly against the free edge. Once you set your tip, use trimmers or files to shape it to your desired length.
Apply Your Primer
Nail primer acts as the foundation of your manicure. Start by prepping your nail with Mia Secret’s Nail Prep, which dehydrates the nail and improves adhesion. Once you’ve done that, you can apply your primer to create the perfect surface for your acrylics. Nail primer ensures no lasting residue—like dust or natural oils—remains on the nail. It also creates a dry surface that helps the acrylic stick, prevents chipping and peeling, and keeps your manicure looking pristine and beautiful for longer.
You want to use an acid-free primer with a safe and healthy formula to achieve the best results. Mia Secret’s Xtrabond Primer is no-burn and acid-free, making it safe and gentle for your natural nails and cuticles.
Time for Your Manicure!
Once you’ve applied your primer, you’re ready to go! Remember, the right products make all the difference in prepping your nail, applying your acrylics, and perfecting your nail art. Invest in top-quality acrylic nail supplies from Mia Secret and enjoy gorgeous, long-lasting results with every manicure.
