Artificial Nail Products, Application, and Removal
Product families
Acrylic (liquid-and-powder) systems combine a liquid monomer with a polymer powder and set by chemical reaction plus solvent evaporation. Gels cure only under UV/LED light and come as hard gel, soft gel, and soak-off gel polish. Dip systems use cyanoacrylate-based resins with colored powders. Wraps (silk, fiberglass, linen) reinforce the natural nail. Tips and forms build length; a form alone can sculpt length. The apex - the thickest point over the stress area - supplies strength; too thin an apex and too thick a free edge are both failure patterns.
Application and removal
Prep decides the outcome: sanitize, remove old product properly, gently remove shine, dehydrate, and control the cuticle line without touching living tissue. Fit tips without gaps or blanching. Keep product off the skin to limit lifting and allergic reaction. Seal sidewalls and the free edge. Removal must be non-traumatic: acetone soak with foil or a dish for acrylic and soft gel, filing down bulk for hard gel - never nipping, prying, or forced lifting, which destroys the natural plate. MMA monomer is prohibited in Illinois; use professional products only.
Troubleshooting and traps
Questions ask the cause of lifting (incomplete prep, skin contact, missed seal), green discoloration (moisture trapped under lifted product - bacterial; remove and refer if spreading), white spots (trauma or dehydration), and over-thinning. Do not mix brands, use expired product, or add monomer to a curing bead to "fix" it. Heat spikes from thick beads can burn the nail bed.
Rule of thumb: product touching skin is the root of most lifting and most allergies.