Kayla Young
PolyGels are great, we love ’em! They have swept the world since the pandemic because they’re so easy to do at home, last a long time, and are healthier for the nails than gels and acrylics. Perhaps the most important ingredient for PolyGel nails is Slip Solution, which is a compound that thins the PolyGel and makes it easier to work with.
Due to the popularity of PolyGels, sometimes it can be hard to get your hands on slip solution!
Are there any slip solution alternatives?
Yes, there are slip solution alternatives you can use in a pinch, such as rubbing alcohol. But if you can, it’s best to stick to regular slip solution due to potential issues.
Before that, let’s go over what slip solution is made of so you can see why such alternatives can be used.
Contents
Slip Solution 101
Slip Solution is a liquid that is used together with the PolyGel in order to make the PolyGel solution easy to work with. Essentially it thins out the PolyGel, which allows it to evenly spread over the nail.
Slip solution ingredients can vary, but they likely contain isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol, which quickly dries up.
Most will contain ethyl acetate as well.
Slip Solution Alternatives
If you run out of slip solution, don’t worry, you can still use your PolyGel with the following alternatives.
They can effectively help you to sculpt the polygel.
1. Rubbing Alcohol
If you take a look at the ingredient list of your slip solution, you will see that one of the main ingredients is alcohol. That’s why you can use rubbing alcohol as an alternative to the slip solution if you’re in a bind.
2. Gel Base Coat
Another substitute that you could use is the ”base of gel nails. It has a watery consistency that can be a good substitute for the slip solution. You can use this as you would a regular slip solution.
As an alternative, you can apply the transparent basecoat directly on your nails. This will help make sure that your polygel sticks properly and lasts long too.
3. Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover
Another alternative to the slip solution is a nail polish remover. If you are going to use a nail polish remover, make sure that it doesn’t contain acetone.
Note that you typically remove PolyGel nails with acetone nail polish remover. So if you mix acetone with PolyGel as a slip solution substitute, it will work… but your nails may not last as long. They might even pop off, which is a real pain.
So if you mix acetone with PolyGel as a slip solution substitute, it will work… but your nails may not last as long. They might even pop off, which is a real pain.
When looking for alternatives, this may not be the best one because it can reduce the lifespan of the PolyGel.
4. Hand Sanitizer
You can use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol as a substitute for the slip solution. Hand sanitizers don’t only help kill the bacteria on your hands… they can be used with your PolyGels to rock a great manicure!
When selecting a hand sanitizer to use, make sure to use ones that contain 70% alcohol. That makes them easier to evaporate just like your slip solution.
As much as possible, it would be best to check the ingredients of the hand sanitizer because some of them may contain various ingredients that could not work well with the polygel.
Avoid those that contain lots of added oils or fragrances, because they can prevent your polygel from curing properly.
Avoid those that contain lots of added oils or fragrances, because they can prevent your polygel from curing properly.
5. Vodka
Vodka’s not just for mixing with tonic, you can use it as a slip solution alternative as well. Vodka acts as a disinfectant that isn’t irritating to your skin, just make sure you using a straight vodka, preferably high ABV, that doesn’t have any flavors added.
Tips For Selecting Alternatives To Slip Solution
As you can see above, there are various slip solution alternatives that you can use in a pinch.
If you are planning to use those that contain alcohol like hand sanitizers or rubbing alcohol, make sure that the alcohol percentage is high. It would be best to get those that contain 70% alcohol or higher. That’s also true for vodka.
If you are planning to use those that contain alcohol like hand sanitizers or rubbing alcohol, make sure that the alcohol percentage is high.
If you are planning to use nail polish remover, make sure that it doesn’t contain any acetone. Pure acetone is not a good substitute for a slip solution.
Acetone is used to remove most artificial nail products. If you use pure acetone or products that contain acetone as your slip solution, your PolyGel won’t work.
Slip solutions are supposed to help temporarily thin out the PolyGel so they are easy to work with. However, acetone will not temporarily thin out the PolyGel. It could permanently degrade the PolyGel, and ruin your manicure.
If you have acrylic nails, you might wonder whether you could use acrylic liquid as a substitute. Although it is a liquid, the formula is highly different from the polygel slip solution, so you should not.
If you were to use acrylic liquid monomer, your PolyGel would be more likely to lift.
Conclusion
PolyGels are fun to do at home. And if you run out of slip solution, you can use any of the alternatives mentioned above. Just avoid acetone!
Happy manicure!
