Shellac manicure is in great demand nowadays. This very recent American product has quickly won the favor of beautiful nail lovers all over the world. This manicure requires special manicure supplies and substances.
Shellac products and tools
Special lamp for drying nails. You can use both UV and LED lamps, with a power of 18 watts.
Manicure set.
A tool that removes cuticles. Or use an emollient oil on the cuticle.
Special degreaser for nails. Alternatively, wipe with an alcohol-based wipe or acetone.
A product that protects nails, which is what a shellac primer is for.
Base coat for shellac.
Shellac of the selected color.
Top coverage.
A shellac primer is needed because - this is a special base created to build up nails... Why do they carry out a special procedure before building. First, prepare the nails.
The preparation process consists of:
cuticle removal
shaping the nail
surface cleaning of the nail plate
disinfection of nails
degreasing nails.
Before building it is necessary to apply on nails a substance that will connect extended and naturally occurring nails... What is the purpose of such substances as adhesives. And one of the types of adhesives is shellac primer.
Function and features of the primer
The main function of what a shellac primer is for is nail protection... Thanks to the primer, the nails will be protected from the appearance of yellow plaque, delamination of the nail plate and the appearance of fungus, since bacteria cannot penetrate into the nails.
Also primer needed to secure, with the help of it, extended nails can last much longer on the fingers. The primers contain an effective substance that adheres tightly to surfaces.
Another additional function is nail degreasing and drying. Such functions are performed by all primers without exception.
Varieties of shellac primers
There are two types of shellac primers: acidic and acid-free... Each of them has its pros and cons for what they are for.
Acidic primer - an adhesive containing methacrylic acid. The great advantage of an acidic primer is itshigh efficiency.
It adheres much better to surfaces than acid-free.Designed if extended nails are going to be worn for a long time. Possesses high durability.
What is an acidic shellac primer for? Typically, these primers use under acrylic nails... For hands with increased sweating and high-fat nail plates, this primer will be just right.
However, due to methacrylic acid the drug is toxic... It must be applied with great care, without getting the substance on the skin. In case of contact, a strong burning sensation will be felt and the skin will turn red.
The main function for which shellac primer is needed is to protect the nails.
Sensitive skin may even develop chemical blisters that will need to be treated.
An acidic primer is used only for strong and healthy nails... Such a primer should not be applied to brittle and sensitive ones.
This primer is very aggressive. Also, do not use it when applying transparent varnishes, since after drying the primer leaves behind a white dusting.
Acid-free primer Is the most popular and commonly used shellac primer. Needed for safe application to nails, from which it does not contain acid. Suitable even for the most sensitive.
An acid-free primer performs all the functions of protecting and degreasing nails, in addition, if it gets on the skin, there will be no unpleasant consequences. This primer is often used for pedicure.
Pre-primer - by itself is not an adhesive. However, Prep Primer is often used as a preparatory element before primer is applied to the nail. Serves as a disinfectant and degreaser for the nail plate. Safe and suitable for all nails. Dries instantly.
Does the base coat function as a primer?
Basecoat and primer are completely different things. Basecoat has no primer function, i.e. does not degrease, is unable to protect against bacteria and cannot help adhere materials.
The base coat is used only to level the nail plate and protect it from varnish. The base coat is used under varnish and provides general nail care.
About the price and substitutes for shellac primer
The price range of the primer is wide. It depends on the volume of the vial, the composition of the product, the quality of the product and the manufacturer. Basically from 140 to 600 rubles the price varies. Well-known brand shellac primers are more expensive.
For instance, Bluesky, Runail, Kodi etc. For maximum effect, it is better to purchase high-quality expensive primers, which will include the best protective substances.
It is impossible to completely replace the primer. But there are inexpensive tools that can fulfill some of the primer's functions.
Suitable for disinfection and degreasing of nails ordinary alcohol wipes and also nail polish remover, part of which is acetone.
These analogs will dry the nails and prepare the nail plates for adhesion to the overlay material. Although such methods have a rather aggressive effect on the nails, and therefore can be harmful.
Also used as substitutes vinegar, alcohol, cologne and boric acid... In the composition of each there are substances capable of degreasing the nail, but all of them are not able to give the necessary adhesive effect with the building material.
Extension primer is the best choice for a safe and quality adhesion.
How to choose the right shellac primer
A wide range of different primers are now available in stores. The choice of the necessary product will depend on your preferences, characteristics of nails, material capabilities and the popularity of the primer brand.
You can also choose by the consistency of the primer. Each brand produces primers of different thicknesses.When choosing a nail polish, try to get a thick primer so it can be applied easily and safely. After all, liquid primers can spread too much on the nail, which is unsafe.
The most famous professional nail extension products are brands LeChat or RuNail.
The list of the most popular primers that have proven themselves include Bluesky, Le Vole Ultra Bond and Lady Victory.
Primer Bluesky belongs to the most frequently used tools of the dedicated group. It is used to treat the nail surface, since it provides the best coverage of the solution throughout the nail.
Bluesky primer contains no harmful chemical elements such as, for example, toluene or formaldehyde.
