If you spend any time like I do looking for new manicure ideas online, you will notice that many of them use dip powders instead of standard nail polish. Dip powder nails has become quite the fad, and it appears that it is here to stay for the long haul. Luckily for us, dip powder kits are becoming more common. As a result they can be found in drugstores. I picked up Color Club’s Serendipity kit in Walmart and I have decided to craft a dip powder nails tutorial so that you can learn how to do this at home for less money than the salon. The kit that I am featuring is called “Soft Serve” (discontinued). If you want to learn the easy steps to a dip powder long-lasting manicure, just keep reading!
Dip Powder Nails Tutorial Supplies
The Serendipity kit is a great choice for this dip powder nails tutorial because it contains almost everything that you will need and is similar to most other kits out there. You will also notice that the bottles are numbered to make the process seamless. In addition to what the kit provides, I would also suggest having:
- Small brush
- Cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol
- Something to protect your work surface, i.e. paper towel
I will provide more details on these additions in the body of the tutorial.
Before You Start
Just like when you paint your nails or do any sort of manicure, you want to start with clean, dry nails that have been filed, dehydrated, and have had the cuticles pushed back. These are the basics to have any manicure perform and last well. If you want to learn how to successfully complete these steps, I do have a nail care routine post that outlines everything. It also teaches you how to properly paint your nails, which will apply to this tutorial because there are various products that will get painted on. You will also want to protect your working surface with a paper towel, newspaper, manicure mat, or whatever you have. My personal favorite is the manicure mat option, and I use the Lotus Mat from Maniology. You can use my discount code TAE10 to save 10% on your Maniology order!
Related Post: Nail Care Routine & Basic Manicure How-To
Step 1: Apply prime and bond, dip, and remove excess
Step number one of this dip powder nails tutorial is the most involved, but it is not difficult. Make sure that you are working one nail at a time for optimal results. Starting with your first nail, apply one coat of bottle number one prime and bond, then immediately dip your nail into your powder of choice at a 45 degree angle while the nail is still wet. When you remove your nail, tap off the excess powder. After tapping there will still be a fair amount of excess powder on your nail. Allow your nail time to dry, which should be less than a minute, and then I suggest using a small brush that you do not care about to brush the remaining residue away. I used a horrible makeup brush that came in a sample that I would never use on my face. If you cannot find a brush around your house to use, you should be able to find one at the dollar store. While the kit did not come with a brush, this step is helpful. Finally, repeat everything that you did on your first nail on your remaining nails.
Be careful anytime when you are applying the prime and bond that you are neat and do not get it all over your skin, or else the powder will stick in places you do not want it to!
To apply a second coat of powder (or as many coats as you would like), keep doing step one over again before proceeding to step two.
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| Dipping nail into nail dip powder |
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| Removing nail from nail dip powder |
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| Brush for removing excess nail dip powder |
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| Tapping off excess nail dip powder from nail |
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| Excess nail dip powder brushed off of nail |
Step 2: Apply instant activator
Apply one coat of bottle number two instant activator to each nail and let dry.
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| Applying instant activator to nail |
Step 3: Buff nails
Using the buffing block provided in the kit, file the surface of the nails down until each nail is smooth. You will also want to file the edges of your nails to smooth them out. I do caution here about using the buffing block on the edges. Be super careful to not cause damage to your natural nail. With this being said, a safer option would be to file the edges with a glass or crystal nail file.
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| Buffing the surface of a dip powder nail |
Step 4: Cleanse with rubbing alcohol
Take a cotton ball and soak in in rubbing alcohol. Give each of your nails a rub down to remove any residue from buffing.
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| Cleansing dip powder nail with rubbing alcohol |
Step 5: Apply more instant activator
Apply one more coat of bottle number two instant activator to each nail and let dry.
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| Applying second coat of instant activator to nail |
Step 6: Apply finishing gloss
The sixth and final step in this dip powder nails tutorial is applying one coat of bottle three finishing gloss to each nail. Allow your nails time to dry, then apply a second coat to each nail and let dry again.
Related Post: Tie Dye Nail Art Without Water
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| Applying finishing gloss to nail |
Finished product
Now that your dip nails are complete, you will want to apply some cuticle oil to your cuticles and follow that up with your favorite hand cream. This is yet another step that I outline in my nail care routine and manicure post to help your manicure last and keep your nails healthy. Above all, be sure to admire all of your “hard” work!
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| Finished dip powder nail |
Removal
This dip powder nails tutorial would not be complete without removal tips. I will admit that is not an easy feat. Do not do what I did, which was peeling the product off. Consequently,I broke one of my nails doing that. Moreover, the best thing that you can do is file down the surface of the dip powder to thin it out and break the seal. After that I recommend soaking your nails in acetone. To do this you can soak cotton balls, place them on your nails, then wrap your nails in foil and wait around 15 to 30 minutes. I have some plastic clips that actually hold the cotton balls down without the use of foil and are reusable. You can eve try a device that steams acetone for removal.
Even after soaking you may need to enlist the help of some sort of scraper, but do be careful that you do not damage your nails.
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Conclusion
We are at the end of my dip powder nails tutorial. In short, I hope you feel that you can do this manicure at home. You will notice that my nail did not come out perfect. Dip nails definitely take some practice and getting used to, so do not feel discouraged. The end product looks nice and lasts longer than regular nail polish. The formula also hardens and adds strength to your natural nails. Be sure to include photos in the comments if you try this tutorial. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine. What is your favorite type of at-home manicure?
8 Responses
What if you want to do a 2nd coat of the powder? Do you put more bonding on top of powder then dip again or do you put the activator on then another coat of bonder then dip?
Every single time I use the top boat, my brush gets hard and becomes unusable. Any suggestions?
Typically, the Activator from bottle two causes your top coat from bottle three to do this. Always be sure that the Activator is fully dried before applying the top coat. You can also soak the top coat brush in pure acetone overnight, which should soften it up. Be sure to cover up your bottle of top coat well if you do that! This is probably a cheaper option than buying “dip brush cleaner” from the internet, but that is also an option.
I tried this a few days ago and am very happy with the results. I would like to know the proper steps to do a 2nd coat of the powder though.
Hi, Susan! To apply a 2nd coat of powder you will want to follow step one an additional time. After your initial coat you will apply bottle #1 prime and bond, dip your nail into the powder, and then brush off the excess. Happy dipping!
I do my own and often do 3-4 coats. I start my 1st coat in the middle of my nail and move closer to my cuticle each time… by the 3rd coat, my nail looks natural and there isn’t that buildup at the cuticle (you can vaguely see it on these pics). However, in my experience, the thicker it is (the more coats you use) the easier it lifts… so less is more. Happy dipping!! 🙂
That is a great tip, thank you for sharing with us!!
That was cool to learn about! I’ve always wondered why gel manicures were so different from typical nail polish. Now I want to try out this powder manicure…