A good acid-free primer for gel polish. Acid-free and acidic nail primer: what's the difference? Can it be replaced with another product?

From Latin, primer is translated as “first,” so it’s easy to guess that this basic product is applied to filed nails during extensions. The primer ensures reliable and strong adhesion of the nail plate materials to the artificial coating.

The primer protects nails from yellowing, delamination of the nail plate, cracks, and also prevents the penetration of microorganisms that cause fungus. What are the differences between different types of primers?

Acid primer

The acid primer contains a small amount of methacrylic acid. This is a toxic substance that is used in acrylic extensions. It affects the surface of the nail: the scales rise and adhere to the gel. This process creates a strong bond. Since acids have drying properties, this primer is suitable for girls with oily nail plates. And for those who have dry and thin hair, it is better to use the next option.

Acid-free primer

Acid-free primer is the safest because it does not contain acids. Therefore, it is suitable for sensitive and thin nails. At the same time, it degreases well and does not change the pH level. This primer differs from an acid primer in that it is used for shellac and biolacquer, but is not suitable for acrylic coating. The acid-free primer dries without a UV lamp.

• Apply primer to your nails after using a dehydrator and before applying your base coat.

• Apply a little primer to the center of the nail and then spread over the entire nail plate.

Which primer is right for you? Tell us in the comments.

Recently, the use of regular nail polish has become less and less popular. It has been replaced by a newer and more convenient type of coating - gel polish or shellac in other words.

Its advantage is that with the help of ultraviolet radiation emitted from a special lamp, the varnish hardens and becomes hard in less than a minute. There is no need to worry about the varnish rubbing off and waiting several hours for it to dry completely. In addition, a manicure made with gel polish lasts on average from 2 to 3 weeks. This is the best option for busy girls.

However, it should be taken into account that, unlike applying the simplest nail polish, when using shellac you will either have to contact a specialist in the salon, or purchase a lot of necessary materials and gain experience yourself.

One of the necessary tools for manicure using gel polish is a primer. After its application, the active substance smooths out the scales of the nail plate, which makes the subsequent application of the coating uniform and smooth.

To understand why a gel polish primer is needed, let’s look at its operating principle and main functions:

• The main task of the primer is to ensure maximum adhesion between the varnish and the nail plate to prevent peeling or chipping of the coating.
• Degreasing and disinfecting the surface before coating is also an indispensable function of the primer. It will prevent the growth of microbes and fungi in the space between the varnish and the plate.
• It is also often used in nail extensions for strong bonding of natural and artificial nails.

Types of primers

There are two types of primers on the manicure market, which are used by both manicurists and girls who want to do their own manicure using gel polish:

1. Acid primer. The peculiarity of this product is that it contains methacrylic acid. These types of primers are gradually becoming a thing of the past due to the negative impact on the nail plate - with their frequent use, you can get a burn to the nail bed or the skin around it. In any case, even the use of an acid primer is considered the most gentle compared to preparing the nail with abrasive files;
2. Acid-free primer. A product that does not contain methacrylic acid. Recently, it has been most popular in beauty salons due to its most gentle action. Contains the main active ingredient - ethyl acetate (ethyl ester of acetic acid). This substance is less toxic and dangerous in comparison with the acid included in acid primers.

Important! Which gel polish primer to use is best decided by a nail technician, who will accurately assess the condition of the nails.

Technology for using primer for gel polish:

1. Before starting the manicure procedure, it is necessary to disinfect all tools, hands of the master and the client;
2. Form the desired shape of the nails using nail files, remove cuticles, dead dry skin, and hangnails;
3. Degrease and polish the nail plate;
4. Apply a small amount of primer using a special brush. This must be done very carefully so that the product does not get on the skin, especially if the manicure was trimmed and there is a possibility of minor damage to the skin;
5. After the primer layer is high, apply the base, color varnish and top coat, drying each layer separately for the required amount of time.

Attention! Modern high-quality primers do not require drying in UV or LED lamps.

After all of the above, it becomes obvious why a primer is needed, however, girls who do their own manicure at home often want to save time and money and do without a preliminary primer, so they often have a question: is it possible to apply gel polish without a primer. Professional masters recommend going through all stages of a manicure, but they allow the possibility of not using a primer, provided that the nail plate is perfectly smooth and well degreased, and there are no small hairs or dust on it. It is also not recommended to use primer on weakened or damaged nails.

On the modern cosmetics market there is such a product as bond (or in other words prep). It acts exclusively on the top layer of the plate, which reduces its negative impact to a minimum, however, the wear time of a manicure with it is slightly shorter than with a primer. These tools are interchangeable.

There are many manufacturers producing primers. Their price ranges from 50 rubles to 1000, depending on the company and volume. As a rule, they are produced in small tubes with a brush, visually reminiscent of jars of nail polish. The consistency of the primer is liquid with a sharp acidic odor.

