Acrylic nail forms are essential tools for creating beautiful nail extensions without using traditional tips. They are flexible stickers placed under the natural nail edge, providing a sturdy guide or scaffold for sculpting the acrylic product into the desired length and shape.
Getting Started with Acrylic Forms
Using acrylic forms involves several steps, starting with nail preparation and ending with the sculpted extension. The form acts as a temporary extension of the nail bed, allowing you to build the new nail structure directly onto it.
Here’s a breakdown of the general process:
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Nail Preparation: Begin by preparing the natural nail. This includes cleaning, gently pushing back cuticles, lightly buffing the nail surface for adhesion, and applying a dehydrator and primer. Proper preparation is crucial for preventing lifting.
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Selecting and Applying the Form: Choose a form appropriate for the nail shape and length you plan to create. The form needs to fit snugly under the free edge of the natural nail.
Fitting the form correctly is a key step. As demonstrated in one method:
- You line up the middle of the form.
- Then, slowly rock it back into the nail.
- Press the sides together and pinch the bottom.
- Finally, make sure everything is nice and secure.
This ensures the form creates a seamless, stable surface extending from the natural nail, ready for sculpting.
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Sculpting with Acrylic: With the form securely in place, you begin applying acrylic bead by bead onto the natural nail and extending it onto the form. The form provides the structure you need to build the shape and length of the extension. You use your acrylic brush to sculpt the product, guiding it along the shape lines marked on the form (if available) and ensuring correct apex and structure.
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Shaping and Refining: Once the acrylic has fully cured (hardened), carefully remove the nail form from underneath the extension. You can then file and shape the newly created acrylic nail to perfect its structure and symmetry.
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Finishing: Complete the process by buffing the nail smooth and applying a topcoat for shine and protection.
Using acrylic forms allows for precise control over the nail's architecture, enabling technicians to create various shapes like square, stiletto, almond, and coffin, tailored specifically to the client's natural nail and desired look.
Acrylic Forms
