Are you in love with long nails but want to learn how to build at home? Do you dream of mastering the extension process yourself and saving on this procedure? Read on to try growing your nails yourself and giving your hands a well-groomed look.

Nowadays, acrylic nail extension has become a very popular nail care service. All this is because this method of a beautiful manicure allows you to choose any length and shape of the nail. This is the optimal solution for those women who have weak and short nails. In addition, such a manicure is inexpensive and does not really hit the wallet; even you can use this method at home.

Preparing nails for extension

Before you start building your nails at home, you definitely need to prepare them for this procedure. Preparation is needed so that all materials and elements adhere well to the nail plate both during and, most importantly, after its completion. Skipping this step will negatively affect the appearance and durability of the result.

  1. First of all, the nail plate must be completely cleaned from the remains of varnish or any dirt and microscopic particles. This is done with a disinfectant.
  2. Then the cuticle is processed: it is leveled and cleaned before starting work. This is a very important step.
  3. Then the shiny upper layer of the nail is removed with a file, and the surface is leveled. This is done for better adhesion of materials to the original nail at the stage of application.
  4. It is imperative to brush off small particles from the nail.

How to make acrylic extensions

Step 1 – Find a well-proportioned shape for each finger. The shape should be slightly larger than the natural nail and touch the side ridges on both sides.

Step 2 – Degrease your prepared nails and apply primer to them. Pour monomer into a glass and open a jar of acrylic powder.

Step 3 – Take the brush, dip it into the monomer and squeeze lightly against the side of the glass, giving a tip a flattened shape.

Step 4 – Dip the bottom of the brush into the powder, wait a couple of seconds and remove it, lightly tapping on the handle to shake off excess material. You will see that a ball of acrylic has formed on the brush.

Step 5 – Transfer the acrylic ball into the mold and smooth the surface well with a brush, thickening the layer to the free edge area. Set the required length immediately. Remember to moisten the brush in a monomer and periodically wipe it on a napkin. Otherwise, the acrylic will stick to the hairs. If necessary, add more material to the form.

Step 6 – Pick up a small ball of acrylic and rubbing it over the nail plate. In the meantime, the mold layer is already slightly dry. Place another small lump of acrylic on top of it on the area that will be in contact with the nail, and rub it into a thin layer.

Step 7 – Set the mold onto the nail, starting at the cuticle area, then press down the rest of the nail. Hold the shape in this position for 10-15 seconds. Then turn your finger over and use a pusher to remove any bumps and excess acrylic that have come out under the nail. Complete polymerization will take 1–2 minutes.

Step 8 – Remove the shape, file away any irregularities that may have remained on the free edge. Repeat the same steps on the rest of the nails.

How long does the extension procedure take?

Building acrylic nail is not a quick procedure. Therefore, be prepared to spend a significant amount of time on your first attempts at growing your nails on your own. Experienced masters cope with building up in an average of 2.5 hours.

In addition, it is rather inconvenient to do a manicure with your left hand (if you are right-handed). But when you gain more experience and get your hands on, things will go much faster.

How long do extended nails last?

The longevity of your manicure depends on the correct execution of each stage of the extension. And also on how you will care for artificial nails after the procedure.

Indeed, despite the fact that they are quite thick, you should not check them for strength once again. On average, nails extended in compliance with the technology last about 4-5 weeks.

As you probably already understood, building nails is not an easy skill; we can say that it is an art. And like any art, they need to be mastered by trial and error. If you want to really well learn how to build nails, avoid and not repeat mistakes, understand the very essence of the process in theory and work it out in practice.

Acrylic Nail Kit

Acrylic Nail Kit

OPI Bond Aid pH Balancing Agent