04 November 2024
by Habib Salo
Knowing how to apply nail tips can be a tricky skill, but it is a necessary one. There are only so many methods of building length on a client’s nails, or on your own if you are a DIY nail enthusiast. Some beginners and hobbyists find nail forms difficult to work with, making nail tips the easier option of the two. Even the “easier” option, however, is something you will need to work to get the hang of!
With a little technique and knowledge, applying nail tips is something that you can learn to do with speed and precision. At first, however, you should slow down and make sure that you are getting the job done correctly.
Materials You Will Need
Cuticle pushers and trimmers: needed to prep the natural nail before applying tips
Swipe: needed for cleaning the nail and removing oils as you work
Protein Bond: needed to give the prepped nail a tacky surface for enhancements to stick to
Nail files: needed for refining length, shaping the nail tip, and blending the tip with the natural nail
Nail clippers: used for shortening the natural nail prior to tip application as well as for shortening the tips that are glued on.
Nail tips in multiple sizes: needed to add length. A high-quality tip like the ones sold by Young Nails will give you strong, long-lasting results.
Prep the Nail
Your first step in nail tip application is to prep the natural nail for the tip. Cuticles should be pushed back and hangnails trimmed. Do not cut all the way around the cuticle area. Cuticles should be pushed back to prep, but trimming can be done at the end of the application instead to ensure no damage is done to this delicate skin when filing the nails. The nail should be cleaned with Swipe before you introduce a tip.
Sizing the Tips
Sizing the nail for the right tip is the part of the process that some beginning nail techs struggle with. If you go too big, you will have to file the side walls in. But you don’t want to go too narrow, despite wanting a thin nail. Pressing down won’t work, and will only create bubbles and lift. You need a tip that fits the “C-curve” nicely and from one side to the other without being forced. You will need to size each nail for the tip that works for the client’s nails. If you are applying nail tips at home, you will need to carefully size the tips for your own nails.
Applying the Tips
Apply the glue to the well of the tip by tapping it on, covering the whole well. Catch the edge of the natural nail in the ridge of the well and slowly rock the tip down, pushing all the air bubbles out to secure it to the nail. Once the tip is adhering well, which it will if the nail is prepped and the tip is sized correctly, cut the tip to the desired length and shape.
Clippingthe Tips
Ascertain what length and shape the client prefers. Use clippers to cut it down to the approximate length you want. Then, you can go in with the hand file and finish length management and shaping neatly. At that point, you can blend the tip into the natural nail with the nail file as well, being cautious to only file on the plastic tip, not on the natural nail..
Cleanse with Swipe to remove dust, contaminants, and oils. Finally, you are ready to apply your choice of enhancement: gel, acrylic, etc. The tip has to be blended really well, leaving a rough surface, and even brushed with Protein Bond all the way up the length to ensure that there is the perfect surface for your enhancements and that the gel will adhere without chipping.
Although applying nail tips can look challenging, the process is actually fairly simple and easy to master when given the right tools and knowledge of proper technique. Since nail tips can be an easier way to add length than nail forms, it pays for beginner techs and home nail enthusiasts to take the time to master this procedure. With a little practice, you’ll get quicker and better at adding length with nail tips.
