Artificial Nail Extensions and Sculpting
Types and chemistry
Extensions are built with nail tips plus overlay, or sculpted on a form. Acrylic systems combine liquid monomer with polymer powder; the bead's monomer-to-polymer ratio drives everything. A proper bead looks like a small pearl that holds its shape and slowly levels. Too dry and it lifts or turns brittle; too wet and it shrinks, floods the cuticle, or produces a heat spike. Ethyl methacrylate (EMA) is the standard monomer; methyl methacrylate (MMA) is restricted or prohibited in many jurisdictions because of damage to the natural nail and sensitivity concerns.
Structure
Build the apex at the stress zone, keep the product thin at the cuticle and sidewalls, and maintain a clean smile line and balanced C-curve. Prep is the other half of retention: cleanse, gently remove surface shine without thinning the plate, dehydrate, and use primer only as the manufacturer directs.
Fills and removal
Rebalance every two to three weeks; lifting that is picked or pried at tears the plate. Remove product by soaking in acetone or following the manufacturer's method - never by nipping or forcing it off.
Traps and a rule of thumb
Watch for answers that thin the natural nail to improve adhesion, that skip primer rules, or that ignore ratio. Overexposure to monomers and dust causes allergic contact dermatitis, so ventilation and gloves matter.
Rule of thumb: if it can't hold a pearl shape on the brush, the ratio is wrong - stop and remix.