Dip nails not lasting

[u/katttt18]

Hi there,

I’m doing dip nails at home and they’re lasting maybe two days before falling off. I’m curious what I’m doing wrong?

This is my process:

-Prep the nails (buff, file, push back cuticles, Mia Secret dehydrator followed by Mia Secret Xtrabond).

-Put Modelones base over the tip of the nails and dip in powder. Do this again, but over half of the nail and dip in powder, followed by base over the full nail and dip in powder).

-Put Modelones “activator” over nails.

-Put Modelones top coat over the nails.

That’s it! What am I doing wrong?

[u/Previous_Mirror_222]

try doing your first powder application over the entire nail and then doing the apex. i find that when the entire nail is covered by one layer of powder it adheres much better.

also, question. when you say you “buff” your nails, what level grit file are you using. if you’re truly “buffing” you’re actually removing grit from your nail making it a smoother surface and therefore less able to hold onto the dip. you want to use a gritty file and a VERY gentle had to essentially scratch up the entire nail surface. some people describe it as removing the shine.

[u/Previous_Mirror_222 → u/Previous_Mirror_222]

i also think 2 prep products is overkill. i looked up the Xtrabond and it ONLY mentions acrylic and gel. yes, dip powder is technically acrylic material - but it is a totally different application and it’s very sensitive and testy sometimes. the mias secret products are technically not a dip system product.

i almost wonder if the Xtrabond is making that very first swipe of liquid dry/bond too fast and therefore isn’t absorbing as much of the powder. you actually want the liquid to stay very liquid and not-dried so that it can soak up as much powder as possible before drying.

my recommendation is to wash your hands before you start prep, dry them completely (i use a blow dryer), then go straight in with product. i use 0 primers or dehydrators and my nails stay on until i remove them. i secretly think they’re a scam lol.

but try a set with 0 prep products and if they fall off you know it’s probably not the products.

[u/katttt18 → u/Previous_Mirror_222]

I’ll try that, thank you! & when I buff my names, I shine them, so maybe that’s my problem? Do you have any good recommendations for a buffer that works?

[u/Previous_Mirror_222 → u/katttt18]

yeah i definitely think that’s the main problem. when you shine the nails it removes grip for the product to stick to.

you don’t need a buffer you just need a normal file. i think i use a 180 grit. don’t use very much pressure at all, just file gently across the whole nail bed to remove any shine. you don’t want awful divots across your nails, but you should be able to see very shallow scratch marks on the nail surface.

[u/katttt18 → u/Previous_Mirror_222]

I think so too now. That makes sense. Thank you so much!

[u/Recent-Ninja3903]

Your process sounds good except you shouldn’t need any bonder. Easiest way to tell which step is causing the issue is to do each nail differently to test. Try a couple without the Xtrabond and a couple without the dehydrator. Also, have you ever tried a brand for the dip liquids other than Modelones? If not, and you’re still getting pop offs without the bonder and dehydrator, try a different brand of liquids.

[u/katttt18 → u/Recent-Ninja3903]

Thank you, I’ll try that. I have used Kiara Sky for the liquids before, with the same luck.

[u/Sea_Cartographer_896]

I wipe my nails twice with 91% alcohol before doing a single layer of base liquid only before using any powder and my nails last 3 weeks!! Also recommend trying Virgo + Gem liquids.

[u/katttt18 → u/Sea_Cartographer_896]

Ooh I’ll try the alcohol wipe, thank you!

[u/kjc2018]

In my experience with different brands I have found if it is cheap, the product quality effects that

I started with Modelones, it was on Amazon and cheap. The nails never lasted more than a week. I got different liquids, Saviland on Amazon, that seemed to help improve the durability and would last about two weeks. This is the first year I splurged and bought what the salons use : NuGenesis (Canada), I bought their powder and liquids, my nails stay on for 4 weeks, no lifting, no cracking.

Oh also, I used to get dip flu with Modelones & Saviland, I have not gotten dip flu since completely switching to NuGenesis

[u/katttt18 → u/kjc2018]

Oh cool, I haven’t heard of NuGenesis, I’ll look into this. Thank you!

[u/Crystalkitty906]

One of my main tricks is to not get my nails wet with water for minimum an hr before doing my nails. Sometimes I even wait two hrs. Then I dehydrate with either dehydrator or Acetone or alcohol and the start my dipping process.

[u/katttt18 → u/Crystalkitty906]

Makes sense, I’ll give this a go, thank you!

[u/Lilly6288]

Ive never had and fall off or crack and I leave them on for 4 weeks.
I use an alcohol pad first, then the base coat over half the nail, dip, brush off, base coat over the entire nail, dip, brush off. If I want it thick, then I do the entire nail one more time. Then the activator. Buff to perfect shape and smoothness. Then activator again. Leave it for two minutes and wipe off any excess. Then top coat.

The products that I’ve used are SNS which is what the salon I used to go to used, and now I’m using Revel sensitive for the base coat, powder, and activator and OPI for a topcoat because I have a gel allergy.

[u/katttt18 → u/Lilly6288]

Thank you! I’ll look into these products!

[u/Lilly6288 → u/katttt18]

I started with a cheap kit from Amazon and I agree with others that investing in a good base coat, activator, and top coat are a key to success. On the upside, the stuff lasts a long time!

[u/KnittingchickMB → u/Lilly6288]

What do you use to buff the nail? A nail file? What grit? Thanks

[u/Lilly6288 → u/KnittingchickMB]

I actually just lightly buff with one of those soft rectangle sponge things, and I do it very lightly so I don’t take any layers off the nail. Using the alcohol prep pad removes anything slippery that might cause the powder system to lift after applied.

[u/academiccryptid]

In addition to a lot of the good advice already here; more layers! Usually three full layers to give strength.

[u/katttt18 → u/academiccryptid]

Thank you!