Life is truly boring without a fun set of nails, don’t you think? Sure, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with keeping things all-natural with God-given nails but why stop there? Having your nails done is the ultimate accessory and one of the greatest forms of self-expression. While it does take a whole lot of practice and dedication to get those designs just the way you want them to, seeing the finished product makes it all worth it in the end. You’ve obviously understood the assignment which is why you’ve taken such special care of your nails throughout your life.
Seeing as you’re a natural at the nail tech craft, you’ve developed your skills by doing favors for friends and family over the years. Recently though, you’ve decided to do the people a much-appreciated public service by opening up your own salon. While we commend you on your endeavor, you’ll need to be properly equipped with all the tools if you want to keep your business afloat. Luckily for you, we’ll be giving you a shortlist of all the essentials under the cut.
What Tools Do You Need to Apply Acrylic Nails?
You of all people should know that this is a form of art in itself. But no artist is truly complete without the right supplies. You can have all the drive and willpower you want but if you don’t have any resources to turn your vision into reality, it all goes down the drain.
Nail Brushes
We’re kicking things off with perhaps the most important tool in your arsenal. At first glance, it might look similar to regular painting brushes but there’s so much more to it. In fact, a good acrylic nail brush is the key to avoiding sloppy and messy nail art which can ultimately deter your customers.
When it comes to their build, your main focus should be on the type and size of the bristles. These days, most nail brushes are normally made of either synthetic or animal fibers. Some might argue that the latter is somewhat softer and easier to navigate but if we’re being honest, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. But if there’s one thing you need to pay special attention to, it’s the size of your acrylic nail brush. So for example, if you want to make bold strokes and wide lines, you’ll probably have to go get a brush that’s on the thicker end of the spectrum. On the other hand, whenever you’re adding fine details and doing final touch-ups, you’ll probably make better use of a thinner acrylic nails brush.
In any case, if you want your brushes to last as long as possible despite continuous use, you’ll have to take proper care of them. To do this, we recommend soaking them in a bit of monomer nail liquid for at least two hours. This will thoroughly clean the fibers and remove excess residue. After that, gently rinse them with warm water and lay them out on a towel to air dry. It’s a good idea to do this after each application session but if that’s outside the realm of possibility, try to do this at least once every day.
Nail Glue
Sometimes people want long, elegant nails but they don’t have the patience to grow out their natural ones. That’s where nail extensions come in. The tricky part is sticking onto your client’s existing nails and making sure they stay firmly in place the whole time. You’ve probably heard all those horror stories of people’s nails falling off, haven’t you? Sure, sometimes it’s your client’s fault for not being careful but there are also cases where the nails simply slide off for no reason. Bottom line is, if you want to avoid such word of mouth from reaching your salon, you’ll have to invest in some super sticky glue that will keep everything in place for as long as necessary.
Nail Polish
Is there a better way to show off your skills and knowledge of nail art than to mix and match lots of different types of nail polish? Definitely not. Truth is, having a wide range of colors gives you the ability to experiment and try out new styles. Plus, your customers will probably be delighted at all the options they get to choose from.
Either way, it’s advisable to stick to products that you’ve tried and tested previously. This minimizes the chance of mistakes and dissatisfied customers. If you try out new things for the first time on your customers, you’re inevitably setting yourself up for failure right from the start.
Cuticle Oil
Do you know how dermatologists always preach about how important it is to exfoliate and moisturize if you want to get rid of dead skin cells? Well, the exact same thing goes for your nails and cuticles. Even if your customers’ nails weren’t subjected to constant wear and tear with each appointment, they’re exposed to all sorts of weather conditions, dryness, and damaged over time. When you take all of this into consideration, you realize that it’s quite a serious issue. In order to avoid substantial damage to your client’s nails, applying cuticle oil during each session should become a standard practice in your business.
Cutting Tools
People have different tastes, right? So it’s unrealistic to expect that everyone will want to have a standard nail shape and be happy with it. For this reason, you’ll have to stock up on a range of dills, files, and clips that will help you shape your customers’ nails more easily and efficiently.
