Dip powder enhancements?

Question:

With the new beauty training package coming into effect in Australia we are required to teach Dip powder enhancements within the gel nail enhancement unit. I’m wondering if you can tell me what the difference in ingredients is between dip powder and polymer. Also, what would your suggestions be around the most hygienic way to do dip powder enhancements?

Answer:

Dip powders and acrylic powders are quite similar in their chemical structure, but not really the same. The main difference between the two is the bonding agent. Dip powders are activated by a resin-based agent, whereas acrylic powders require a monomer liquid.

Acrylic powders “melt” together with the monomer liquid to become one uniform product that will allow you to sculpt an enhancement. Dip powders, on the other hand, are basically kept together by the adhesive used, and that is one of the main reasons why dip powders are so thinly ground to a very fine powder.

As for the most hygienic way to use dip powder, that is most definitely pouring the powder over the nail. That is, of course, if you dispose of the fallout powder and do not add it back to its container. This is the most hygienic way but, unfortunately, also the most wasteful.