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DIY Nails: A Beginners Guide to Nail Dipping

If you’re on the search for an innovative new way to get the salon-style manicure you deserve right from the comfort of home, then you’ll want to try out nail dipping. Not only can nail dipping be an excellent way to protect your nails from stripping and damage, but you have many different color and design options to pick from. That means you can create unique and beautiful designs in a wide range of color combinations and fit any holiday or theme that might be coming up next. 

Whether you’ve been practicing nail dipping for a long time or you’re just trying it out, Nailboo is here to help. We carry easy-to-use nail dip kits that you can try out with friends, and we offer the information and dipping guides that will help you achieve all the nail designs you’re sure to love. Check out our growing catalog and library and make your next manicure a nail dip manicure. 

What Is Nail Dipping? 

There are many different ways to get a long-lasting manicure in unique colors and styles. Some of the most common include acrylics, gel nails, and Shellac nails. While these styles can stay fresh and trendy for weeks at a time, they may not be the best option to fit the health and wellness of your nails, and they often require money and resources for both application and removal. 

Nail dipping provides all the benefits of those styles without the hassle. As the name would indicate, the nail dip style is a simple process where you achieve a manicure by dipping your nails into an innovative powder product, rather than painting the color directly on. You can get this look right at home with a few simple tools and materials, and it has a much lower impact on the health of your nails than other options. 

Getting started is easy, and you can adjust and customize your dipped manicure to fit your favorite styles with ease. 

Benefits of Nail Dipping 

While gels and acrylics are two of the most common options for customizable and long-lasting nail styles, there are many benefits to dipping your nails instead. 

Here are just a few of the reasons that nail dipping stands out from other manicure processes, and why you’ll want to make nail dipping your go-to at-home style. 

It Lasts a Long Time 

People often turn to gels and acrylics because they’re so long-lasting, which makes them a good investment and means less time at the salon. With dip powder, you’ll have the benefits of long-lasting nails and you won’t need to worry about the side effects of acrylic or gel nail options. With proper care and upkeep, your dip nail manicure can last three weeks or longer, and you won’t need to keep returning to the salon for care and fill-ins. 

Fewer Chips and Peels 

Not only does dip polish last as long (if not longer) as other manicure options, but it stays in great shape as well. Your polish is less likely to dip, scrape, or peel with a dip polish manicure, which helps to protect the nail underneath. It’s easy to make any adjustments you need, but your dip polish is designed to last and remain strong and smooth. 

You Can Do It at Home

Going into the salon for a manicure or every time you need a touch-up can become very time-consuming and may mean that you have to deal with chipped or peeling paint for a day or two. This isn’t the case with dip polish. 

Not only can you apply the original dip paint manicure right at home as soon as your dip kit arrives, but you can make any touch-ups or fill-ins that need to be made, which will help to keep your manicure looking smooth and fresh for a long time to come. 

You’ll Save Money 

All of this means you’ll save a lot of money. A good manicure can be costly, and so can returning to the salon for fixes and fill-ins. With a dip manicure kit, all you need to worry about is the initial investment, and then it will last you for many great manicures. You won’t have to schedule appointments and take time away from work or home, and you’ll save a lot of money on salon-quality manicures without the salon-quality cost. 

It’s Better for Your Nails 

Acrylic and gel nails can really have an impact on the surface of your natural nail since they require adhesives and also the use of UV light, which can damage your skin over time. With dip nails, you won’t have to worry about the health and wellness impact of your manicure

In fact, the dip polish can help to protect the surface of your nail and even make it stronger, which is a great way to grow your nails out. If you don’t want to worry about stripping or damaging your nail or the effects of UV light exposure, then dip nail powder is a great option for you. 

You Can Remove It at Home

Not only do you need to go into the salon to have gels and acrylics applied, but you need to return to have them removed as well. Improper removal of acrylic nails can cause the nail below to become stripped or damaged, which means scheduling another appointment and more manicure costs. When you use dip polish, all you need is a simple removal kit. 

It takes less than half an hour to remove dip polish with acetone and our nail clips, which means you’ll have fresh, healthy nails in less than the time it takes to watch your favorite television program. 

We recommend allowing your nails a week to breathe before applying your next layer of dip powder, but the application and removal processes are easy and available right from the comfort of home. 

You Have Many Options

Nail art has long been used as a way of expressing our creativity and individuality, which is one reason why acrylic and gel nails are so popular. But you’ll have those same wonderful benefits with dip polish, as well. 

Enjoy a wide range of colors and styles, from jewel tones to pastels to neutrals to glitter nails. Whatever you want your next manicure style to look like, you’ll be able to achieve it with the powders available here at Nailboo. 

Nail Dipping Process 

If you’re ready to get gorgeous dipped nails right at home, the process is smooth and easy. Check the Nailboo guide to getting started. 

Step One: Apply Base Coat and Build Powder 

Apply a layer of base coat and dip into the build powder. This will help to give you a flat, neutral base for your favorite colors. It’s also helpful because it can protect your nails and ensure the nail polish lasts longer and stays fresh for weeks to come. 

Step Two: Dip in the Color 

Apply a second base coat. Dip your nails into your new nail color. The base coat will allow your colored powder to adhere properly, but it’s a good idea to tap your nails on a paper towel to avoid any mess or clean-up. If necessary, apply a second coat of the colored powder to get as vibrant a hue as you want. 

Step Three: Use the Activator Liquid 

Now apply the activator liquid. You will spread a thin layer across each nail and then allow it to dry for two minutes. Once hardened, use your nail file to begin buffing and evening out your nails. After you are satisfied with the shape and style, apply a second layer of the activator liquid and allow it to dry for two minutes again. 

Step Four: Apply the Topcoat 

The last step you’ll want to take when applying dip nail powder is to add the topcoat, just as you would if you were painting your nails with regular polish. Allow the top clear coat to dry completely, as this will ensure the final product is smooth and shiny and will help to protect your nails from damage or chips. Sit back and admire! 

What To Know About Nail Dip Removal  

One of the reasons dip nail powder is such an excellent option for manicure and nail art enthusiasts is that it’s easy to remove right at home. When it comes to taking off acrylic or gel nails, it’s recommended that you return to your salon and allow a certified professional to remove them properly, at the risk of damaging or stripping your nail if you try to do so yourself. 

With dip powder, all you need is a simple removal kit, including acetone, nail clips, cotton swabs, and a nail file. A cuticle pusher and hand lotion are recommended as well. Once your materials are gathered, here is the simple process for removing your nail dip powder. 

Step One: Buff Your Nails 

Use your nail file to remove as much of the dip powder from the surface of your nail as possible, until only a thin layer remains. The more of the powder you’re able to remove at this stage, the easier and smoother the process will be. 

Step Two: Apply Your Acetone

Dip cotton swabs in acetone and apply them to the surface of your nails. Check out the nail powder removal clips available here at Nailboo, which will ensure that the acetone swabs remain in place while loosening the last of the powder. Keep the acetone swabs on your nails for 15 to 20 minutes. 

Step Three: Finish Removal 

Take the clips off your nails one by one. Swirl the swab around to collect any loosened products. If there is any remaining product or polish on the nails, use a cuticle pusher to remove it gently. 

Step Four: Moisturize and Protect 

Acetone can be very drying for the skin, which is why it’s a good idea to keep hand lotion in your manicure kit. Once your polish is removed, apply lotion to the skin and apply your favorite oils to your nails for growth and support. It’s recommended that you allow your nails to breathe for a few days to a week before applying the next nail dip manicure. 

Conclusion 

There are so many benefits and advantages to trying out nail dip powder manicures that it can be difficult to know where to start. Nail dip manicures last as long as other types of manicures and are less prone to chipping or damage, but they’re also much less abrasive on the nail below. Not only will they protect your nails from stripping or irritation, but they can even help to make your nail stronger over time. 

One of the top benefits of a nail dip powder manicure is that you can try it out right at home. That means you won’t need to worry about scheduling an appointment and spending time and money at the salon. And, you can remove them at home with ease before designing your next color and creative manicure look!

For all the materials, resources, and support you need to get started, trust Nailboo. Our nail dip kits are easy and fun to use and you’ll be able to try out the next gorgeous manicure the moment they arrive. Check out our inventory of colors and designs to get started today. 

 

Sources:

Gel or Dip Powder? A Guide to the Different Types of Manicures—Plus, How Much They Cost | Southern Living 

How Much Does a Manicure Cost in Your Neck of the Woods? | Glamour 

6 Things Your Nails Say About Your Health | Cleveland Clinic 

How to Safely Use Nailcare Products | FDA 

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