What is a Dip Powder Manicure?
Women all over the world are looking for easier and more effective methods to stay looking beautiful and well-groomed. One thing that every busy woman wants is long-lasting beauty so that she doesn’t have to worry about time-consuming daily touch-ups or paying for upkeep every week.
Many people consider manicures to be one of the most transient beauty treatments; your nails might look fresh for a few days but be rough around the edges within a week. Thankfully, though, there are lots of clever new techniques and technologies to solve this issue, including dip powder manicures.
What is a dip powder manicure?
Dip powder manicures might seem like a new trend, but the technique has actually been around for a while. While they are similar to gel manicures in the sense that the material is fused to the nails, these manicures use a pigmented powder mixed with acrylic polymers rather than a gel, and the color can stay chip-free for up to a month. The process also differs from many other traditional manicures in that the powder doesn’t have to be set with a UV light.
How do dip powder manicures work?
It’s quite a straight-forward process. A nail tech will buff the surface of your nails to ensure that they are clean and dry; this will help the powder to adhere to your nails. They will then apply a priming coat and a base coat, and either dip or paint your nails with the pigmented powder before painting on a sealing top coat. The powder bonds to the base coat, giving you long-lasting color. Because of the number of steps involved, the whole process should take just over an hour.
How do you remove dip powder nails?
Like gels, dip powder nails can be tricky and time-consuming to remove. The best thing you can do is go back to the salon to have your manicure professionally removed; do not try to remove them yourself at home as this can result in damaged and weakened nails. A nail technician will remove your dip powdered nails in a similar way to a gel manicure, by using an electric nail file and soaking the nails in acetone for around 10 minutes.
Are they safe?
Dip powder nails are equally as safe as having gel or acrylic nails. In fact, they might be less harmful–one of the main reasons that dip powder nails have become so popular is that there is no need for an LED or UV lamp to cure the color. There have been worries about the safety of UV rays used in gel manicures, and dip powder manicures completely remove that concern.
Here are some tips to ensure that your treatment goes smoothly and safely:
Ensure that you go to a reputable and well-reviewed salon — Your technician should know how to carry out the process safely and hygienically; otherwise, your nails can be damaged or the process can be unsanitary. Make sure that they are either painting the pigment onto the nail or dipping the nail into a separate bowl to avoid the spread of germs. No one likes double-dipping, after all!
Be careful with chemicals — Some of the cheaper dip powders contain a chemical called MMD, which could be extremely harmful to your natural nails and is actually banned in some areas. Ask your manicurist what brand they are using and check the ingredients if you are worried.
Don’t DIY — You should always go to a salon to get this treatment done. There are lots of articles out there suggesting that DIY dip powder manicures are easy and safe to carry out at home, but professionals are the safest bet with the chemicals and tools used in the process.
Have breaks — Another thing to bear in mind is how often you have your manicures. Having downtime between treatments is vital to prevent your nails from becoming brittle and breaking.
Dip powder nails are a great way to get long-lasting, durable color without the worry of UV exposure damaging your skin. As long as you remove and maintain them properly, they are an excellent choice, particularly for women with busy and active lifestyles.
