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How to Do Your Own Acrylic Nails At Home
@jessicawashick
Whether you don’t have time to head into the salon or you’re simply looking for ways to cut back on your beauty spending, learning how to do your own acrylic nails at home is a skill worth pursuing. Fortunately, it’s one that’s not too terribly difficult to pick up. Plus, you might even find that spreading acrylic from cuticle to tip is one of the most soothing ASMR experiences yet.
Just keep in mind that acrylic nails—both those done in a salon or created at home—come with their pros and cons. On one hand, they’re sturdy and long- lasting, creating the unique opportunity to score stellar nail length if your natural nails are hard to grow out. On the other hand, they can be damaging to your nails if you don’t look for the right formulas, remove them improperly, or fail to give your nails a break from acrylics every now and then.
Since doing your acrylic nails is most definitely a process, we’re here to walk you through it. Ahead you’ll find step-by-step instructions for doing your own acrylic nails at home. Most importantly, don’t rush. Taking your time with this technique is the difference between an unsightly nail mishap and a salon-quality mani. Ahead, find a step-by-step guide for how to do acrylic nails at home.
Purchase an Acrylic Nail Kit (or Shop For Supplies Separately)
If you’ve never done your own acrylic nails before, your best bet is to start with an all-inclusive kit (like the Mia Secret Professional Acrylic Nail Kit, $118), as it will contain everything you need to get the job done—including detailed instructions. The big thing to remember when shopping for acrylic kits is that you don’t want tips made with MMA (methyl methacrylate), as it’s tough, inflexible, and may cause an adverse reaction, which can mean bad news for your nail beds. Instead, look for EMA (ethyl methacrylate), which is considered to be a safer alternative.
Once you become more attuned to the process, however, you may find that buying supplies individually suits you better, as it makes it easier to find acrylic tips that perfectly complement your natural nail shape. Plus, if you stock up on full-size products (as opposed to the minis that usually come in kits), you’ll be fully prepared to touch up your acrylics at the two-week mark instead of having to head to the store to do so.
If stocking your nailcare arsenal with individual products sounds more convenient for your manicure needs, order or pick up the below:
- Nail clippers
- Coarse nail file
- Acrylic nail tips
- Nail tip glue
- Acrylic nail dehydrator
- Acrylic nail primer
- Acrylic liquid monomer
- Acrylic powder
- Acrylic brush and bowl for mixing
Thoroughly Prep Your Nails
Most manicurists recommend against cutting your own cuticles, as you're more likely to accidentally clip skin and cause infection. Instead, soak your nails in warm water to soften the area and then gently push your cuticles back using your thumbnails.
Size & Apply Your Acrylic Nails Using Acrylic Nail Glue
Depending on the kit you get, you’ll have a variety of different acrylic tip sizes, widths, and lengths to choose from—just as you would with press-on nails. Because of this, you need to go through the sizes to find the ones that best fit your tips. If there are no perfect fits, use your nail file to gently file them to the correct width.
According to nail expert Evelyn Lim, tips used for acrylic application have an indent on the inside of the tip—which is approximately 2-3 mm at most— and the free edge of your natural nail should fit right underneath. "It is best to trim the natural nail short prior to application," she advises. Once you’ve selected your acrylic tips, apply them one at a time with a dot of acrylic nail glue. You want the bottom edge of the acrylic tip to be centered about one-third of the way down your nail so that it will remain sturdy as your nails begin to grow out. Apply pressure to the nail for five to 10 seconds to ensure that it’s secure and move on to the next tip until all 10 are complete.
Apply a Dehydrating Nail Primer
Now that your tips are applied and shaped to your liking, make sure you have all of your acrylic kit materials in front of you. Whether you’re using a kit or individual supplies, you’ll need to pour your liquid acrylic into the acrylic dish. Just keep in mind that acrylic has pretty strong fumes, so be sure to open a window while you’re performing this DIY process.
Once your materials are organized, it’s time to bring your acrylic manicure to life. Start by dehydrating your natural nails (to get rid of any moisture that could prevent the acrylic mixture from sticking) and priming your full nails, painting from just beyond the cuticle all the way to the tip of your acrylics (the Modelones Nail Prep Dehydrator & Nail Primer, $13, set will make it easy). This will help your acrylic mixture better adhere to your nails and tips.
Coat Your Nails With the Acrylic Mixture
Dip your acrylic brush into your bowl of monomer, tap some on the side so as to not over-saturate your brush, and dip into your clear powder. This process will create the perfect bead of acrylic—as opposed to a drippy or dry one—which you can then apply to the nail. Start just above your cuticle, and extend the mixture all the way to the end of your acrylic tip. When applying, be sure to smooth out to the edges of your nails and wipe your brush off on a paper towel between each stroke so as to avoid clumps.
Some manicurists recommend splitting the nail up into three sections, using a small bead of acrylic for the free edge, one for the apex of the nail (aka where the tip meets the natural nail), and one for the cuticle to the natural nail.
Repeat this process on each nail to create a smooth base. Follow up with the same process using the acrylic powder color of your choice. If you want the look of a shiny topcoat, finish with a thin encapsulation layer of acrylic mixture. Keyword: Thin. You don’t want to add loads of bulk to your nail.