At the dawn of the modern nail industry, lengthening the nail plate required little: acrylic powder, a monomer, a brush, an acid primer (which you didn’t think about whether it was acidic or not) and paper forms. To shape the nails, two files were used: one side 180 grit, the other 150 grit. For grinding, a three-sided polisher was needed: 400, 800 and 1200 grit. All materials could be bought in the section of a large department store for a symbolic price.
With the development of this industry, the emergence of competitions and international championships, the requirements for the work of the master have increased. Modeling has become an art, and nail design has become an ornament. Interest in it is growing more and more, and many are looking for an answer to the question: “What is needed for nail extension?”
There are many related little things in this area that help build a beautiful shape of artificial nails. How can a beginner figure out what is mandatory and what can be left out for now? What to choose - gel or acrylic? Which lamp to buy - UV or LED? What forms will be needed?top, bottom or arched? What tips to use - white, transparent or natural, which C-curve is better? But first things first.
What does the salon master use for modeling
In the conditions of the salon, all types of nail extensions are used. Each master chooses for himself the one that he likes best. Properly extended nails do not differ in quality, as well as what material was used for this - gel or acrylic. But all methods have their own technology, which determines what is needed for nail extensions.
In the gel technology, the material laid out on the form is polymerized in an ultraviolet or LED lamp. Therefore, without it, it will not be possible to start modeling. The gel itself is applied with a brush, often using several sizes for different tasks. The gel, as a rule, belongs to a three-phase system. This means that the work is carried out in three stages, and each has its own material.
Acrylic for nail extension polymerizes in the air, therefore, does not require a UV lamp. But now the craftsmen use mixed media and instead of polishing the acrylic, they apply a gel top coat, and a lamp is already needed for it. Acrylic extensions require powder and monomer. A ball of acrylic is formed with a brush, which is distributed in a form.
Tips and forms
Extension is carried out on tips or forms. Tips are considered an early form of modeling that was never recognized in nail championships. But they are widely used for non-professional building. There are several types of tips, among whichtransparent and white are distinguished, having a C-bend in a half circle, without a contact zone. Together with them, they use glue for tips, which comes in different polymerization rates.
Forms for nail extension are used disposable and reusable, upper and lower, classic and arched. To properly shape the architecture of the nail, the professional will select a disposable paper mold that can be cut and bent to fit a specific nail. Do not require the construction of the structure of the upper forms, which are already made taking into account the C-bend. But their production causes difficulties for many.
Arched shapes
Arched forms for nail extensions that have appeared relatively recently have proven themselves well in both gel and acrylic technologies. With them, even a beginner will build beautiful, durable nails. They are transparent plates, similar to tips. There are 50 reusable molds in all sizes. They can be trimmed for ease of setting, signed with a marker.
The arch shape is placed on the nail not with glue, but with gel. Not all gel nail extension materials are suitable for this operation. The manufacturer recommends using a transparent VIP gel that cures in an LED lamp.
These forms are an innovation of Formula Profi. The video details what materials will be required for gel modeling. Acrylic extensions can be made with the same forms.
Nail tools
To get started, you shouldprepare the necessary tools. This is a tips cutter if you plan to work with tips. Necessarily tweezers for the cuticle - after sawdust there may be burrs on the skin, which are easily removed by them. Files for natural nail processing, artificial nail filing, grinding and polishing (with classic acrylic extensions) and a buff for removing glossy shine from the nail.
The use of an electric cutter is not allowed in the championships, but it greatly reduces the work of the master. Therefore, the manicure device will only help in the processing of natural nail plates, filing artificial nails and during correction - they are used to remove excess length, detachments and sawing out an overgrown natural nail.
For the correct formation of the C-bend, there are metal tubes that are selected under each nail. If you plan to work on paper forms, you need to have them. When working with the gel, reverse tweezers are required. To use the upper forms in gel technology, you will need a rotary lamp for nail extension.
