With good care and no health problems, the nail plate has a smooth, attractive surface. But sometimes the external condition of the nail worsens, in such cases it is shown alignment procedure.
When it is necessary to align the nail plate
There are several situations when you need to perform the alignment procedure:
- in the presence of defects in the nail after the previous manicure: strong cuts, irregular shape formation;
- if the nail is thin after wearing shellac for a long time or for natural reasons;
- in the presence of natural irregularities and drops on the nail plate;
- if brittleness and delamination of the plate is present, this is especially important if the nails suffer during professional activities and in everyday life;
- after suffering nail diseases, which provoke deformation of the plate;
- reinforcement contributes to a longer wearing of a colored coating that can be done over;
- the strengthening layer makes it possible, when correcting and removing the top coat, not to remove the material until the nail itself;
- if desired to grow to a greater length, the reinforcing material protects the plate, which grows to the desired length with it.
Tools and materials you will need
It is necessary to align the nail plate with the correct technique and using the necessary tools.
| Tools | How are used | Features: |
| Orange wood sticks. | They can be used to push back the cuticle and clean the inner surface of the nail. They differ in size and shape, sometimes they have an abrasive spraying similar to spraying on files. | Sticks are disposable, as they perfectly absorb liquids and cannot be disinfected. |
| Pushers or cosmetic shovels are metal products that look like a spatula, one end is in the shape of a shovel, the other end is pointed. | They are used to lift and remove cuticles, to remove impurities. Also suitable for creating the shape of the nail when performing extensions. | The metal from which the pushers are made is intended for sterilization and disinfection. Therefore, the product can be reused. |
| Files and buffs have a variety of shapes and are made from different materials. They have a coating of varying degrees of abrasiveness - small or large particles. | Files are needed to create the shape of the nail and align the cuts. Buffs are used to polish the nail itself or an already applied hardened coating. | Metal products are subject to sterilization. In other cases, disinfectants are used. |
| Brushes with bristles of various lengths and different hardness. | Necessary for removing dust and particles of materials after sawing. Also, brushes are needed to clean tools and attachments of the device. | Brushes can be successfully disinfected. |
| The manicure machine includes a large number of attachments. | With the help of mechanical processing with the apparatus, the following tasks can be solved:
| All attachments can be cleaned and disinfected. |
| Degreasing liquid | Removes the sticky layer upon completion of the drying of the coating in the lamp. It is also necessary for the treatment of nails from the oil film. | The liquid is sold in large tubes and is a must for a long lasting manicure. |
| Primer | It is applied to the nail after degreasing, but before applying the base or base substance. The primer is necessary for maximum adhesion of the material and the nail. Does not require drying in a lamp, dries on its own almost instantly after application. | Sold in bottles with a brush, outwardly indistinguishable from any nail polish. |
| UV or LED lamp | Used to cure material. | When using the lamp, the bottom surface where the hands are located may become dirty. Easy to clean with approved cleaning agents. |
Aligning the nail plate with the base
Aligning the nail plate using a gel polish base is the easiest option to achieve the desired result. An important nuance for successful strengthening is the quality and consistency of the base. When buying material, you must make sure that the package contains an indication of the presence of rubber in the composition. This ensures that the base is thick and viscous.
It is due to the consistency that you can achieve a good shape and most effectively hide the irregularities and flaws of the nail plate.
What bases are suitable
Here are the base brands that work well for the alignment procedure:
- Komilfo;
- Lovely Base;
- NeoNail;
- Kodi;
- Adore Professional.
Leveling and strengthening technique
The alignment procedure is carried out in accordance with the main steps. Compliance with them allows you to achieve the desired smoothness and strength of the nail plate.
Here are the steps involved:
- The very first and most important stage is nail preparation. It is necessary to remove the cuticle so that it does not interfere with the application of the material. Depending on the situation, it can be removed or simply moved to the edges of the plate.
- Next, you should give the nail the desired final shape by processing the free edge. Sand with a coarse-grain buff for better adhesion of the material to the nail.
- Wipe the nail with a degreasing agent. Then apply a primer.
- It is worth choosing a brush that best fits the size of the nail. Take a small amount of gel with a brush and place it on the apex zone - a line at the root of the nail, located at a small distance from the root itself.
- Further, a drop of material should be stretched in one direction to the root and in the other direction to the free edge. It is worth remembering that the gel does not freeze from contact with air, unlike ordinary nail polish, so flaws and gaps can be easily corrected with repeated brush movements. In this case, the pressure should be medium in strength so that deep furrows are not formed.
- After processing the entire plate, you need to seal the free edge of the nail.
- Place nails in the lamp space and hold for the required amount of time, depending on the properties of the lamp.
- When finished, remove the sticky layer from the surface if the base suggests this layer is present.
Tips from the masters
When using a gel base, there are several secrets to help you create the perfect finish:
- after applying the layer, you can turn the brush over with the palm up, so the base forms a spectacular shape;
- some experts recommend applying and drying nails one at a time so that the base does not have time to spread and penetrate into the folds between the skin and the nail;
- for a more effective curing of the material, it is recommended to use an LED lamp, as it has a faster drying time.
