How To: Apply Acrylic Nails

Are you someone who has a busy schedule? Or do you hate waiting your turn? I'm very busy with my kids and I hate waiting for anything! So I like to do my nails at home, myself! It took me a while to get good at it because I'm not used to doing things backwards and because I'm not left handed, so my right hand always looked funny at first! Do you have friends that get their nails done, but complain about the price? Well once you get good at it, you can get them to just buy the supplies!

You do need several tools to start this so you will have a little bit of upfront expenses!

* Nail File (around $1.97 at places like Wal-mart and Target)

* Anti-Bacterial Soap (around $2.00 at places like Wal-mart and Target)

* Artificial nail tips (you can buy a set with the tips, glue, and the actual acrylic for $10-$15 at Wal-mart)

* Liquid Acrylic

* Powder Acrylic

* Nail Glue

* Nail Polish (price depends on what brand you want)

* Nail Clippers (around $1.00 or $2.00 at Wal-mart)

* Orange Stick

* Cuticle Oil

* Glass dish (or a clean glass ashtray)

* Brush to apply acrylic powder (usually found in the sets)

First you want to wash your hands with your anti-bacterial soap. Make sure your hands and nails are dried completely before you move on to work on your nails. Or else you could end up with a nail fungus!

After your nails have dried, you will want to push back the cuticles with your orange stick. Then once you have done that go ahead and lightly rough up your nails with your nail file (this helps the acrylic bond to your natural nail).

Now you will want to check to see which tips fit your fingernails. You do this by placing the tip at the free edge of your finger if it overlaps onto your skin, its too big, if the other one is too small and does not cover the entire nail, then go back to the one that is to big and clip it a little at a time with your nail clippers and then file it with your nail file to shape it!

Once you've done the previous steps its time to get set up to do the rest.

NOTE: The rest of this you will want to do in a well ventilated area.

Once you are in a well ventilated area, start by pouring a small amount of the liquid acrylic into the glass dish.

Then open your acrylic powder. Also have your brush ready. And a paper towel or two folded into quarters.

Now apply the tips to each of your nails with the nail glue. Place a drop of glue in the divet on the tip, move it around on the tip with the nozzle of the glue bottle. Now apply a some glue on to your actual nail as close the the free edge as possible. Now press the tip onto your natural nail. Repeat this process until you have all of your tips in place.

Clip the tips to the desired length and smooth out the edge with your nail file, and if you want them in a certain shape, the best time to shape them is now!

Once you have shaped your nails. It's time to apply the acrylic!!! We're more than half done!

Take your brush and dip it in to your liquid acrylic, and wipe off some of the excess liquid on the edge of the glass dish. Then slightly blot it on the folded paper towel. Next you will want to place the tip of the brush in the powder acrylic, and slowly drag it through the powder. It will form a "bead" or ball of acrylic.

Put the "bead" at the top (by the cuticle but not on it) center of your natural nail, and slowly brush it to the end of the nail/tip. Now smooth out each side by starting at the top and slowly smoothing it towards the tip of the nail. Once you have done this ... You can let the acrylic dry, then slightly buff it to make sure that its smooth before you paint it. Once you have done that ... wash your hands again!

Now it's time to paint, just do so as you normally would. Then apply a clear coat! The last step would be to let the polish dry, then admire your work of art!

Good Luck and take your time getting good at it!