With the closing of nail salons across the country due to the outbreak of COVID-19, I knew a lot of women would be desperate to get their nails manicured. That’s why I thought about trying to learn how to perform my own dip manicures! It’s easy enough to do yourself, and I love that it lasts for weeks and is so crack and chip resistant, while also being less damaging to your nails than gel polish.

I’ve had a complicated relationship with dip powder nails. The first time I ever got it done at a salon, I left with very chunky, heavy nails and I found it difficult to have on at work. But now that I know how to apply it myself and I know just how thick I like my dip powder, I can easily say I love doing this myself so much…and I know you will too!

I wanted to wait until I had tried it more than once, and while I’m still learning a few small things each time, I feel that you can easily do this yourself at home! I reached out to a few friends of mine that do their own dip manicures to base what I purchased off of their recommendations. So far, I’ve really liked what I’ve used and I’m enjoying the outcome of having my nails done for weeks at a time! I’ll share with you step by step how I do it, and what products I have used and liked!

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tools and supplies

-Nail file
-Buffing block (the ones I purchased aren’t available, but these are close!)
-Cuticle nippers
-Cuticle pusher
-Old, clean fluffy makeup brush
-Dip basecoat
-Dip activator
-Dip topcoat (I purchased all 3 from Triple D Dips)
-Dip powder (I used Revel Nail)
-Rubbing alcohol and cotton rounds
-Cuticle oil (optional, but necessary IMHO)

dip manicure steps

First you’ll want to do some traditional manicure prep. This includes a LIGHT soaking (just to moisten the cuticle and skin around the nail bed). Push down your cuticles, and trim excess cuticles, skin, and hangnails along the side of your nail beds. (Reference my other manicure blog post for more manicure prep!)

Then file your nail shape into the desired shape. I prefer mine to be rounded, or more of a “squoval” (square with rounded corners).

Next you’ll want to buff your nails down well. This helps the dip basecoat adhere well to your nail. Buff the entire nail until sanded and make sure to get the edges and ends. Wipe off with a soft cloth and a bit of water to get all the loose dust off. Wait until dry to begin the actual dip process!

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The dip process goes relatively quick! The more time you spend on prepping the nail, the longer-lasting and better the final product will be. I also do one hand completely before advancing on to the next one. Firstly, you will apply a light coat of your base coat on your nail. I go one nail at a time, dipping into the powder after each application. I tap off the excess powder back into the pot (or you can use a separate dish), and after all five fingers are done, I use the makeup brush to dust off the excess before my next coat.

Then you’ll repeat the process again! Apply a light base coat on top of the dip powder on your nail, dip into the powder again, and again tap off the excess. Do this until you’ve reached the desired number of coats (generally 2-3) and color consistency. Brush off your excess powder again with a soft brush.

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Next you’ll apply your dip activator. Wait the designated amount of time (generally 2 minutes) from your liquid manufacturer, and then use a buffing block to sand down across the nail until the same thickness, smooth out any bumps, and I also lightly file down a bit of thickness around the cuticle area and the sides of my nail beds. Once buffed, apply another light coat of activator across the nail. Follow with a quick wipe with some alcohol and let this dry completely. Wipe off with a paper towel before advancing to the top coat.

Now it’s time to finish this business! It’s so nice to not have to wait for each hand to dry under a light, right? Top coat should be applied in a thin coat, making sure you apply it cleanly and not getting it all over the cuticle and skin around your nail. Let the first coat dry for a few minutes before applying the second. After the second coat is dry, you should have a beautiful dip manicured hand! Put some cuticle oil on, and get ready to start on your other hand, repeating the same process!

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If you apply each coat cleanly and well, dip powder manicures are so easy! I can’t wait to order some more colors and experiment with glitter powders soon. If you have questions or product recommendations, feel free to comment below this post! And if you try out dip powder for yourself, send me a picture and show me how you did!

xo, Chelsea