Nail Tips, Wraps, and Artificial Nail Enhancements
Four families of enhancements
Tips and forms are foundations. Wraps use fabric (silk, linen, fiberglass) or paper with a resin or glue - thin and good for mending, but less durable. Acrylics cure by chemical polymerization when liquid monomer meets polymer powder; gels cure only under a UV/LED lamp matched to the product line; dip systems rely on cyanoacrylate. Never mix brands or systems.
Prep decides durability
Push back the cuticle, gently remove shine from the plate without thinning it, dehydrate with alcohol or acetone, and apply primer or bonder only if the system calls for it. Moisture, oil, and cuticle left on the plate cause lifting.
Mix ratio and structure
The liquid-to-powder ratio creates the bead. Too wet causes shrinkage, lifting, and weakness; too dry makes a brittle enhancement. Build a slight apex over the stress zone and keep product thin at the cuticle and sidewalls.
Removal
Soak off with acetone per the manufacturer; never force, pry, or nip product off the plate. Improper removal and over-filing are leading causes of plate damage. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer is restricted in many states, and ethyl methacrylate (EMA) is the industry standard.
Trap watch: more product does not mean stronger; you cannot shorten a gel cure by applying it thicker; uncured gel residue is both a service failure and a skin-sensitization risk.
Rule of thumb: dry, oil-free plate + correct mix ratio + thin sidewalls = retention without damage.