Nail design with brown gel polish

The most popular companies most often used in beauty salons are Kodi, Runail, Tnl, Uno. Their price varies between 300-500 rubles. There are more budget brands from 150 rubles: Blue Sky, Jess nail, Severina. All of the above primers can be purchased at any store that sells gel polish manicure products. You can choose the best primer for gel polish only by experience, or by contacting the services of a nail service specialist. He will assess the condition of your nails and give appropriate recommendations.

Contraindications for use

There are a number of contraindications due to which this product should not be used:

• damage to the nail plate;
• allergic reactions to the components of the product;
• inflammation, wounds on the skin around the nail plate.

When applying nail extensions, a material such as a primer is used. However, despite the fact that many girls do nail extensions and strengthen them, not everyone knows what a primer is.

It creates a rough surface on the surface of the nail plate, which ensures better adhesion of the gel to the natural nail. The main advantage of this primer is that it provides the extended nail with strength and durability.

Another common option is prep primer, or its other name is bonder. It performs the function of degreasing nails, which is an important point in the adhesion of a natural nail to the extension material. Used before applying acid or acid-free primer.

Despite the popularity of nail extensions, many girls do not know what a primer is for.

Professionals say that the primer has the following important properties:

• Maintains the well-groomed appearance of extended manicure for a long time.
• Strengthens the adhesion of the nail to the artificial material, and also provides a degreasing function.
• It is a bactericidal agent and disinfects the surface of the nail plate.
• Makes the nail surface smoother and increases susceptibility to artificial material.
• Provides nail protection from destruction and exposure to acrylic and gel.
• Essential for working with damaged, problematic nails.
• Necessary for pedicures, since toenails rarely have an even, smooth surface.
• Removes yellowness from nails.

Also, many often wonder how to apply primer correctly; this is done by a specialist in the salon, immediately before the extension procedure.

However, if the primer is used independently, at home, then you must follow simple instructions:

		Step 1 Push back the cuticle using a manicure stick.
		Step 2 Use a sanding file to remove the natural shine from the nail plate.
		Step 3 Take a little primer and squeeze the brush onto the edges of the bottle or onto a napkin. Bring the brush to the center of the nail and wait until the primer itself is distributed over the surface. The primer must be applied in a very thin layer, avoiding contact with the skin.
		Step 4 Wait until the primer dries. In some cases, it must be dried in a UV lamp, which is usually mentioned in the manufacturer's instructions.
		Step 5 After the primer has dried, as evidenced by the appearance of a light coating on it, you can begin to apply the extension material or long-term coating.

Important

If the primer gets on areas of the skin, it must be thoroughly rinsed with plenty of warm water to prevent allergic reactions and irritation.

Many girls who use primer on their own are often interested in the question of whether it is necessary to dry the primer in a lamp when using gel polish and acrylic extensions.

Experts say that the primer dries quite quickly, within a few seconds to a minute, so it is not necessary to dry it in a UV lamp.

However, some manufacturers produce primers for which drying in a UV lamp is necessary, in which case this must be indicated in the attached instructions. When choosing a primer and the large variety of them, it is often difficult to decide which primer is best. First of all, you should take into account that you should not choose very cheap brands, since their use can have an extremely negative impact on the condition of natural nails and the stability of the extended manicure.

Before choosing a primer, you should consult with a professional nail technician, who will recommend a primer depending on the condition of the nails and the desired procedures.

For better interaction and adhesion of the primer and material for extensions or long-term coverage, it is recommended to use products from the same manufacturer.

What is a nail primer and why is it needed during a manicure or pedicure?
A primer is a means for improving adhesion (adhesion) of the surface of a natural nail to the material used for nail design. This clear product is odorless and comes in liquid or gel form. The primer is often used during the procedure of nail extension with gel or acrylic, used to strengthen nails with biogel, and also before applying the base layer of gel polish.

A modern primer combines the properties of a dehydrator and degreaser. The product dries the surface of the nail plate and removes excess fat, after which acrylic, gel polish or any other decorative material is securely attached to the nails for several weeks. In addition, the primer improves the protective properties of the nail plates under the decorative coating. During the adhesion of the nail surface to the decor, the scales of the upper keratin layer rise and under the applied coating there are no voids left in which dangerous microorganisms or fungal infections can multiply. The primer reduces the negative impact of the active substances of the coating, which can cause delamination, brittleness and thinning of the nail plate.

♦ VARIETIES

Acid primer.
An ideal product for quick and reliable adhesion of artificial coating to the nail plate. The acid primer contains methacrylic acid, which not only dehydrates and degreases the nail surface before acrylic extensions, but also disinfects it. It is not recommended to use this product if your nails are brittle and prone to splitting. It is advisable to treat the periungual skin with a fatty cream before the procedure to protect it from the effects of acid, which causes irritation and redness of soft tissues.

Acid-free primer.
This product does not irritate the skin and does not dry out the nail plate, but is more suitable for dehydrating and degreasing the surface before applying gel nail extensions. An acid-free primer can be used to improve the adhesion of the base coat to the nail surface before applying gel polish.

