Want to spend as little time at the nail salon as possible? You might want to consider a dip powder manicure [1], which takes about as long as a gel manicure, but lasts much longer.
As someone who indulges in a manicure every few months, I was curious about the craze surrounding this new magical dipping powder. I had heard that it lasts longer than acrylic [2] or gel, but what sold me over was that it doesn't require UV light like other manicure types. I decided to see what it was all about and made an appointment with my nail technician. I'm overall pleased with the results, and I have a few words of wisdom to impart for those considering taking the powdery plunge.
The Cuticle Care Is the Same as Most Other Manicures
Everything about the cuticle care was normal and routine. My nail technician cut, buffered, filed, and shaped my nails then continued to trim my cuticles. So far, I wasn't surprised nor disappointed and my hands felt like they been through a nail salon version of a car wash.
Note that some nail techs will do a dry clean-up, that is to say they trim your cuticles and buffer the nails without water. It might seem strange if you've never experienced it, but it's super common.
This Is the Fastest Drying Manicure You'll Ever Experience
Unlike other manicures, this dipping powder works extremely fast! She primed my nails with a clear and base coat then dipped each nail into the pigmented powder colour of my choice. I picked blue. After each nail was dipped, she brushed off any excess powder. She continued this process three times. Then topped it off with one more clear coat and I was good to go! There's no cutting acrylics to fit your current nail shape or leaving your hands in a UV light lamp for paint to dry.
The Removal Process Still Sucks
I hate the process of removing gel polish and the damaged look it leaves on my nails afterwards. I was hoping that dipping powder would be a loophole but unfortunately, my cuticles were still left in pretty bad shape. Visit a nail technician when you're ready to remove the dipping powder, unless you've perfected the process at home [4].
Ask Your Nail Technician to Sprinkle or Paint Rather Than Dip
This was something I wish I had known beforehand. By dipping your nail into the powder you're now more likely to pick up germs. While this is how the manicure got its name, it's highly unsanitary. If you decide to go through with a dip powder manicure, ask your nail technician to either sprinkle, paint the powder onto your nail, or pour some fresh powder into a separate dish instead. (This is something a good nail tech will do without having to be prompted.)
It's a More Expensive Manicure But It Lasts Longer
While I didn't enjoy having to pay more than what I'm use to, the dip powder manicure lasted a week longer than my gel manicure usually does, and if you're careful, it can last up to 24 days. This is ideal for those with a busier schedule who can only make it to the nail salon once a month but still want a long-lasting manicure.