Doing dip nails at home can seem daunting, but the process, like so many nail skills, becomes a lot easier with practice and adherence to good technique. You can save tons of money and time but still achieve pro-level results by learning how to do dip powder at home with Young Nails’ four-step Slick Pour resin system.
Step One: Prep the Nails
To begin, you want natural nails with no polish or treatments applied. Push the cuticles back with a cuticle pusher, and prepare the nails by using an electric file set to 3,000-5,000 RPMs to gently “tickle” the nail and remove the shine from the surface. This is the right speed for avoiding heat and damage.
Next, dust away oil and contaminants using Swipe on a manicure brush or lint-free wipe. Once the shine is removed, you will brush on one coat of bottle #1: Prep to create a nice, chalky surface on the nail.
Step Two: Application of the Base and Powder
An interesting facet of the Slick Pour system is that actual “dipping” doesn’t happen—rather, the powder is scooped and poured over the nail with a small spoon, which allows for smoother, more even application. You will find doing dip nails is much simpler this way, and easier for you to utilize good technique.
Tilt the nail down toward the powder, and uncap your #2 bottle, your Base. It’s important to use a healthy coat of resin, so don’t remove too much from your brush against the side of the bottle. If you don’t apply enough base, the powder won’t adhere and absorb well. Straight from the bottle, brush on an even coat of your base.
Then, take your spoon, and pour the dip powder over the entire nail surface, working from side to side and tapping the spoon for precision coverage. Let it sit a moment, then tap the finger to remove residue. Repeat the same process on all ten fingers. *note: Apply the Base and powder to one nail at a time. Do not apply Base to all 10 nails and then apply powder as the Base will dry before the powder application.
Once all ten nails have the first coat, use a duster brush to lightly dust off excess powder so that no residue gets on the brush the second time around. After, apply a second coat: a healthy amount of resin, followed by a generous sprinkle of powder, covering the entire nail. Use your duster brush again to remove loose powder.
Step Three: Activation
Once all ten fingers have resin and powder on them, you are ready for bottle #3: Activator.
Apply a nice, even coat from cuticle to free edge. This is going to set the product so that you can finish the dip nails. Apply Activator to all ten nails. Follow this up with Swipe on a wipe to clean up the skin and edges, along with the surface of the nail. This way, when you buff the nail, you don’t have to worry about loose residue. Use a hand file to clean up any areas that are sticking out.
Then, use a sponge buffer to make sure you have a flawless surface, buffing all ten fingers. After, use Swipe to clean the dust from the top. Finally, apply one last coat of Activator to the top.
Step Four: Top Coat and Cleanup
You are finally ready for bottle #4: Top.
It’s important to follow a few steps to have a perfect top coat application. First, use a dry, clean wipe to dry-buff the nails, this will remove any excess activator to allow a smooth drying process. Then, to make sure that you don’t gum up your brush, you are going to lay a dry wipe alongside the hand, and clean the brush each time you use it, before going back inside the bottle. Use a substantial amount on the brush, apply generously to the nail, and then clean the brush. Repeat for all ten nails.
When the top coat dries, it will have an orange-peel appearance. This means that you are ready for a second coat. Repeat the process from one to ten, applying even coats from cuticle to free edge, wiping the brush each time. After you are done, the surface needs to set for at least five minutes to prevent smudging. And then, finally, you will have a glossy, gorgeous set of dip nails that you are proud to show off.
Knowing how to apply dip powder at home is a matter of learning technique and some helpful tips, but also practicing until you are great at the process. Keep up the good work; you will turn out salon-perfect dip nails every time!