How to Do Dip Nails at Home: Tutorial & Tips

A professional manicure at a salon? In this economic climate?

If you’re not feeling like spending time or money in front of an experienced nail technician, dip powder nails have you covered.

I know what you’re thinking - “Dip nails? That sounds way too complicated.”

And honestly, you’re right. It sounds and looks like it should be reserved for the trained techs in the biz.

But what you might be shocked to find out is that even beginners can make beautiful dip manicure nails right from home.

It’s a lot easier than you might think.

And by the end, you will have Instagram-worthy nails that look like the pros did them.

How? I’m here to show you.

How to Do Dip Powder Nails At Home

While it might seem like a challenging task, doing dip powder nails on your own is surprisingly easy.

The best part is that there is no regular nail polish, tricky tools, gel nail polish, or endless curing.

Just follow these steps to apply dip powder nails with success:

1. Prepare the Nails

Good preparation is vital for a dip powder manicure. You want to create a rough texture that holds onto the dip powder like glue (without the glue, of course).

To prepare your nails, do the following:

• Push back the cuticles. Apply cuticle oil into the nail bed. Then, use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the thin skin at the base of your natural nails. Need more details? You can learn how to push back cuticles with our guide.
• Use a nail file or nail drill to buff the nail bed. This will work to “roughen” things up a bit, creating a suitable surface for nail powder.
• Apply a base coat of step one bond to all fingernails.

2. Apply Step 2 and Dip Into Colorful Powder - One Nail at a Time

Applying a step one and a step two base is imperative for adhesion.

When using step two bond, make sure to go one fingernail at a time.

Otherwise, it will dry out before you place nails into the dip color powder of your choice.

Immediately after applying step two bond, submerge your entire nail into the colored powder at a 45-degree angle.

Gently tap your finger on the edge of the jar to get rid of any excess powder.

If you want more coverage, dip your fingernails into the dipping powder one more time.

3. Coat with an Activator

When you’re satisfied with the color of your nails, you want to lock the color in using an activator. Apply activator polish and wait until it is dry before moving on to step four.

4. File to Desired Shape and Size

Your dip powder manicures will not be perfect, especially when you’re first starting.

That’s why you will want to keep a nail file and buffer nearby.

Use the nail file to file the fake nails to desired shape and length.

Then, use the buffer to reach your desired thickness. Wash your hands to remove any dust or excess powder leftover on your fingertips.

You can also use a dab of rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to remove the extra powder.

5. Coat With Sealer

Your final step in DIY dip powder nails is the sealer. When applying this essential top coat (sometimes referred to as a gel polish top coat), use several small strokes.

It’s okay to swipe on a second coat, third coat, and even fourth coat.

Let your top coat dry for around three minutes.

Make sure they are completely dry before enjoying the rest of your day - with a beautiful manicure, of course.

How Much Does a Dip Powder Manicure Cost?

Regardless of the type, doing your own nails is going to be far cheaper than the salons, whether you do DIY acrylic nails, gel, etc.

These treatments can easily cost more than $25 if not $50 and up.

The good news is dip nails cost around $20 or less.

This is especially true if you purchase an easy DIY nail starter kit with everything you need (plus instructions) to get the job done.

Remember - this is an initial purchase, too.

Once you have the necessary supplies, you won’t need to buy more unless you want to change the color or need to replenish your stock.

How Long Does It Take To Do DIY Dip Manicure?

While the low cost is a big plus, another benefit is the time required.

While you might take a little extra time at first, a few months down the line, you should be able to do your DIY nails in 20 minutes or less.

How to Remove Dip Nails

Not “feeling” it and want to remove dip nails immediately? Don’t panic. With a bit of acetone and a cuticle pusher, you can remove dip systems in no time. All you need to do is:

1. Trim any extra nail growth and buff away the top coat.
2. Soak fingers in acetone for 10 minutes.
3. Delicately push the material using the cuticle pusher.
4. Moisturize, paying extra attention to the nail beds and cuticles.

FAQ

Is it easier to do gel or dip nails at home?

While gel manicures are beautiful, a dip nail manicure is far easier. This is because they require fewer steps and tools overall.

For example, gel manicures require UV light so the UV rays can harden the gel.

It takes a certain amount of time for the gel top coat to harden and seal, but extra tools mean more money - and we do not love that.

Are dip nails better than acrylic?

A dip nail manicure is better than acrylic because it lasts longer and is infinitely stronger.

Can you use acrylic powder as dip powder?

Although acrylic powder is slightly different from powder, it can be used interchangeably.

So, if you run out of dip powders halfway through your nails, you can always use the acrylic to see you through your DIY shenanigans.