Variety of extension gels
All gels have different characteristics. They are thick, liquid and medium consistency. There are self-leveling and those that need to be laid out. There are gels that polymerize only in UV lamps, and there are those that can dry in LED lamps. Camouflage - allow you to lengthen the nail bed, white - a bright tip for a French manicure. Transparent gels make it possible to even out all the defects made when laying out the previous layers, they are used for jacket with tips, foraquarium design.
Not all the gels that the master needs can be found. Due to the specifics of their production, some simply do not exist. Therefore, one has to either combine several technologies, or be content with those offered by the manufacturer. The purchase of materials for gel nail extension is always associated with the manufacturer's recommendations. If you do not follow them, you can get unpredictable results. For example, there are non-self-supporting gels that require a rigid support. This is usually camouflage. Applied to a nail bed extension mold, they will bend and break nails on the first day.
Nail extension set
There are ready-made kits for sale. They are found in stores selling all sorts of things, and on large Internet sites. As a rule, these are low-quality materials and tips. In order not to earn an allergy from their use, it is better to assemble such a set yourself and do it in a well-known training center where nail service masters are trained.
The training center works on a specific brand, it is a respected manufacturer and certified materials. At such a center there is always a store, and its sellers will help to assemble a starter kit for nail extension for a beginner. Those who have completed the training are en titled to a discount of up to 30% of the amount, so taking advantage of this offer is beneficial. During the training, you can ask the instructor questions of interest, including those based on materials from other brands.
Purchase throughinternet
Not everyone has the opportunity to visit the training center, but usually large companies have their own online store. In it you can purchase a starter kit - what you need for home nail extension. Usually it is trial and complete. A trial set allows the master to test the new material, to understand whether it is convenient and, in case of a positive response, to order a complete one.
Acrylic technology mini kit from Formula Profi, for example, has a set of top molds, acrylic powder, monomer, two auxiliary liquids, a brush and a UV coating. To work, you will also need a lamp for nail extension, nail files and a manicure device.
Auxiliary fluids
Modeling will require special compounds that improve adhesion (adhesion) with the nail. This is a degreaser, or prep primer. It contains alcohol and does a good job of removing excess fat and moisture from the nail plate. This is what you need for nail extension. After it, a primer is applied: acidic for acrylic and acid-free for gel. It provides reliable adhesion to the artificial material nail keratin.
The primer is used very economically, so it is better to purchase it from well-known companies - OPI, CNI, KODI, Formula Profi, Mozart House. These brands work on American raw materials, therefore they are interchangeable. Chinese materials may not be compatible with them, and then the nails will quickly break.
Acid primer thatused for acrylic extensions, should be applied very carefully, barely touching the surface of the nail with a semi-dry brush. It contains a strong acid that can cause chemical burns. Although the keratin cells on the surface of the nail are dead and do not feel anything, the skin surrounding the nail - the cuticle area and lateral ridges - is at risk.
Acrylic nails at home
Every business has its nuances. Working with building materials involves the use of aggressive liquids and potentially allergenic materials. Therefore, without special knowledge, he alth can easily be damaged. Having studied in a good school, you can quickly recoup the money spent and even earn money. Acrylic is better for home use.
If you learn how to properly take a drop of acrylic, and quickly distribute it on the nail, then acrylic extension will require a minimum of tools and materials. Acrylic for nail extension at home has several advantages:
- Independent of UV or LED lamp.
- With good daylight, independence from electricity.
- When correcting, acrylic does not pull detachments.
Acrylic DIY Starter Kit
For beginners, it is better to take the finest grinding acrylic powder: white, camouflage and transparent. It is better to choose a monomer with anti-yellow additives. Then the nails will turn out even and will not turn yellow. You can press the arch with your fingers, just choose the right moment: acrylic should bend, but not smear. For sawdust you will need a 150 grit file, to work withnatural nails - file 180 grit. Buff 240 grit to remove shine from the nail and polisher from 1000 grit. Auxiliary liquids - prep primer and acid primer. And, of course, arched shapes are all you need for nail extensions at home.
