Once again, I must go way back into my teen years to dig up old skills for a new twist in today’s modern world.
When I was a teen I was obsessed with long nails. You must first understand, I grew up in New Jersey, where cat claws and big hair were everything and everywhere! Back then I had three issues with the cat-claw trend and they were huge in my life: I had short brittle nails; I didn’t have much money to spend on nail salon visits; and when I did save the money to go, my nails never looked like I wanted them to look! What was a girl to do?
Well I don’t know what other girls do, but I found out where some salons purchased their “dragon lady nail tips”, “5 second nail glue”, and “acrylic powder” (used at this time to only fill in the seam line) and I went there and purchased my own supplies.
I spent countless hours in my room, fitting, gluing, sealing my nails. Filing them at times so much I would file into the nail bed itself. That was okay though, I’d fill it in with the acrylic powder and keep it moving. Lol.
The smell of my room was worse than any nail salon ever! My mother always said, “I can’t go into your room without getting high on the fumes!” That didn’t phase me. In fact, I took her comment as a compliment, it showed how hard I was working on my nail techniques. I sat with my “Rubbermaid” brown and beige tub that I used to for two things: a. Store my supplies, and b. It was my make-shift nail salon table, and I’d work on perfecting my nail skills. This started at 15 and by the time I was 17 I had it down to an art form.
I used to use the powder not only to fill-in the seam, but over the nail for a smooth finish. Years later nail salons came out with the same idea dipping your nail into the acrylic. I was a nail-trend setter and had no clue!
At 24 years old, I was married, and my husband hated any smells in our home, so I started to go to salons. I had the time and money and I’d treat myself. Only for me it was more of a chore than a treat. I hated going to salons. I had no patience to sit there waiting for the girl to do what I could do myself. I had no patience waiting for nail polish to dry. When they came out with the U.V. Light to dry your nails, I hated this too because they would swap hands constantly never leaving you with a free hand to drink coffee or look at your texts! Lol… and, I’d leave the salon disappointed time and time again. My nails weren’t shaped to my liking, the acrylic was too thin and cracked, the acrylic was too thick, and I couldn’t do anything with them, and I hated the look. It frustrated me more than it relaxed me.
Over the years I’d try acrylic and gel and always end up with nail techs being cheap on their use of prep-product and it would cause the nails to lift. I eventually gave up and dealt with my sort of longnail that I called, “at least a white tip was showing” nails. I’d keep my cuticles nice and wear clear polish and keep it moving.
As I’ve gotten older my cuticles are so dry. I oil them, keep cream on them and nothing helps. I pick at them all the time and hate how my hands look and feel. I know tips and acrylic will help this issue. When you have something over your nail, it prevents the overgrowth of the cuticle. At least this is what I’ve read and experienced in my life.
So, what is a divorced, single mom on a tight budget to do? I will tell what: Recall her old nail techniques, order the latest, greatest products in the nail industry “SNS powder gel”, nail tips and turn her nails back into something spectacular again. And so, I did!
I have researched the latest products. I bought my supplies including a new small dremmel drill for quicker filing and went to work.
The products I used were:
SNS powder for color;
5 second nail glue an oldie but trusted goodie;
CND nail primer
Plastic nail tips;
Mia Secret Nail Gel Resin Activator Pump Spray (a quick way to dry the Acrylic/Powder);
Acetone; and
A brush.
Once I had everything, I took out my ShopRite insulated black shopping bag for a “very professional” backdrop to my before and after pictures and got to work.
First I took my “before” pictures. If you are going to try this at home, I will give you a step-by-step how-to: 1. open your powder, 2. pour acetone into a wide mouth short jar or small bowl, 3. File and “scuff” your nails, 4. measure nail tips for a good fit to your natural nail and set aside in order.
Once the nails have been picked add a small drop of glue in the middle of the nail bed and press nail down, lift, press down again with a slight side-to-side motion. Once the tips are all on, cut to length you want and file into your desired nail shape. I chose the flat arrow or ballerina shape.
Next, take your brush and dip it into the acetone and form a small ball of powder onto the end of the brush. Place the small ball onto the center of your nail over the seam. Form the powder with the brush over your entire nail bed and tip. To shape it dip brush into the acetone and gently press the acrylic to form the length, shape, and thickness you like. Once you have the form, again wet the brush and gently brush the acrylic in a motion from cuticle to edge. When you feel it is the way you like it, spray with drying spray.
When you have finished your last nail, either file with a medium course flat file or fine grit Dremel tip (I am not sure how good they are, but you can buy a battery operated dremel-type drill with nails tips and glue at Walmart). Make sure you file the area by your cuticle to get the dry cuticle ends off your nail. When you are done polish.
You can use SNS polish, regular nail polish, gel whatever you like. I chose SNS Perfect Flo 01 and 59. The color isn’t exactly what it appeared to be in the jar. I thought it would have been a little pinker, but it was not. So be mindful if you do use the powder it may not look exactly like it does in the jar. With that said it is extremely easy to use. Here are the pictures of the result.
Even on a budget you can keep sparkling!
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 The Multifaceted Mom
