How to Apply "Tip and Dip" Nails (Acrylic Dip Method)

Acrylic dipping is faster than a typical French manicure.

Taking its name from the chic style of Paris, the French-tip manicure remains a fixture in nail salons today. Achieving this classic look requires steadiness and the right tools to get a neatly groomed result. A "tip and dip" manicure allows you to give yourself a French manicure at home in a short amount of time. This simplified dipping method will give you neat, sophisticated nails without having to visit a salon or pay for an expensive manicure.

Things You'll Need

• Nail clippers
• Cuticle stick
• Buffing tool
• Acrylic nail tips
• Nail glue
• Nail brush

Instructions

Preparing Nails

1. Trim your nails so that they're all the same length and similarly shaped. Push back your cuticles with a cuticle stick to make the edges of your nails look smooth. Buff your nail carefully to bring out their natural shine without weakening the nail.

2. Squeeze a drop of nail glue to the area where the acrylic nail tip overlaps the natural nail. Spread the glue across the area using a nail glue brush. Place the glued edge of the acrylic nail against the tip of your nail and hold the tip in place until it adheres.

3. Add extra glue along the border where the tips meet to fill any air pockets. Use a buffing tool to smooth down the seam line of the nail tip, and remove extra glue.

Dipping Nails

1. Brush nail glue across your entire nail, including the artificial tip. Dip your entire nail into the container of dipping powder. Keep your nail in the powder for about 10 seconds, so that the nail gets completely covered.

2. Take the nail out of the powder and wait 30 seconds before using a nailbrush to remove excess powder from the nail. If you need another coat of acrylic, repeat the gluing and dipping process. Brush a coat of glue over the layer of acrylic. Spray the nail with an activating spray to set the acrylic powder.

3. Let your finished nails set for two minutes until completely dry and hardened. File, buff and shine your nails with a multi-sided buffing tool to finish your manicure.

Tips & Warnings

• The only difference between brush on resin and gel glue are the viscosity and what the maker of the product prefers to call it. Either will work fine.

• It is easiest to complete the process one nail at a time, from tip application all the way to activating. It takes longer this way but you will be sure not to touch your wet nails to each other and mess them all up.

• You can fill in the regrowth in about two weeks. See my articles for instructions on natural and french backfills.

• For removal, cut nails as short as possible, file the surface thinner and soak in acetone, wiping off the soft acrylic every 10 minutes or so.

• ALWAYS wipe and dry the resin brush before returning to the bottle, and be careful not to drip any resin on the neck of the bottle or it will harden.

• Be sure to wipe any glue, resin, powder, and activator from your skin to prevent any unwanted contact or accidentally hardening the products on your skin.

• Do not put your face close to the powder because it is a hazard to inhale.

References

• LeChat Nails: Dare "Powder Coat" Acrylic Dip System
• Manicare: Acrylic Nails Dipping Kit
• beauty-soap-and-bubbles.com: How To Apply Acrylic Nails