In the technology of applying a decorative coating there is a preparatory liquid, which is called differently depending on the manufacturing company. These are bond, bonder, ultrabond, primer, pro-bond, prime, nail prime and others. This introduces confusion when combining products of different brands. In a word, it is a primer for nails. What is it for?
"Primer" in translation - a primer. It is applied to the nail to increase adhesion with the subsequent material. It comes in several types and has different functions: degreaser, dehydrator, double-sided adhesive tape and a tool that lifts the scales of the top layer of the nail.
Paint Primer
In the line of varnishes, many companies produce a primer for better adhesion of the base and keratin of the nail. The use of this special tool can extend the manicure for a week. It is usually called an air conditioner and is produced for both professional and home use. The leader in the production of nail polishes - the OPI concern - has two products, called differently: Chip Skip and Bond Aid.
Their difference is in the method of application and the presence of a varnish component in the first product. The composition for home use, in addition to acetic acid ester, includes wheat proteins and vitamins. In the salon, usually a professional primer is used for all procedures, and the composition for home use is offered to clients. It requires degreasing the nail before application.
Actually, Bond Aid professional composition is an acid-free primer. It is used for all operations with nails before applying a decorative coating, including gel polish.
Prep primer, acid and acid free primers
There are three types of primers: prep primer, acid free and acid.
The first one might be called a "dehydrator". It cleans the nail from shine, removing all fatty contaminants and moisture. It usually consists of alcohol and has the right acidity, like a natural nail (it is higher than that of the skin). This tool does not penetrate deep into, does not overdry. With wet nails, it is applied several times to dry the surface of the nail well for better adhesion to the material. It is applied to varnish and to prepare the nail for gel polish or extension. It is often applied before another primer, so the name prep primer suits it well.
The second is often called a "bond". This is a composition based on ethyl ester of acetic acid. It acts like double sided tape. Some brands leave a sticky coating on the nail. It is used before applying gel polish and extension gel. Each manufacturerThere is a nail primer for varnishes, gel polishes and gel. It fills the micro-voids between keratin cells and provides a snug fit of the material, thereby increasing adhesion.
The third primer contains methacrylic acid. In order to avoid a chemical burn, it is applied very dosed, with a semi-dry brush, barely touching the surface of the nail. It has a high concentration of acid, the bottle says Acid Based. The upper keratin scales of the nail, treated with this agent, rise up. The surface becomes even more adhesive than an acid-free primer.
Gel Polish Primer
To keep the gel well, a nail primer is needed. The gel has large molecules, which by themselves will not provide good adhesion to the nail. Therefore, an acid-free primer is used, which fills all the irregularities of the keratin fibers. And already the first layer of the three-phase gel polish system, the base, is attached to the nail prepared in this way.
During the drying process in the lamp, long polymer chains are built. This process is called polymerization. And the primer acts in this case like a double-sided adhesive tape: it holds the keratin on one side, the base on the other.
Acid-free nail primer can be different: leaves an oily mark or not, dries quickly in the air or within a few seconds. How exactly to apply it, usually the manufacturer indicates on the bottle. Almost always it is applied to the entire nail plate, sealing the end. He does no harmskin, so it's not scary if it gets on the roller or cuticle.
Gel extension primer
In gel extensions, an acid-free primer is also used. It is applied before base coat, the first phase of a three-phase system. If the coating is single-phase, then the first layer is applied differently. With a semi-dry brush, rubbing movements achieve coverage with a thin layer of the entire nail. After that, the gel is applied, as when painting with varnish, and the hand is sent to the lamp. This method increases grip and prolongs the wear of artificial turf.
If extensions are made on tips, then before the adhesive composition, the surface is also treated with a nail primer.
How to use a primer when sticking tips:
- Degrease the nail with a prep primer.
- Apply a thin layer of acid-free primer to the entire nail plate and air dry.
- Apply glue to the contact area of the tips and stick on the nail.
Acid primer for acrylic nail extensions
Primer for acrylic building is used only acidic. They treat the nail carefully, without touching the skin and tips.
To prevent chipping of gel polish from the tips of the nails, they are treated with the end of the nail. In some cases, with hyperhidrosis, it is applied under a gel-varnish decorative coating. So in the nail parlor, he takes his place.
Public Concern about Unhe althy Ingredients Used in Manicureindustry, has led to many disputes regarding methacrylic acid, which is part of the acid primer. It's poisonous, but if acidic nail primer is so dangerous, what is it for?
