Many of you are currently asking yourself: What do I do with my artificial nails now that all the studios are closed? The new safety measures due to infection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mean that all beauty and nail salons will remain temporarily closed. However, some of you may need your nails filled or trimmed. What do you do when everything is closed?
Luckily 🍀 there is our nail expert Martina who has put together great do-it-yourself instructions for all modeling techniques for you.
This is what our nail designer 👩🎨 Martina says about the situation:
“I personally can’t live without my long claws, otherwise I feel a bit naked” 😥
! You should pay attention to this !
What you should never do is trim your artificial nails with nail clippers, pliers or scissors! This can cause cracks or breaks in the material and cause serious injuries. Ideal places for bacteria and infections.
You have two options here: either file the nails briefly or remove them completely.
Nail modeling techniques and their characteristics
| Artificial nail art | Characteristics | durability | distance |
| Acrylic | stable powder mixture, thin application possible |
3-5 weeks | Acetone & file |
| UV gel | less stable than acrylic, Curing takes place through UV lamp |
3-5 weeks | file |
| Shellac | permanent nail polish, more resistant than conventional nail polish | 2-3 weeks | Acetone or remover |
DIY instructions - become a nail designer 💅
Shortening nails and visually beautifying them - minor repairs
For all methods there is the option of temporary beautification to bridge the time until your nail salon reopens. This can also be done without filing off all the material. If the design or color has already grown out a bit and the natural nail behind it is visible, it no longer looks well-groomed. Our nail designer Martina recommends that beginners among you use very simple tools so as not to injure the nail.
For this you need:
- A coarse-grain nail file, polishing file and buffer (please only use sandpaper files)
- Base coat nail hardener
- Nail polish with good coverage
Instructions in 7 easy steps:
- Before use, clean your hands and nails with disinfectant
- First, shorten the artificial nails with a coarse-grain file
- Now file the transition between the material and the natural nail very flat! Be careful not to file on the natural nail!
- If there are loose areas (liftings), these areas must be carefully removed by filing.
- Remove any existing filing dust with a dust brush .
- Now paint the nail with our base coat nail hardness r and let it air dry
- Finally, apply a covering nail polish and let it dry. Complete!
A special SOS tip from our nail expert Martina:
“ If damage has already occurred to the nail, “Our SOS nail repair set ” can help here.
Procedure for torn artificial nails:
- Cut a narrow strip of fiberglass to fit the width of the nail.
- Apply the nail glue to the crack and the nail approximately the shape and size of the fiberglass cut.
- Place the prepared fiberglass cut lengthwise over the crack so that the entire crack is covered.
- Let the nail glue dry and then go over the fiberglass again with the nail glue.
- Allow the nail glue to dry completely and then carefully file the adhesive area flat with the fine side of the file.
- Cover the nail with the top coat .
This is an emergency repair and is not a permanent solution
suitable is. It is only intended to support the nail or the complete insertion or
Prevent tearing until you can replace the nail with a refill.Set contents:
- 1x fiberglass strip
- 1x nail glue
- 1x Professional nail file
- 1x top coat
Remove nail modeling correctly
If you are confident enough to completely remove your nails, we will show you what you need and how to remove the individual nail modeling techniques. Beginners should be particularly careful here.
For acrylic nails you need:
- A coarse-grain nail file, polishing file and buffer (please only use sandpaper files)
- Acetone (available at hardware stores or pharmacies)
- Small bowl
- Remover tool or rosewood stick
- Nail oil
- Sealing & Protection
Acetone removal instructions :
- Before use, clean your hands and nails with disinfectant
- Rub with nail oil to protect the cuticles
- File off the first top coat and paint so that the acetone can work better
- Place acetone in a small bowl, immerse the artificial nails completely in the acetone and leave to act for 20-30 minutes
- Test again and again whether the material comes off, otherwise repeat the process
- Scrape off the material with a remover tool or rosewood stick
- Gently remove any residue with the buffer
- Finally, briefly file, polish and care for the nail.
Instructions for removal without acetone:
Another way to get rid of acrylic modeling is to file it down. It may be a little more time consuming, but it ensures that the skin does not come into contact with chemicals. To do this you need a coarse-grain nail file, polishing file and buffer .
- Before use, clean your hands and nails with disinfectant
- No matter what shape your nails are, please only file them straight when trimming them
(So that the statics are still given and the shape is not messed up) - The material must be completely removed! File with caution so that the natural nail is not injured!
- Gently remove any residue with the buffer
- Finally, polish and care for your nails .
For gel nails you need:
- A coarse-grain nail file, polishing file and buffer (please only use sandpaper files)
- Nail oil
- Sealing & Protection
Removal instructions :
- Before use, clean your hands and nails with disinfectant
- No matter what shape your nails are, please only file them straight when trimming them
(So that the statics are still given and the shape is not messed up) - The material must be completely removed! File with caution so that the natural nail is not damaged!
- Gently remove any residue with the buffer
- Finally, briefly file, polish and care for the nail .
With Shellac you need:
- A coarse-grain nail file, polishing file and buffer (please only use sandpaper files)
- Remover / Acetone
- cellettes
- Remove wraps or clips
- Remover tool and rosewood sticks
- Nail oil ( cuticle protection )
- Sealing & Protection
Removal instructions :
- Before use , protect cuticles with nail oil ( cuticle protection ).
- Soak cellettes with remover (acetone).
- Then place the cellette on the nails
- Now wrap remover wraps around your nails
- Leave the remover to work for 20-30 minutes
- Then scrape off the shellac with a remover tool or rosewood stick
- Gently remove any residue with the buffer
- Finally, file the nail briefly and care for it
The right nail care
Since removers and acetone are much more harmful to the skin, nail care is essential. Acetone dries out skin, cuticles and fingernails, which is why you should wash off the acetone quickly after use. Wash your fingers thoroughly with mild soap and water and then dry them well. Now it's time to restore moisture to the skin and protect the nails from dirt and infections (nail fungus). It is best to use an antiseptic or base coat for nail hardness . Rub your fingers with nail oil and then massage your palms with hand cream .
