Kayla Young
One minute you’ve got a stunning set of dip nails, they look great! Then *pop* off one goes. What?
Are your dip nails popping off? What can you do about that?
It can be annoying when your well-made SNS dip powder nails pop off. There are a few reasons this can happen, and we’ve put together this article to go over what you might be doing wrong that has caused your dip nails to pop off.
Contents
Dip Nails Popping Off! What’s Going On?
Most of the time, this usually happens to your dip nails when they are not adhered to properly. This often happens if you have naturally oily nails or poor preparation.Â
Most of the time, this usually happens to your dip nails when they are not adhered to properly. This often happens if you have naturally oily nails or poor preparation.Â
Cleaning and dehydrating your nails before applying the dip powder is crucial. We recommend you use alcohol wipes or a paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Follow this up with a primer to the natural nail.Â
However, we do not recommend applying primer to fake tips or nails. This might lead to cracking or discoloration.
And in the end, you might have prepared the nail properly, but it still falls off. Sometimes this occurs, things just go wrong. When this happens, lightly scuff the nail surface before you prime. Doing this will make it easy for the liquid to adhere.Â
What Do You Do When Your Dips Lift Before They Pop-Off?
When nail lifting occurs, be keen and look to see if they are lifting from the tip or the cuticle side.
If They Lift From the Cuticle Side
One of the main reasons why lifting happens from the sides is because you got the base coat on your cuticles. You can prevent this with the help of a cuticle pusher.
Use it to push your cuticles back and trim them if necessary. You can avoid this problem when applying the base coat in several ways.
One of the main reasons why lifting happens from the sides is because you got the base coat on your cuticles. You can prevent this with the help of a cuticle pusher.
We will begin with our most preferred option.
Split The Distance
Start your first coat around a quarter inch away from the cuticle. The second coat should be about half the distance from the cuticle. If you plan to apply a third coat, split the distance again.
Doing this will provide an added advantage and help create a natural curve for your nail.
Toothpick It
The second method involves using a toothpick or cuticle stick around the base coat just a few inches from the cuticle and carving a line. This allows the dip to move your nail as it grows without separating from the cuticle.
If They Lift From the Tip
This problem usually results from not putting the top coat at the tip of the nail. Coat the edge! It will create a seal and prevent chipping.
What Do You Do When Your Dips Are Too Clumpy or Thick?
When you put too much top coat or base on the nail, your dips can be clumpy and grainy. Some base coats are thicker than others; as a general rule of thumb, the thicker it is, the better — but you can go too far!
Getting it right requires some experience, there is a learning curve.Â
When applying the base coat, ensure the layer is thin and even. We recommend using as little as possible; ensure that you make the layer even and smooth. Use top coat brushes to prevent clumpy or stringy liquids.
For a smooth finish, we recommend you file and buffer your nail between the activator and base top.
What to Do When the Color Is Uneven?
Ensure you shake the closed jar well so that the powder mixes fully. Dipping powder consists of a mixture of pigments, and like every other mixture, it settles. The resulting color is consistent and uneven.
Ensure you shake the closed jar well so that the powder mixes fully.
Sometimes the problem you might run into is related to the tools you use. The following are some of the problems you might encounter and what to do when they do:
Avoid Getting a Gunky Brush
When you want to apply the brush, ensure that the activator and base coat is dry. Failure to do this will result in the brush picking up powder or the liquid, thus ruining your brush.
If you are doing five nails at a time, it should be dry enough to brush by the time you return to your first nail.
When The Activator Brush Is Stiff, or the Activator Bottle Has No Color
If you want a sure way to contaminate your activator, apply it when the powder is loose on the nail! To be safe, clear out all the loose powder before activation.
If the contamination is minimal, then this might not be a problem. However, the contamination is usually harmful; if this is the case, you may realize that your previous dips into your new manicure.Â
When the Base Coat or Top Coat Bottle Will Not Open
Base and Top Coats are powerful adhesives. To prevent the bottle from sealing closed, be cautious and avoid getting liquid on the threads or rim. Clean them if you have to before closing them.
You can also apply cuticle oil to the thread to prevent this. Some bottles come with a gasket or a fitting that lies just on the bottle’s throat. Wipe off the excess liquid at the bottom when pulling out the brush.Â
When the bottle is glued-shut, try using something soft to give you a proper grip. You can also run it under hot water. If this does not work, get a pair of pliers and try to open them. For maximum effect, wrap the rag around the lid, then using the pliers, grip it with just the proper pressure to prevent slipping. Instead of applying constant torque, try nudging it.
Be careful as the bottle will break if you apply too much pressure.
Can I Repair or Fill a Chipped Nail?
It is often possible to repair a damaged, chipped nail. First, look for additional lifting around the edge; if there are additional problems, use a nail drill or a file to smoothen the damage. However, if the chipping goes to the natural nail, we recommend using a primer:
Apply a base coat to the repair area.
Sprinkle a small teaspoon of sprinkled powder on the base or dip the entire nail. Do this again before applying the activator to the repair area.
You can file the whole nail and apply the top coat.
How Do I Remove These Things?
We’ve put together some tips on how to remove SNS Nails, which you should check out!
The basics are:
Begin by using a file on the top coat to remove them from the finished nails. Next, soak your nail in acetone nail polish remover. If you want to reduce the time it will take to soak, there’s a hack. First, heat a bowl of water, then place another bowl, preferably a glass bowl, inside that bowl.
Put acetone in the empty bowl such that heat from the water will heat the acetone—a point of caution: never heat acetone directly.
