It’s generally not an issue to use one brand’s powders with another brand’s liquids. Let’s start with mixing different dip powders, which is probably what you’re most curious about.įortunately, there is plenty of room to play around with mixing different powders. But there are tons of other brands out there, all doing similar things. We discussed the Pros and Cons of their system here. They claim to have invented the technique. SNS (Signature Nail System) is the most popular dip powder system. So, what happens if you switch out one or two to those of a different brand? While it may not seem like the biggest deal, that slight marginal difference could throw off the chemical reaction needed to create the perfect manicure.Īs you can tell, the process of getting a dip nail manicure requires quite a few different products, from base coats to powders to topcoats.
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Where the trouble may come in with mixing different brands’ products is if there are slight variations in products. Generally, almost all dipping systems are made up of similar structures and follow similar application instructions. This reaction is responsible for the durability and strength that dipping systems are best known for. The chemical reaction that occurs is called polymerization. All dipping systems require a chemical reaction between powders and liquids to achieve that perfect manicure you may be familiar with. Now, let’s talk about the scientific side of all this. Then hit everything with a top coat/sealer to finish complete the process. Next, your hands will be either thoroughly washed or wiped with an alcohol towelette.Īpply another coat of activator, and let it dry. No one wants to breathe that!Īfter that, it’s time to buff your nails until smooth. If you need to take a lot off, consider a nail dust collector. Once hardened, it’s time to file the nails to the shape you’re looking for. Give the nails a few minutes to dry completely Apply the activator to harden the powder and liquid blend. After that is where the fun comes in! Pick the nail powder color of your choice (or make a mix), and dip the nail in!Īpply another thin coat of base, and then dip the entire nail into the base and finish powder.
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This will help the nail dip powder adhere to the nail bed. Virtually all nail dip kits will include a base coat in the package. This rough texture will help with adhesion. You can use a standard nail file or electric nail file. In order to fully understand why it may or may not be okay to use different brands on the same set of nails, it helps to understand the process of completing these nails.įirst, the cuticles get pushed back and the nail gently filed to create a rough texture. In this article, we’ll go over all the questions you may have about mixing brands. While it’s generally best to stick to using the products from the same brand to complete a set of nails, you may be wondering just how frowned upon it is to mix different brands.Ĭan you mix dip powder brands without issue? For the most part, yes, but there’s a chance the nails could go wrong.
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You wouldn’t be the only one, either (ahem)!
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If you’ve gotten wrapped up in the world of nail dipping, you may have acquired a fair share of different products from a bunch of different brands. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.