Things You'll Need:
- Nail polish remover
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Nail files
- Handsoap cleanser
- Hand buffing cream
- Manicure stick
- Lotion
- Alcohol
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Step 1
Remove any nail polish from your fingernails using a cotton ball saturated with polish remover. Use a cotton swab for the nail edges.
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Step 2
File down lightly any ridge or rough areas and any place where the polish is hard to remove with a cotton ball. This helps to prepare the nail to receive the acrylic chemical. Do not overbuff the nail as this will cause the acrylic polish difficulty in bonding to the nail.
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Step 3
Scrub the nails and hands with a hand cleanser and buffing cream. This will help loosen and remove any dead skin and dirt accumulation from under the fingernails. Pay close attention to the cuticle area around the nail.
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Step 4
Push back the cuticles with a cuticle stick dipped in warm lotion. Gently push the cuticles back to expose more portion of the nail bed. Cuticle sticks are an ideal tool to use to clean and prep for an acrylic nail manicure.
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Step 5
Apply hand lotion to your skin to soften. Thoroughly rub the lotion into the cuticle area.
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Step 6
Go back across the tops of the nails with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. This will remove any excess oils or lotions from the nail area. Excessive oils will keep the acrylic chemicals from adhering properly.
