Nails - Liquid&Powder Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
combination the perfect
Despite the recent surge in requests for gel nails, liquid and powder enhancements continue to be popular with technicians and clients alike. The crisp pink and whites not only provide the wearer with a set of fashionable nails, but also ones that are durable, strong and resilient.
Although widely acknowledge as one of the most complex nails systems to master, once a technician has become accomplished in liquid and powder application they can offer a truly skilled treatment to their clients.
“Nail artists who master liquid and powder well are truly artists. They can create long lasting, natural looking or custom blended, thin, and durable coatings. These are the secrets of liquid and powder’s success, that and the fact that clients love this coating more than any other,” says Samantha Sweet of Sweet Squared LLP.
How do they work?
Liquid and powder enhancements are formed via the mixing of a liquid
monomer and powder polymer, combined to form what is known as a ‘bead’ on a fine brush.
Monomers are singular molecules that hook themselves together, in a head to tail fashion, to form long chains, known as polymers. A chemical reaction must occur to kick start the molecules into action, and this happens when monomer meets polymer and liquid meets powder, in a process known as ‘curing.’
When curing has begun, the polymer strands react and cross-link, joining together with extra arms that grow new chains. These chains link to form a rigid net-like structure, creating a strong and flexible working surface. Once the mix has dried, the nail enhancement is formed.
Once you have a workable bead, it’s essential that you use gentle, firm patting and gliding motions to create a perfect nail enhancement.
Tricky issues
Perfecting the liquid and powder application can prove problematic for many. Firstly it’s crucial that the ratio of liquid and powder is absolutely correct,
as Anna Germaine, Director of The Edge Nail and Beauty Ltd explains: “To get the best results from liquid and powder products it is very important to always follow manufacturer’s guidelines. Never be tempted to mix one brand of liquid with another brand of powder, by doing this you will upset the fine balance of the ingredients as most reputable brands are designed to be used together.”
She continues: “Many nail techs wrongly think that working with a slightly wetter bead will give a smoother surface to the nail enhancement and better adhesion. This application will only create more problems in the long run and produce a weak nail structure lacking strength and durability.
“There is also a greater risk of unnecessary over exposure to your client; allergies are more likely to occur if the consistency is too wet. A bead that is too dry will produce an enhancement prone to breakage and lifting. Most good quality monomers and polymers perform best at a medium wet consistency of one and a half parts of liquid to one part of powder.”
Another concern, especially as we approach the warmer months, is the yellowing of the enhancements. It’s important to pick products that are designed to prevent this from occurring.
“Discolouration of nail enhancements can be a problem particularly during Summer months when nails are exposed to UV rays from sunlight. Reputable brands are usually specifically formulated to be resistant to any yellowing. Our Premium Blend Powders contain optical brighteners for brilliance and clarity and also special UV absorbers to filter out damaging UV light,” says Anna.
Therefore, when it comes to liquid and powder, training is the key to its success. Whether you are just starting out in the industry, or perhaps a technician looking to take your skills to the next level, then there are many courses available to hone your expertise.
However, once you finally conquer the art of a liquid and powder application, it will truly be an asset to your beauty repertoire for life.
Perfecting the liquid and powder application can be tricky, but once conquered it will be an asset for life.
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Turn the page to view a selection of liquid and powder enhancement products.
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