How to Get Nail Polish to Last Longer With Acrylic Powder

A model shows off her manicure backstage at the JINsoon for Tibi show during New York Fashion Week in September 2013.
... Anna Webber/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Chipping polish only a few days after a fresh manicure is a major nail bummer. Create a base for a lustrous and long-lasting manicure by prepping your nails with acrylic powder. Not only does acrylic powder preserve your polish for longer, it also creates the look of strong, healthy, glossy nails. Take care to properly prep your nails before applying acrylic powder to guarantee the best results.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water to remove and dirt soften your cuticles. Towel dry.

Push your cuticles back using the cuticle pusher to create a clean, even nail surface.

File your nails using the nail file so that the tips are smooth, taking extra care to correct any jagged edges.

Use the nail buffer to rough up the surface of each nail by gently grazing the surface until any natural shine disappears. This will help the nail glue and acrylic powder better adhere to your natural nail.

Mix a few drops of the liquid acrylic glue and a few drops of the acrylic powder in a small dish to form a grainy solution.

Dip the the tip of the brush into the acrylic mixture and carefully spread a thin layer on each of your nails.

Allow the acrylic mixture to dry completely on your nails. You will know it is dry when it turns to a chalky white texture.

Use the nail buffer to smooth out the acrylic surface of each nail.

Apply nail polish and top coat over the acrylic surface as you normally would.

  • Be sure not to get the acrylic mixture on your nail bed or skin, as this could cause you to develop a fungus once it dries.
  • Always read the manufacturer's instructions for the acrylic powder you are using, as instructions for application can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Leigh Shan has been writing about beauty, health, fitness, home and small businesses since 2007. Her work has been published in "The Queens Courier," "Queens Business Today" and "The Real Deal" newspapers, as well as "The World Scholar" magazine. Shan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Fordham University in New York City.

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