Is acid primer harmful
In fact, you need to distinguish between methyl methacrylates and ethyl methacrylates. The first are really toxic substances that are prohibited for the production of cosmetics. The second is a completely different substance.
In addition, a highly diluted composition is used for treating nails, which, however, if used improperly, can cause a chemical burn of the skin. With the careful work of the master, this is excluded, since the primer acts on dead keratin cells. The same composition is used in dentistry and is not satisfactory.
If a drop of acid primer accidentally gets on the skin, immediately wash the area with plenty of running water and soap. If a burn occurs, seek medical attention immediately to prevent possible allergies in the future.
Because acid nail primer is a professional product, it does not belong in a home with small children. It is also better for an adult to use it only when taking acrylic extension courses. In this technology, it is used the most. The instructor will teach you how much to draw on the brush, how to outlive it on the edge of the bottle and when to moisten the brush again. Professionals can stretch the material for all tennails with a single application of a semi-dry brush.
Replacement options
How to replace the primer for nails? Craftsmen, especially in our country, invent many ways to replace technology. Tried replacing the primer. Liquids offered at home included vinegar, lemon juice, hand washing with soap, vodka, and others. It must be said that degreasing can be achieved by thoroughly washing hands with soap that does not contain oils. That is, laundry or soap for bleaching when washing. But this will harm the skin, and you will also have to dry your nails. Do not cover wet nails.
As for degreasing with vodka instead of a prep primer for nails, it is not only useless, but also harmful. The water in its composition will be absorbed into the nail and it will have to be dried. It's better to use 96% pure alcohol, it's more like a prep primer.
Regarding acidity, it should be noted that in a natural nail it approaches 7, alcohol has an acidity of 6, and skin has an acidity of 5.5. Any organic addition will violate the sterility of the coating process, and acid addition is difficult to calculate correctly. So don't experiment. No one tries to fill a tooth at home. The manicurist's materials came from the dental office and require respect.
Apply Tips
When the primer is applied for the first time, the entire nail is treated. Subsequent corrections also require the application of a primer, but only on the overgrown part of the nail near the cuticle. Especially you need to try not to get them on tips: theythen crack. Here are some tips on how to apply primer on your nails:
- If the nails are soft and flexible, then they are treated with an acid primer along the end and free edge before applying gel polish. The entire plate is pre-treated with an acid-free primer. After two to three weeks, this edge of the nail is simply filed off with a new application. This is done so that the gel polish at the tip of the nail becomes insoluble. If you apply an acid primer to the entire nail plate, the material will also become insoluble. They don't do that.
- If the nails are prone to hyperhidrosis, they are applied with an acid primer under the gel polish. Due to the large nail effusion, the material will not adhere as it would on normal nails. But using an acid primer will prolong the life of the manicure. Opponents of using an acid primer in gel polish technology advise treating the nail several times with an acid-free primer.
- When correcting after filing the detachments, open areas of the natural nail are treated: with gel extension - with an acid-free primer, with acrylic - with acid, but only near the cuticle.
Which primer to choose
For the starter kit, the master usually buys those materials with which he worked before and on which he was trained. There is a difference in materials produced in the USA and China. They may not be in contact with each other. Therefore, it is best to buy a full line of products from one manufacturer.
It could also be a domestic company - Tatnail, for example. Or "FormulaPro. Belarusian "Severina" or "Runail" with Chinese materials. The main thing is that all the compositions fit well on top of each other. And this is ideally provided by products of one brand. The manufacturer always meets the buyer halfway and informs in detail about the technology of applying his brand on the website.
An important aspect is to purchase only those products that will then be easy to buy again. Our country is so big that sometimes local stores are not able to satisfy all the needs of buyers of nail products. Even if they agree to place an order, they will have to wait, which is inconvenient. Therefore, local manicure schools will tell you which primer is best for you.
Caution
There are many nuances in applying a nail primer. But the most important thing is not to confuse one remedy with another. To do this, you should understand the composition of the product, which is usually printed by the manufacturer on the bottle. If you have a jar in front of you with the inscription "primer" and the absence of any other identification marks, this is dangerous.
Purchase from old warehouse stock from the days of methyl methacrylates in extensions - what could be worse? If there is no voluntary certification mark on the bottle, it may be an artist's primer, not a medical one. Once on the skin, it can permanently cause an allergy to acrylates.
Conclusion
All well-known brands undergo voluntary certification and have documents to provide copies to the buyer. They are not fakeshave, so be careful when shopping online.
Take care of yourself and buy only proven products with certificates in special stores.
