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Airbrushing UV Gel… Are You Sure??

Marian Newman, BEM
10/30/2022

489 Views

I’m told that in some areas there is a new ‘thing’: Airbrushing UV gel! Not only that, but some mix acetone into bottles of UV gel polish to create the right consistency to go through an airbrush!

So, where to start with this!!??????

EVERYONE must know by now that UV gel is packed full of allergens. Right? An airbrush, by definition, virtually atomizes a liquid and puts it in the air. Is that really sensible?

Many must have seen personnel working in a paint shop. The painters wear full Hazchem suits and very heavy-duty gas masks with huge filters. They also work in an environment with industrial extraction.

An airbrush in a nail salon doesn’t quite add up to that situation.

Then, think about what acetone is used for……. It breaks the bonds in the polymerized coatings and the adhesion bonds between the coating layer and the nail plate. How can anyone think that mixing this into a UV gel polish is going to help the efficiency and adhesion of the coating?

A pure UV gel polish does not have any solvents in it. A hybrid UV gel polish does but not acetone. The solvents are just there to speed up removal. The evaporation of the solvents during curing creates tiny ‘pores’ that allow the acetone to penetrate the whole coating.

Please do not consider any idea of putting UV gel polish into the atmosphere! Just reread the above and think about the logic of it.

I believe there is at least one company that is selling this system of airbrushing UV gel. I wonder how much research has been done over a long period of time to see how sensitive people react to breathing in vaporized allergens.

Understanding the science of your products stands you in good stead in making wise choices.

Choose wisely!

Related Terms:

Courses and eBooks

English

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A method of painting or colouring using compressed air through a piece of equipment, called an airbrush, that caries a low viscosity paint medium. These together sprays a fine film of the paint onto the surface to be coloured<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_1246a1b7fb9bed3e4702bd0168f71114":"

Nail plate<\/div>

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Hard layers of modified and keratinised skin cells, bonded together, to form a protective plate on the end of each finger and toe, that prevents damage to the underlying bone and allows for manual dexterity.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_4e3b89a162dd8df8a9f8d5de4794ebba":"

Gel polish<\/div>

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Gel polish is a type of nail polish that is cured under UV or LED light to create a hard, durable and glossy coating. It is a two-step process that involves applying a base coat, followed by the gel polish color, and then finishing with a top coat. <\/p>\n
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The gel polish is composed of a mixture of monomers, oligomers, pigments, and other additives that polymerize when exposed to light. This creates a strong bond with the natural nail, making the manicure long-lasting and resistant to chipping, peeling and cracking. <\/p>\n
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Gel polish is typically removed by soaking the nails in acetone, and is a popular choice for people looking for a low-maintenance, high-shine manicure.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_bd83f8bc129a83a80cbb2ce4439b3a5d":"

Allergen<\/div>

A chemical that mobilises the immune system in the human body as it is a threat to the health of the body. Individuals have different levels of when a chemical becomes an allergen.<\/div>","cmtt_0feaed3b66910e1ca5fc2a2031db83b4":"

Acetone<\/div>

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Acetone is a common solvent. It is used to remove nail product coatings efficiently and quickly. It is also a byproduct of metabolism within the human body.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_db63a8e31d3136269cc7f9c771785a9b":"

Nail coatings<\/div>

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Any product used to coat a finger or toe nail for strength or to add length and\/or colour.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_3301334d7b41d59c5fe2f5d888d1da1e":"

Coating<\/div>

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A coating in nail services terms is any product that is applied to the nail plate<\/a> and leaves a layer of product. It can be traditional nail polish, a strengthening product, a UV gel product, an L&P product.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_5967cb8b3d81b440a65f0791b8c6ea9f":"

Solvents<\/div>

Solvents (in the context of nail products as water is a solvent) are chemicals such as acetone, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, butyl acetate, toluene. They are able to dissolve certain products or break their bonds. They are commonly used in nail polishes and nail polish removers. They are usually volatile and are the method used to dry nail polish as they keep the product liquid until they are exposed air and will evaporate and leave the pigments and other ingredients (such as plastisers etc) as a nail coating. They are also used in nail plate dehydrators to cleanse and degrease the nail in the preparation for a coating application.<\/p>\n
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Pathogens (with the possible exception of fungal spores) are unable to survive in a product with a high level of solvents. This is why it is safe to use nail polish on several clients without spreading any pathogens<\/p>\n
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(Also see alcohols)<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_4eb428598c1d8f289e6897779124e77d":"

A nail product that cures (or polymerizes) under a UV lamp.
There are various types of UV gels, categorized by the way they can be removed, or by the way they can be used.

<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_f94935a711b0f2d9c1ea8eb861281cd1":"

Polish, also known as nail polish or nail enamel, is a cosmetic product that is applied to the nails to add color and shine. It is typically made from a combination of nitrocellulose, a solvent, and pigments or dyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>","cmtt_6e4b2c42b82604c2f739d01368901b8a":"

Cure \/ Curing<\/div>

This is the term used to describe the polymerization process for the acrylics (whether uv gels or l&p systems) used in nail coatings. A 'proper cure' is what should be achieved which is when, at least, 80% of the coating has been polymerised. Anything less than this is considered to be 'under-cured' and can cause an allergic reaction. \"Over-curing\" would be when the nail coating is cured in a lamp that has a stronger output than what the manufacturer recommends, and it will make the nail coating brittle.<\/p>\n<\/div>"}}; -->