How to Do Acrylic Nails

You can practice doing your own nails at home. Regardless of whether you have had formal training in the profession, learn the risks of manicuring before you begin. If you’re careful and don’t rush, you can do your nails as well as anyone. All you need are some supplies from the cosmetic store and patience.

Table of Contents

Buy acrylic nail supplies

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Consider purchasing an acrylic nail kit. If this is your first time doing acrylic nails, buy a whole set. It includes everything you need to use, along with detailed instructions to help you create the perfect manicure. Be sure to read the ingredients list to make sure the monomer does NOT contain MMA. MMA (Methyl methacrylate) is dental acrylic and is too strong for natural nails. ^{[1] X Source of Research} Look for products made from EMA – Ethyl Methacrylate, which can be used on nails. Look for brands that experts recommend, or search online for products that are recommended by many people.

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Purchase each item separately. For better control over the look of your nails, it is recommended that you purchase each item separately. That way, you can handle it easily if you need to apply more acrylic as your nails grow. Go to a cosmetic store and buy the following supplies:

Acrylic nail tips and nail glue. Nail tips are usually quite long so you can trim and file them to the desired shape.
Scissors and files for acrylic nails. Ordinary scissors and files are not very effective for acrylic nails. You need to purchase a file set with 180, 240, 1000 & 4000 grit. You may need a coarser file than 180 grit if the result is too jagged.
Acrylic liquid and acrylic powder. You will mix these two together to create acrylic nails. With that said, avoid buying MMA monomers, instead you should choose EMA (always look at manufacturing materials!).
Acrylic bowl and acrylic brush. You need these tools to mix and apply acrylic. Brushes with a size of about #8-12 can be used well.
Fingers or hands used for practice. I know you’re excited to do your own acrylic nails, but before you start, you’ll probably have to practice on something that won’t hurt yourself. Remember that these are strong chemicals and can cause allergies if you’re not careful. Perform at least 10 reps on the finger used for practice. Once you’ve mastered enough that the material doesn’t spill over the prosthetic finger, practice a few more times before thinking about working on a real hand. Allergies are very dangerous, if you’re not sure, don’t try it on anyone but yourself.

Prepare your nails

Remove old nail polish. Acrylic needs to be applied to clean nails, so you must remove old nail polish before you begin. ^{[2] X Source of Study} Use oil-free acetone nail polish remover. If you have old acrylic nails or gel polish that need to be removed, dip your nails in pure acetone. DO NOT peel off old nails; Dip your nail in the acetone until you can push it out easily. Peeling off fake nails can damage the real nail, making it thinner.

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Trim nails. In order to create a good base for attaching acrylic nails, use nail clippers to shorten the real nail so that it is balanced and easy to apply the fake nail. You should leave a few millimeters to be able to stick the acrylic nail tip on the real nail. Use a nail file to flatten the tip of the nail.

File the nail surface. Use a soft nail file block to make the nail surface slightly rough and less shiny. Roughness on the surface will help acrylic nails stick better. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Push the cuticle inward. You need to stick acrylic nails on the nails, not the skin. Push cuticles inward or trim to create ventilation during manicure.

Use a wooden effervescent tool to push the cuticle inward. Metallic effervescent tools can also be used, but wood is better for nails. If you don’t have an effervescent device, use a wooden stick.
It’s easier to push the cuticle in when it’s wet and soft. Soak your hands in warm water for a few minutes before using the effervescent device, and it’s best to prep your hands a few days in advance to make the nails easier to handle.

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Use primer. Primer helps remove residual moisture and oil from nails in preparation for acrylic nails. This is one of the most important steps to create the best adhesion. If your nails are still greasy, acrylic nails won’t stick.

Use a makeup remover cotton ball or a lint-free tissue to wipe the nail surface with acetone.
Nail primers are made with methacrylic acid and can catch fire. Be careful not to use too much or let the paint stick to the skin. You can buy an acid-free primer if you’re not sure.

