How to Have Airbrush Nails from Home

Looking to add a bit of color to your nails but you want to skip the nail polish? Nail polish can be rather hard to use, especially if you would like to add some intricate detailing to your fingernails. A lot of women these days are choosing to airbrush their fingernails as an alternative to the classic nail polish or nail varnish.
You can either go to a salon to have your nails airbrushed, which is generally how it is done, or you can even choose to do it yourself! Here’s what you need:

• An airbrush machine (do beware, if this is something you haven’t purchased yet an airbrush machine can easily set you back $160USD or more)
• A stencil
• Airbrush paint
• An airbrush cleaning product
• Soap and water (for clean up)

1. Find a stencil you would like to use. If you are doing the airbrush nails yourself, you can find several stencils at a nail salon. Some stencils include stars, flowers, lines, rainbows, and even a skull and cross bones design! It’s also possible for you to make your very own airbrush stencil too.
2. Apply a basecoat to your fingernails before airbrushing. Though any basecoat type will do, if you tend to have finger nails that crack or break easily you may want to invest in a basecoat that will help strengthen your nails

TIP: You can airbrush a background onto your nails before applying a base coat if you’d like.

3. Once the basecoat has dried, it’s time to airbrush! Place the stencil over the top of your chosen finger. It is generally best to place the stencil a bit above the area you would like for the design to go, as the “blast” from the airbrush machine may make your stencil shift downwards
4. When you are happy with how your design as turned out, clean up any excess paint with an acetone nail polish remover.
5. Apply a top coat overtop of your nail design once it has dried. Once the top coat has dried, you’re good to go!
One of the important things to keep in mind before you begin this process is that your air brushing machine is clean and loaded with the paint color of your choice. Both before and after airbrushing your nails, be sure to clean out the airbrush machine properly (read the user’s manual if you need any help with this). Airbrush machines are prone to clogs or partial clogs that can definitely ruin your design!
Also, though it is recommended that you use an acetone varnish remover to get rid of any excess airbrush paint, if you have false nails choose a remover that does NOT have acetone in it. Opt for an acetate remover instead, and make sure to wear gloves when ever using remover, when ever possible (such as if you need to clean up any excess airbrush paint from the area).
If you have any concerns about airbrushing your nails yourself, invest in a trip to the salon once before you do it yourself and see how they do it! Ask as many questions as you may need to do ensure that you will be able to apply airbrush to your nails at home with confidence.

How Gel Nail Extensions Work

Tags | gel nails

We get facials, we get pedicures, we go for spa treatments and we have manicures. Another part of a beauty regime for women are gel nail extensions. If you want to maintain and keep up with your gel nails, then gel nail extensions are a MUST! Most women schedule a gel nail extension the same day that they have their gel nails applied to their fingertips.
Why get gel nail extensions, you ask? All nails grow, and grow OUT, hence the need for an additional amount of gel to be applied to your fingers to maintain their appearance. The gel nail extension can also be referred to as a gel nail “fill”, as the gel nail extensions are used to cover up and “fill” any gaps that are created as your natural gel grows out from the cuticle.
There is the option between gel nails and acrylic nails, which when comparing the two can create a heated debated between women. What it comes down to really is a matter of preference. Here are some of the reasons why women tend to opt for gel nails rather than acrylic nails:

• Gel nail extensions tend to be more natural in appearance than acrylic nails
• They are thin, which again helps make them appear more natural
• The extensions are clear, not opaque or colored
• These extensions should not yellow or become discolored, as gel nails tend to come with a UV light gel that will protect them from discoloration.
• These extensions do not lift as easily as acrylic nail extensions
• They are lighter in weight, therefore less noticeable to the woman wearing them

Gel nail extensions are often also applied to nails to avoid any sort of splitting, chipping, peeling, or cracking of the natural nail.
The gel nail extensions are applied just as you would expect an acrylic nail to be applied to your finger tip – in a paste-form (though gel nail extensions still end to be fairly odorless compared to acrylic nail extensions). Once the paste is applied to your fingers to fill any gaps there may be, a UV light or lap is then brought into play. Your hands will be set under this UV lap so that the gel cures to your fingernails properly.
A definite drawback to this whole procedure is that it can easily take up to 3 hours to be completed. Acrylic nail fills or extensions will probably take significantly less time, but acrylic fills can look very thick and inauthentic. Again, it’s all a matter of what you need (i.e. do you need very strong nails or do you need natural looking nails?) and preference.




Just remember that at some point you will not be able to “fill” or get nail extensions any longer and actually need to have the gel removed from your finger. After the removal of the gel nail extensions and the nail itself, your natural nails will need a ton of special care and attention. Make sure that you keep your hands clean and moisturized, and allow them to ‘rest’. Do not reapply any gel nails, nail tips, or gel nail extensions for at least 2 weeks (preferably 4 weeks) after the removal of the gel nails.

How To Remove Fake Nails

For anyone who has had fake nails, you know full well just how difficult it is to actually remove them. Apart form them just mistakenly popping off, there’s no way that you will be able to simply pull them off of your finger so just how can you remove these fake nails? Do you need to wait to make a visit to the spa or salon to get them removed?
The good news is that you can remove your own fake nails in your own home. You do not need to spend a ton of money or time at the spa or at a salon to have them taken off, but you will need a few materials, such as:

• A good set of nail clippers
• Acetone-based nail polish remover
• Petroleum jelly
• Nail buffer

Step 1: To start, begin by cutting your fake nails as short as you possibly can. Once you have finished this step, take the petroleum jelly and rub it into the area that surrounds the nails as best as you can. This will help keep your fingers and your nails from becoming dry and irritated.
Step 2: Take out a glass bowl and fill it with the acetone-based nail polish remover. Dip your fingertips into the acetone-based remover and hold them there for up to 20 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed, check and see if you are able to lift up the fake nail from your natural nail. If you are able to remove the nail, great. If not, dip your fingers back in the remover for another 5 minutes and try again until you are able to fully remove the fake nail without “ripping” or pulling on it.

TIP: Always make sure that you properly dispose of your fake nails in a trash bin rather than allow them to lie around your washroom or reuse them.

Step 3: Once you have removed your nails, you will notice that there is probably some nail glue residue stuck to your natural fingernail. To remove this, you will want to take your nail buffer and sweep it across your fingernail until the glue has been completely removed. If need be, dip your fingertips back into the acetone nail polish remover to help expedite the nail glue removal process
Step 4: When the nail glue has been removed, it’s important to realize that your nails will be very brittle, dry, and probably quite damaged from the fake nails. Now is the time to take extra care of your nails and to give them a lot more TLC. Start off by drying off your hands and applying a thick and hydrating hand lotion to your hands. Next, take some cuticle cream (Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is especially wonderfully) and rub it into the cuticles of your fingers.

TIP: In a pinch, you can rub in more petroleum jelly or you can use olive oil to help hydrate your finger tips.

Once you have done that, give your hands 5 minutes of rest by either allowing them to be still or massage them, and then continue on with your daily activities.