Kayla Young
You can customize, strengthen, and enhance your natural nails with acrylic nails. Acrylic nails are fun to DIY. But if you’re not an expert, things can go wrong. Even the experts screw up sometimes!
If something isn’t done correctly, you can end up with uneven nails, air bubbles appearing on top, or your nails feeling grainy. Many people discover deep grooves in their nails after they remove acrylics.
It can happen to the best of us, but is there a way to fix this?
In this article, we’ll go over how to fix uneven acrylic nails.
- For even nails, air bubbles need to be smoothed out
- Calculate the correct ratio of powder to liquid
- Grainy, uneven nails can be caused by too much powder
Various things can cause uneven nails, but fortunately, they can be fixed or prevented. Discover how to fix uneven nails by reading on.
Contents
How To Fix Uneven Acrylic Nails
1. Not Prepping the Nails Correctly
It is important to prepare nail enhancements properly. Otherwise, the nail will lift and chip. Prepping your nails properly means making sure they are clean! You need to do it no matter what finish you use, whether gel, acrylic, or standard polish.
You will do well if you ensure that no dead skin cells or oils prevent the product from making a secure attachment to our nails.
Prepping your nails properly means making sure they are clean! You need to do it no matter what finish you use, whether gel, acrylic, or standard polish.
Solution:
Check the instructions for the type of nails you are putting on and confirm the type of prep that is needed. Follow the instructions given, and don’t get creative, particularly when you’re new to this.
2. Curing Too Quickly
It is not necessarily better to be faster. For example, a too-fast acrylic cure could result in plasticization of the top layer before any air bubbles have a chance to come out naturally. As a result, bubbles can get caught beneath the surface of the cured acrylic.
Solution:
You can use a standard powder set as a temporary solution to problems caused by fast-setting powder. This allows time for the product to release any air bubbles that may have formed during the process before the top layer is cured.
Temperature and humidity changes during the year can impact curing speeds, so they should also be considered as well.
3. The Ratio of Liquid to Powder Is Incorrect
If your powder is too wet, it can increase shrinkage, causing the strength-to-flexibility balance to be weakened.
Suppose you use powder that is too dry. In that case, you may not have applied enough monomer to properly adhere the underlying nail. This will weaken the enhancement making it less effective.
Solution:
The ratio of liquids to powders in a well-balanced mixture is 1.5 to 1 (though this may vary slightly from brand to brand). Therefore, liquid-to-powder conversions may need to be recalculated.
This is especially true when allowing for humidity and temperature changes during the seasons.
4. Imbalance of Temperatures
No matter how much temperature control you have in your home and product, everyone’s fingers will have a slightly different temperature. This can affect your setting speed by a few degrees.
Warm liquids and powders will give you a faster time to cure. It takes longer for the product to cure when it is cooler.
Solution:
Your finger might be cold to the touch. If it is, you can warm the product to compensate for the temperature difference.
Technicians often use a powder with a faster setting time in winter to compensate for the temperature imbalance.
5. Dip Powder Nails are Grainy
Grainy dip powder is a common issue. The nail probably has too much powder on it due to too much powder added into the mix. Tap your finger on the side of your nail to remove excess powder.
Solution:
When dry, brush away any particles missed, so no clumps or grains are left.
6. Overdrilling-Induced Ridges
If you have ridges in the nails after getting acrylics done, over-drilling can be the cause. A nail drill bit with a sharp end at high speeds is used to clean your nails. However, without proper care, the natural nails will easily be cut, leaving these impressions.
7. Too Hot in the Sunlight
Do not store products in direct sunlight as this can make them too hot. Do not place the products too close to a heater or wood fire.
Solution:
Make sure your nail products are stored at a normal and safe temperature.
8. Polymerization
The term polymerization refers to something having a high viscosity. It has a thick, sticky consistency between a solid and a liquid. Avoid this because it means you have spoiled your monomer, which you don’t want to happen.
Solution:
The only solution here is to throw it away and buy a brand-new one.
9. Too Thick
If you find that your mixture is too thick, then most likely it is too cold.
Solution1:
Warm it up by placing it in warm water or rubbing it between your hands.
Solution 2:
Ensure the lids are closed completely, then place them in a bowl of warm water. Let it soak for a few minutes, then shake the bottle before using.
Tips for Keeping Your Nails Even
1. Application of Top Coats Should Be Considered
Overpainting your acrylic nails with gel polish top coat is more expensive. But by doing this,you can significantly prolong the life of your manicure. In the case of everyday polish, you may want to discuss applying a top coat with your nail technician. It’s usually a good idea to use a top coat.
The best way to prevent chips and cracks in your polish is to apply a top coat every 2-3 days.
2. Avoid Acetone
Several chemicals are incompatible with acrylics, and one of them is acetone nail polish remover. Be sure to speak with your nail tech. Changing your polish should be done at the salon.
Keeping your acrylics away from turpentine and heat is crucial, as both can lead to deterioration.
3. Gloves Should Be Worn
When exposed to dishwashing liquid, water, and cleaning products, your acrylics may lift, separate, or weaken. A minimal amount of water exposure is fine. But wear gloves to protect your hands if you plan on scrubbing.
Conclusion
Unevenness in acrylic nails is a pretty common issue, and is relatively easy to fix if you are careful. With our tips above, you should be able to get a beautiful, bubble-free finish.
Keep trying until you’ve mastered it.
As they say, practice makes perfect!