Acrylic manicure

Stick the tip of the nail. Find the tip of the nail that is the right size for the nail. If the tip of the nail does not fit completely, file it to fit. A slightly small nail tip is better than a slightly large one. Dab a little glue on the tip of the nail from side to side and stick it on the nail, so that the bottom edge of the acrylic nail tip is about halfway down the nail surface. Hold for five seconds for the glue to dry. ^{[4] X Research Source} Do the same on all 10 fingers, then trim nails to desired length.

If the nail tip is stuck, soak your hand in water for a few minutes to remove it, then dry the nail tip and apply it again.
Use only a small amount of glue so that the glue does not stick to the skin.

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Prepare acrylic nail supplies. Pour the acrylic liquid into the acrylic dish, and put the dough in another plate. Acrylic is a strong chemical that produces toxic fumes, so you must work in a well-ventilated area. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Dip the brush in the acrylic liquid. Submerge the brush completely and make sure all air bubbles have escaped. Then, sweep the brush against the edge of the bowl to remove excess liquid. Dip the brush in the acrylic powder so that the tip of the brush gets a little damp.

You may have to practice a few times to get the right ratio between liquid and acrylic powder. The acrylic mixture on the brush tip should be moist enough to spread, but not too wet. The acrylic mixture should stick to the brush head without dripping.
Have a tissue ready in case you need to absorb any liquid and wipe the brush between coats so the acrylic doesn’t stick to the brush.

Apply the acrylic mixture on your nails. Start at the bottom edge of the acrylic nail tip. Press the acrylic pellet over this line and spread it down to the tip of the nail. Spread evenly and quickly so that the transition between the real nail and the acrylic nail is smooth. Take the second acrylic tablet and place it close to the sheet, but not too close. Try to put the acrylic in close to the cuticle but don’t touch it, then apply the acrylic down to ensure a smooth transition. Repeat this process on all nails.

Remember to wipe the brush on a paper towel between acrylic applications. Once you get used to this job, you don’t need to clean the brush as often. The purpose of this is to prevent the acrylic from sticking to the brush. If the acrylic is still on the brush, dip the brush in the liquid, then wipe the brush again.
To prevent the acrylic from clumping, be sure to apply in small streaks and in the same direction.
Less is faster! If you apply too much acrylic on your nails, it will take a long time to file. When you are new to acrylic nails, you should apply a little at a time.
If you apply acrylic properly, there should be a slight curve, rather than a sharp curve, where the acrylic nail tip meets the real nail. You may have to use more than one acrylic per nail to achieve this.
Do not apply acrylic to the cuticle. The acrylic layer should start a few millimeters from the cuticle so that it sticks to the nail instead of the skin.

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Wait for the acrylic to dry. It takes about ten minutes for the acrylic to completely dry. Test by tapping the nail surface with the handle of the brush. If it clicks, you can do the next step.

Complete acrylic nails

Shape the tip of the nail. Now that the acrylic nail is dry, you will use a nail file (180 grit) to shape the tip and file to the desired length. File the surface of the nail with a 240-grit nail file to remove scratches created by a 180-grit file. Finish by filing with a 1000 grit file, if you want even more shine use a 4000 grit file. With a 4000 grit file, your nails will be as shiny as paint! ^{[6] X Research Source}

Be sure to use a small brush to brush away the dust created by the filing, so it doesn’t mix with the nail polish!

Nail polish. You can use clear or colored nail polish. Apply paint over the entire nail area to create a glossy surface.

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Maintenance of acrylic nails. After about 2 weeks, your nails should be longer. You will either reapply the acrylic or remove the acrylic from the nail.

If your nails are blue, yellow, or look unhealthy, DO NOT put acrylic on them. Nail fungus or other nail diseases will not be cured! The situation will be worse if you stick acrylic nails on it. Nail fungus is very contagious, so don’t use unsterilized tools on you or anyone else.

Steps

Buy acrylic nail supplies

Prepare your nails

Acrylic manicure

Complete acrylic nails

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