Because of this Bluesky Primer on skin contact will not cause burn reactions or skin redness... But still, it is necessary to apply such a primer in compliance with all basic recommendations.
Le Vole Ultra Bond belongs to acid-free primers. A primer of this type is safe and does not cause irritation and burn reactions if accidentally applied to the epidermis.
Due to its special acid-free composition, the product will not provoke destruction in the structure of the nail and its layers and will not disturb the water and fat balance of the nail.
Important to remember! The most important thing that makes sense to focus on is to use safe application methods when interacting with the product, as well as to accurately follow the sequence of nail coating with the product.
Lady victory It is often used in the bio-gel coating of nails, which is so popular now. The primer contains safe substances, which makes this primer absolutely harmless.
It will perfectly protect against any harmful effects of aggressive substances. Also Lady Victory is used in the role of a nail remedy.
Before using the selected primer, you should familiarize yourself with the composition presented on the label, as well as determine the technique for applying the product.
How to use a primer
Regardless of the type, for what and what kind of manicure you need a shellac primer, the method of application is the same for any of them. The final result of the manicure and its duration in wearing depends on how the primer was applied.
To apply a primer, there is a special application technology. The nail primer is very easy to apply, even as a beginner in manicure.
The most important thing that makes sense to focus on is to apply safe application methods when interacting with the product, as well as to accurately follow the sequence of nail coating with the product. Primer application goes through the following 3 stages:
Preparation for application.
You should immediately prepare a napkin. It can be paper or lint-free. When opening the bottle of primer, first wring out the brush and wipe off excess liquid from it on a napkin. At this stage also the nail plate is being prepared.
To do this, the cuticle is removed or moved away from the surface of the nail, and the nail surface itself is processed with a special file, the rigidity of which should be minimal. This is done to eliminate natural shine, if present.
Application of a primer.
Using small strokes of a special brush, apply the product to the nail in the center, not allowing the substance to come into contact with the cuticle or lateral skin ridges of the nail.
After applying the primer.
At the end, the nails should dry completely after primer treatment. Depending on the quality and its variety, the primer gives a different appearance when the nail plates are dry.
Manicurists apply the primer twice... This is done for high-quality and complete protection in order to increase the adhesive capabilities.
Features when working with a primer
When processing nails with a shellac primer, you need to adhere to the following tips, which will make it possible to improve the final result, which is what every master is trying to achieve.
- Using a UV lamp to dry your nails is optional regardless of the type of primer. Due to the special composition of the primer, the applied layer dries up in about 1-2 minutes under the influence of sunlight.
If an acidic primer was applied, then when a whitish shade appears on the nails, we can confidently say that the substance is completely dry. Dried acid-free primer is determined by the absence of wet areas on the entire surface of the nail.
It is necessary to completely eliminate the possibility of contact of nails with the skin until the primer is completely dry.
- All manipulations with the primer must be neat and unhurried... Apply the drug to the nail in small amount.
Treatment of the nail with a degreasing agent is carried out using a special professional brush, which is usually always sold together with the primer together.
If the primer was purchased without a brush, a dedicated brush should be purchased separately. For the most even distribution of the substance, it is worth applying the product with small point movements with a brush on the nail.
- It does not follow allow contact with tipsa when applying the primer to the natural area of the nail plate, it is necessary to exclude this possibility.
Otherwise, the chemical elements that make up the primer, when exposed to tips, can worsen the stability of the substrate and cause damage to it.
- If there is contact of the primer with the skin, you should immediately wash the affected skin area with soapy water and then hold it a little under clean cold water.
This will reduce the likelihood of skin reddening and chemical burns appearing on the skin.
Regardless of the variety, each primer is an aggressive drug... Only with strict adherence to safety precautions and compliance with the rules for the use of this substance, work with it will become simple and harmless.
If white flakes begin to appear in the nail polish, then this indicates that this drug is unsuitable for use.
Manicurists advise against working with unknown primers and, when choosing it, prefer working with familiar brands that have already been tested and have no complaints about quality characteristics, and which are guaranteed not to harm when exposed to nails.
How to store a primer and how to tell if it is damaged
Special storage conditions are required to preserve the shellac primer. Why place it in a dark and dry place. The period of use of primers can be 1-3 years.
If white flakes begin to appear in the nail polish, then this indicates that this drug is unsuitable for use.
When buying a primer, you should pay attention to date of manufacture and term of useduring which the cosmetic substance can be used.
It is impossible to answer unequivocally whether the expired primer will be damaged. With a recent expiration date, you can test the primer by applying it to your nails. If during application the primer spreads or, on the contrary, is poorly applied, for example, in lumps, the product is definitely spoiled.
Also, evidence of a damaged primer will be peeling, rolling, or uneven application.
When it comes to using a primer for personal purposes, every lover of spectacular manicure can single-handedly decide for herself whether to cover her nails with a primer if it has expired.
This substance has a rather large price, so some do not dare to throw out the product. Why you need to know that expired shellac primers can cause various allergic reactions and even harm the health of nails.
Manicure experts advise against risking your own health and beauty for reasons of economy.
May your nails always be well-groomed and beautiful.