Q & A

Browse answers to common customer questions.

Nail Care

Yes! Just make sure to neutralize it with water and thoroughly cleanse the nail to prevent any lifting in the future. Leftover cuticle softener on the nail plate can affect the adhesion of nail products.

For tools such as clippers, nippers, and others, after each use, you should:

  • Wash them under warm, running water to remove debris (e.g. liquid soap or mild detergent).
  • Rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
  • Dry them (e.g. with a paper towel).
  • Disinfect them (e.g. soak in alcohol or a special disinfectant solution).

Nail files and nail buffers are porous and shouldn't be reused. If you reuse these porous tools at home, be sure to spray them with rubbing alcohol to minimize the growth of bacteria.

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the lifting of dip powder or gel polish. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

  • Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
  • Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
  • Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris, moisture and natural oils. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

You can try using a nail dehydrator if you had issues with lifting in the past. You can also use an alcohol wipe or a Pro Soak Acetone Remover to clean and dehydrate a nail plate.

Cuticle is a thin layer of clear dead tissue on the nail plate. The cuticle can be easily removed by gently pushing it back and scraping with both sides of the cuticle pusher.

Remove any remaining cuticle and hangnails using our Cuticle Nipper. Ensure the nipper is sharp and clean. The cutting edge of the nipper should be facing down toward the nail. Never cut the raised ridge around your nails (called a proximal nail fold). Be very gentle and cautious when working on this area.

You can use an alcohol wipe or a Pro Soak Acetone Remover to clean and dehydrate a nail plate.

Nail Prep

Yes! Just make sure to neutralize it with water and thoroughly cleanse the nail to prevent any lifting in the future. Leftover cuticle softener on the nail plate can affect the adhesion of nail products.

For tools such as clippers, nippers, and others, after each use, you should:

  • Wash them under warm, running water to remove debris (e.g. liquid soap or mild detergent).
  • Rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
  • Dry them (e.g. with a paper towel).
  • Disinfect them (e.g. soak in alcohol or a special disinfectant solution).

Nail files and nail buffers are porous and shouldn't be reused. If you reuse these porous tools at home, be sure to spray them with rubbing alcohol to minimize the growth of bacteria.

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the lifting of dip powder or gel polish. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

  • Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
  • Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
  • Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris, moisture and natural oils. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

You can try using a nail dehydrator if you had issues with lifting in the past. You can also use an alcohol wipe or a Pro Soak Acetone Remover to clean and dehydrate a nail plate.

Cuticle is a thin layer of clear dead tissue on the nail plate. The cuticle can be easily removed by gently pushing it back and scraping with both sides of the cuticle pusher.

Remove any remaining cuticle and hangnails using our Cuticle Nipper. Ensure the nipper is sharp and clean. The cutting edge of the nipper should be facing down toward the nail. Never cut the raised ridge around your nails (called a proximal nail fold). Be very gentle and cautious when working on this area.

You can use an alcohol wipe or a Pro Soak Acetone Remover to clean and dehydrate a nail plate.

Tools

For tools such as clippers, nippers, and others, after each use, you should:

  • Wash them under warm, running water to remove debris (e.g. liquid soap or mild detergent).
  • Rinse them thoroughly with clean water.
  • Dry them (e.g. with a paper towel).
  • Disinfect them (e.g. soak in alcohol or a special disinfectant solution).

Nail files and nail buffers are porous and shouldn't be reused. If you reuse these porous tools at home, be sure to spray them with rubbing alcohol to minimize the growth of bacteria.

Dip Powder

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the lifting of dip powder or gel polish. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

  • Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
  • Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
  • Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris, moisture and natural oils. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

Build Powder creates a stronger foundation for your color powder and prolongs the wear time. Build Powder can be used as a last layer to encapsulate glitter or color powders to protect them from filing and buffing. If you feel like your nails are naturally strong, and you are not a fan of the added thickness you can skip it.
We recommend you to continue using it if you ever had a chipping or cracking issues in the past. Sometimes our dip manicures are too thin for our lifestyle. Build up your nails to support the whole nail length. Use 1-2 layers of Build Powder and 2-3 layers of color powder if your nails need extra strength.

We recommend starting with one coat of Build Powder on 3/4 of the nail and two coats of color powder for your first manicure, then adjusting up or down to suit your preference. That’s what so great about doing your own nails - everything can be customized to your own needs.

Your DIY Nailboo dip mani (with proper prep, application, and after-care) can look flawless for up to six weeks.

This can happen due to a variety of factors:

  • Make sure you're applying very thin layers of the base liquid and allow the powder to dry before brushing off.
  • Apply Activator generously to harden the layers. Use enough to make sure all the powder layers are saturated.
  • If you are trying to activate too many layers at once or layers are too thick, the activator may not penetrate completely.
  • Give it some more time - some very pigmented colors may take a longer time to dry.
  • Your activator might be old or contaminated with powder. Check if you can see any powder inside the bottle and make sure to never put dirty brushes inside the bottle.

For extended storage life store your products in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and light sources. Securely close the lids of the bottles and jars. Avoid exposure to sunlight and UV light. Store liquid bottles in an upright position. Before putting away mani liquids make sure that brushes and neck of the bottles are clean.
Tip: You can choose to add a small drop of oil on the outside threads of the bottle to make it easier to open next time you use it.

Dip base coat and Top coat harden from contact with step 2 Activator, moisture(water), or long air exposure. Cross-contamination can happen from acetone getting in the bottles during cleaning, leftover Activator getting on a Top Coat Brush, or dip powder getting transferred to Base coat bottles. You should also avoid exposure of liquids to air for long periods.

Here are some tips that can help you avoid uneven dip surface.

  • Stir and shake the powder. This makes the powder less dense and ensures pigment consistency.
  • Control the amount of base liquid on your brush. Always use a thin layer of base coat. Wipe off excess on the inside of the bottle
  • Hold the brush parallel to the nail.
  • Make sure the base is even. Start 3/4 of the nail and push towards the cuticle.
  • If you had problems with the rippling effect try pouring the powder over the nail instead of dipping.
  • Guide the nail into the powder at a 45-degree angle to ensure a smooth surface.
  • Remove ALL excess powder after each dip.
  • Shape the nails after activating to avoid them looking bulky

Dip flu is the colloquial name given to a set of flu-like symptoms that some people experience when they are sensitive to dip powder or essential liquids. The symptoms can be sneezing, stuffy nose or watery eyes. There are different precautions that you can take to limit exposure to dip powder formulas.

  • Work in an open and well-ventilated room with free circulation of air.
  • Work in a well-illuminated room When you do your own dip nails, you're in closer proximity to the dipping products than at the salon. Keep your hand at a safe distance from your face. With good lighting, you can see everything you do better without the need to get closer.
  • The irritation that occurs after inhaling the scent can be prevented by wearing a face mask.
  • Wearing glasses or protective goggles can shield your eyes from nail debris and fumes.
  • Use an old towel or cloth that traps the dust particles and makes it easier to clean afterward.
  • A humidifier or air purifier can also be used to reduce the number of dust particles in the air.
  • After application remembers to clean up the whole area. Have a quick vacuum and close all the bottles and dip jars tightly. Use a paper towel with a detergent to cleanse everything properly.

This should not be taken as medical advice. Seek medical counsel for any symptoms.

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the product lifting at the cuticle. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

  • Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
  • Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
  • Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris and moisture. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

Doing all the steps on one hand then moving on to the next makes the most sense when doing your own nails. This minimizes idle waiting time, resulting in a faster overall process. You can work on the other hand as the first one is drying or curing.

This usually occurs when too much base liquid is applied to the nail. To prevent this apply thin, but even layers of base and dip your nail at an angle, or pour the powder over the wet base.

Dipping can shift the base if there is too much on the nail resulting in lumpy appearance.

Gel Polish

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the lifting of dip powder or gel polish. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

  • Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
  • Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
  • Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris, moisture and natural oils. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

For extended storage life store your products in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and light sources. Securely close the lids of the bottles and jars. Avoid exposure to sunlight and UV light. Store liquid bottles in an upright position. Before putting away mani liquids make sure that brushes and neck of the bottles are clean.
Tip: You can choose to add a small drop of oil on the outside threads of the bottle to make it easier to open next time you use it.

Nail prep is a key to avoiding the product lifting at the cuticle. There are 3 reasons you might have experienced lifting near the cuticle.

  • Product applied on the cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. When this happens there is a pocket between the nail plate that can cause lifting as nails grow out.
  • Leftover cuticle attached to the nail plate. If the cuticle is not fully removed from the nail with the product applied on top, it will create a small gap into which water and other debris can get into over time.
  • Not fully dehydrating the nail. Make sure to thoroughly wipe the nails with an alcohol wipe or pure acetone to clean the nail plate of any debris and moisture. Fold the wipe in half and go around the cuticle area to get to every spot.

Doing all the steps on one hand then moving on to the next makes the most sense when doing your own nails. This minimizes idle waiting time, resulting in a faster overall process. You can work on the other hand as the first one is drying or curing.

In general gel polish has a thicker consistency compared to regular nail polish. Temperature affects the ease of use of gel products as well. If the temperature in the room is cold the viscosity will be temporarily higher. During hot weather, gel polish becomes more water-like.

Cure the last top coat layer for a full 60 seconds. Make sure your nails are positioned correctly inside the lamp. Wait for the Top Coat to cool off before applying any cuticle oil or hand cream. Applying care products or touching the no wipe top coat when it's still warm dulls the shine.

Be cautious of exposing your gel polish to sunlight, as it can result in a clumpy texture. It’s very important to store and use gel polish away from sunlight or natural light. When curing the nails in the lamp it’s best to close the bottle and move it farther away when the LED Lamp is on.

Forever Glaze gel polish can be used on natural nails as well as artificial extensions. Gel is also a great way to create designs and art on top of your dip powder manicures.

Gel Strips

For extended storage life store your products in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and light sources. Securely close the lids of the bottles and jars. Avoid exposure to sunlight and UV light. Store liquid bottles in an upright position. Before putting away mani liquids make sure that brushes and neck of the bottles are clean.
Tip: You can choose to add a small drop of oil on the outside threads of the bottle to make it easier to open next time you use it.

Doing all the steps on one hand then moving on to the next makes the most sense when doing your own nails. This minimizes idle waiting time, resulting in a faster overall process. You can work on the other hand as the first one is drying or curing.

Essential Dip Liquids

Dip base coat and Top coat harden from contact with step 2 Activator, moisture(water), or long air exposure. Cross-contamination can happen from acetone getting in the bottles during cleaning, leftover Activator getting on a Top Coat Brush, or dip powder getting transferred to Base coat bottles. You should also avoid exposure of liquids to air for long periods.

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