ACRYLIC NAILS AT HOME

One of the most helpful beauty hacks I have leaned is how to do long lasting acrylic nails at home. Here I will talk about tips and what products I use, everything can be found on Amazon!

I have always loved wearing fake nails, but did not want to go to appointments and pay $70 every few weeks. I have always enjoyed doing nails and other artistic things, so I began watching countless hours of YouTube tutorials and eventually learned how to do my own acrylic. My nails hold up for around two weeks before they start to look grown out and need a fill. I have done lots of research about which products to use and this routine is what works best for me!

1) The Drill

First, you will need a drill in order to file and shape your nails. I use this one called Equate Beauty Total Nail Care System. It is only $9.98 in the nail aisle at Walmart. It is listed on the packaging what each drill bit is used for. There are more advanced drills out there, but I find that this does a great job and is easiest to use.

2) Glue

If you want to start trying to do your own nails, one option is to simply glue nails on and paint them while you learn how to do acrylic. I have purchased glue-on nails from the drug store and they only lasted a few days, until I found this glue. Then, they lasted up to two weeks (filing makes a difference as well). It is the best nail glue I have ever tried and it is only $1.99! It can be purchased on Amazon by looking up Nailene Ultra Quick Nail Glue. I now use it to apply my tips for acrylic as well.

3) Nails

When I purchase nail tips, I look for numbered sizes because once you get the hang of it, you will remember how big each of your nails are and will not have to measure each time. If you search acrylic nail tips on Amazon, there are a variety of different shapes. My favorite shape is coffin, but I also like square and oval.

4) Dehydrator and Primer

This is a step that I did not learn until later on, but it made a huge difference in how long my nails last! After I cut and shape the tips, I apply dehydrator then primer. The dehydrator is a degreasing liquid that dries out any oils that might prevent the acrylic from sticking. The primer just provides for better adhesion and duration. I use the brand Mia Secret, you can get both of these as a set for $14.88 on Amazon!

5) Acrylic Powder and Monomer

After fully prepping the nails, it is time to apply the acrylic. This is the part that takes practice and lessons in order to get the right ratio and consistency. You will need an acrylic nail brush which should be dipped into the monomer, then the powder. This will form a bead which can be painted onto the nail. These products are also Mia Secret. The set includes liquid monomer, as well as both clear and pink acrylic powder. It can be found on Amazon for $20.90.

This video was extremely helpful and gives a more in-depth and visual tutorial of this step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXbiy4afrog&t=459s

6) Paint

When you are done filing and shaping the acrylic to be clean and smooth, the most fun part is painting the nails. You can stay simple and do a solid color, or apply cool designs. One brand I like is Sinful Colors because it is highly pigmented (not see-through), cheap, has a great color selection, and can be found at most drug stores. My favorite top coat is Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat which can range anywhere from $5-$10 at places like Ulta, Walmart, and Amazon. It is the best at giving the nails a glossy shine and protecting the polish underneath from fading.

If you want to see this process explained and done on nails just type in "step-by-step acrylic nails" on YouTube, and there will be tons of results! If you want to practice before purchasing the real deal, try the Kiss Acrylic Sculpture Set for $7.87 from Walmart. All of the products I listed are amazing, high quality products which have lasted me so long. To me, they are worth it because the price I paid for everything all together equals out to what I would pay going to the salon a few times for a new set. I love doing nails because I can customize them exactly the way I want, and they are fun to do on myself, as well as my friends and family. It definitely takes practice, but it pays off in the end. Good luck!!