Pre-primer (bond).
This product degreases well and improves the adhesive properties of the surface of the nail plates. Very often used to pre-treat the nail before applying an acid primer during extensions. Pre-primer can be used as a standalone product before applying regular varnish to make the coating last longer and make it more durable.

♦ QUALITY ACID NAIL PRIMERS

▪ RuNail Professional

▪ IBD Stick Primer

▪ YOKO Acid Bbased Primer

▪ TNL Professional

▪ KODI Professional Primer

♦ QUALITY ACID-FREE NAIL PRIMERS

▪ RuNail Primer Non-Acid

▪ CND NailPrime

▪ BLUESKY Nail Systems

▪ EzFlow Non-Acid Primer

▪ MASURA Primer Basic

♦ HOW TO USE PRIMER AT HOME

❶ Disinfect your fingers with an antiseptic. Using a pusher spatula, carefully push the pterygium and overgrown cuticle towards the nail fold, and then remove the keratinized skin with a nail trimmer;

❷ Using a glass or ceramic file with an abrasiveness of 180-250 grit, sand the surface of each nail and remove dust with a manicure brush;

❸ Before applying the primer, apply a rich cream to the periungual skin to protect against irritation that can be caused by acid. The layer of product on the nail plate should be thin, so you need to squeeze the brush well on the edge of the bottle before applying. Then lightly press the brush into the center of the nail so that the product spreads over the surface in a thin layer. After this, in one motion, sweep the brush over those areas of the nail where the primer did not get;

❹ Then you need to wait about a minute for the primer to dry and a pale gray coating to appear on each nail. There is no need to polymerize this layer in a UV lamp;

❺ Now the nails are ready for the next stage of the procedure (application of gel polish, acrylic for extensions or a special hardener).

♦ WHAT CAN YOU REPLACE A PRIMER

Table vinegar 9%.
It degreases the surface of the plate well and removes excess moisture, but does not lift the flakes of the top layer.

Boric acid 3%.
It degreases the surface well and improves the adhesion of the natural nail plate. Can be used before applying a special hardener or before gel nail extensions.

Nail polish remover with acetone.
It is appropriate to use instead of a primer if the product does not contain oils. Nail polish remover dries the surface of the plate well and improves adhesion to the extension material.

Bond.
A pre-primer can completely replace a degreaser and improve adhesion to the base layer before applying varnish or gel polish. The advantage of the bond is that it does not have a destructive effect on the structure of the nail plate.

♦ VIDEO MATERIALS

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ALSO FIND OUT...

A primer for use on nails is used to improve the adhesion (i.e. grip) of the material to the nail. Various gels and more liquid bases can be used as primers. If you are interested in the question of which nail primer is best, then perhaps you can decide by choosing from the products described below.

Acid primer contains from 30 to 100 percent methacrylic acid. These primers have a drying effect on the nail plate. Acid nail primer is used for fungal diseases, with increased oiliness of the nail plates and in cases where the shape of the nail plate is similar to a springboard. You should avoid getting the primer on the skin around your nails and cuticles as it may cause a stinging sensation and lightly burn the skin. Well-known and effective acid primers are:

• Runail Acid Primer;
• OVgel;
• IBD Stick@Primer;
• Yoko Primer;
• Kodi Professional Primer;
• Acid Primer Entity and others.

An acid-free nail primer is used for normal or reduced oil content of the nail plates. If acidic primers appeared more than 20 years ago, then their acid-free analogues were perceived as something outlandish until quite recently. Today they are the best choice for many manicurists and pedicurists. Despite the absence of acid in the composition, the acid-free primer acts as double-sided tape between the nail and the coating. Even though it is safe for the skin, you should still not allow this product to come into contact with its surface. Examples of acid-free primers are:

• CND Nail Prime;
• Entity One Nu Bond;
• Non-Acid Primer by Runail;
• Kodi Ultrabond;
• IBD Natural Nail Primer;
• Gelish Acid Free Pro Bond;
• Nobility PrimeBond and others.

Primer for nail extensions

Very often, primers are also used to ensure greater adhesion to the nails. Today, not a single professional master can do without it. For this purpose, a gel nail primer is used, designed specifically for extending gel nails, because there are primers for acrylic. Here you can name:

• Giorgio Capachini gel primer;
• UV primer for Runail gel;
• UP 15 Ultrabond Primer acid-free YOKO;
• Studio UV Base Coat Gel Golden Rose.

For extensions, you can use, for example, Runail acrylic primer.

The answer to the question of how to use nail primer is quite simple. You just need to follow the instructions below:

If you are interested in the question of how to replace nail primer, then there are several options. For example, you can degrease the nail with alcohol or acetone. This will improve adhesion. You can also use vinegar in small quantities. However, it should be remembered that in this case there is a risk that the extended nail may still peel off, because none of the above products can lift the nail scales, as a primer does. Therefore, it may be worth using a material for extensions, which in technology does not require the preliminary application of a primer.