Alignment of the nail plate with biogel
Biogel is a material that combines 2 important properties:
- a biological base that has a healing effect on damaged nails due to the contained vitamins A and E, teak resin and proteins;
- the gel base, which carries the reducing substances, forms a strong protection for the plate and masks imperfections.
Biogel helps to activate the protective properties of the nail and the production of keratin.
What biogels are suitable
When using biogel, you should opt for the following brands:
- Bio Stretch Gel (BSG);
- Yoko;
- Atica ™;
- Creator;
- El Corazon.
Leveling and strengthening technique
Application of biogel has no significant differences from application of a gel base:
- Prepare the plate - remove or move the cutitkula.
- With the help of files, give the desired shape, make the surface of the nail rough.
- Degrease your nails and apply a primer.
- Apply biogel in a thin layer over the entire area of the nail, slowly stretching a drop of material to the root, and then to the free end of the nail. Dry in a lamp.
- Since biogel has a less dense texture after polymerization, then it is worth repeating the application to get from 2 to 4 layers of gel in total. Each time it is worth lengthening the drying time from 10 to 15 seconds.
Features for C-bend of the nail
C-bend is the formation of the highest point of the nail, which is located closer to the free edge of the plate. To do this, the application of the material begins with placing the drop at a slight distance from the root, followed by stretching to the sides.
Then, to create a bend, you need to place your hand with your fingers down so that the material flows a little into the desired area. After a few seconds, place your hand in the lamp and dry the coating.
Tips from the masters
For greater durability of the coating, a base should be applied under the biogel.
Aligning the nail plate with manicure gel
Manicure gel allows you to form especially strong nails with the most even surface. This is especially important in the presence of severe damage and furrows.
Which gels are suitable
The following brands of gels have the optimal consistency for strengthening:
- Cosmoprofi;
- Irisk;
- Kodi;
- CNI.
Leveling and strengthening technique
The method of applying this material is universal:
- Preparing nails, creating a shape, processing cuticles, creating a rough surface.
- Degrease the plate before applying the primer.
- Apply the gel in a light layer from a drop on both sides and dry the coating. Then repeat the application, creating from 1 to 3 layers is permissible.
Tips from the masters
There are several secrets to using manicure gel:
- if the gel forms irregularities on the free side of the nail, they can be corrected with files, this can be done on any layer of the gel;
- to form a pronounced glare on the coating, after applying the material, it is worth placing the nails under a rounded lamp, even a tabletop one is suitable, after 15-20 seconds you can place your fingers in the lamp for fixing.
Aligning the nail plate with acrylic powder
You can also align the nail plate with acrylic powder. It is a polymer powder that, after hardening, acquires a porous structure, which allows the nails to breathe freely.
The coating also makes nails durable and prevents delamination. The use of powder requires some skill and knowledge, therefore it is not very suitable for independent use by beginners at home.
What bases are suitable
The most popular and high-quality powders are products of the following brands:
- Kodi Professional Power Clear;
- Irisk Professional Clear;
- TNL Professional Premium;
- InGarden Pure Glass;
- INM OTD Powder Natural;
- RuNail.
Leveling and strengthening technique
When using acrylic powder as a strengthening material there are some differences compared to other classic remedies:
- The preparation of the nail is classic - to move or remove the cuticle, to give the nail the desired shape, to make the surface of the plate rough.
- Degrease the nail.
- Apply primer and wait until it dries completely.
- Take a small amount of the base with a brush and distribute over the entire length of the nail, this layer does not need to be dried.
- Next, you need to place your fingers over the container with powder so that the remains poured back.
- On a freshly applied base, gently pour a small amount of powder, dry the layer in a lamp.
- Then it is worth removing excess powder from the skin with a special brush.
- If necessary, apply another layer of powder.
- Depending on the instructions for use of the powder, the application of the top fixing layer is permissible.
Tips from the masters
When using powder, there are several secrets that will help make this type of manicure even more comfortable:
- to achieve maximum results, you need to purchase funds from one manufacturer;
- some masters prefer not to pour the powder on top, but to immerse the nail with the applied base completely in a jar of powder;
- to remove the powder coating, you can use liquids to dissolve acrylic materials or cut the coating with the machine.
Post-procedure care
The maximum benefit for your nails can be obtained by following several recommendations after alignment:
- It is recommended not to wet your hands within 2 hours after strengthening.
- During the first days after strengthening it is necessary to protect nails from strong mechanical and chemical influences.
- In cold weather it is necessary to actively moisturize the skin of the hands and around the nails, especially before going outside.
- Before going to bed, it is recommended to massage the skin around the nails with a special cuticle oil.
- If possible, remove coatings that have set in the lamp using an apparatus rather than by dissolving and manually cutting.
- After wearing gel and acrylic coatings for a long time, you should give your nails a rest and recover.
Compliance with simple rules after the alignment procedure allows you to maintain an excellent appearance and improve the health of the nail plate.
Video about aligning the nail plate
High-speed alignment of nails with a base: