Nail Tips, Wraps, and Sculptured Nail Applications
Preparation Is Everything
Every enhancement begins with proper preparation: clean, dehydrated, lightly etched natural nail; correct sizing; and a clear picture of the desired shape. Skipping prep causes lifting, which is the most common failure mode tested.
Tips and Wraps
Nail tips are pre-shaped plastic extensions glued to the free edge. Size the tip so it fits sidewall to sidewall without pressure, and blend the seam carefully so it disappears. Wraps are thin fabric (silk, linen, fiberglass) applied with resin over the plate to add strength or repair a split. Apply resin thinly, press the fabric smooth, and trim excess after curing.
Sculptured Nails
Sculptured nails are built from liquid-and-powder acrylic or light-cured gel over a form or tip. For acrylic: prime, dip the brush, pick up a bead with the correct monomer-to-polymer ratio, place the bead at the stress area, and pat into shape with the brush. A bead that is too wet runs into the cuticle; too dry causes lifting and bubbles. Understand the stress area (the sidewall junction, the most breakage-prone zone), the apex (the thickest point for strength), and the smile line (the curve where the product meets the natural free edge).
Gels and Curing
Gel requires correct lamp wavelength and full curing time; undercured gel causes service breakdown and allergic reactions. Never allow product on skin - uncured resin on skin is a leading cause of sensitization.
Traps and Rule of Thumb
Trap: applying product over the cuticle or sidewalls. Trap: using too large a tip and pinching it to fit. Trap: confusing apex with stress area. Trap: skipping primer or using the wrong primer.
Rule of thumb: no product on skin, thin at the edges, strength at the apex - that single sentence answers most application questions.