Doing your nails at home has become more accessible and convenient than visiting a salon.
PolyGel nails are home-friendly services that can produce similar results to gel nails. Most brands will include all the tools required to perform PolyGel nails if you purchase a complete kit. One of those tools can consist of a slip solution.
Slip solution is an essential part of PolyGel nails because it thins out the consistency of the PolyGel, allowing you to shape your nail enhancement. However, finding slip solutions may be challenging without access to a specialized beauty supply store.
What are the best alternative solutions for slips?
The best alternative to slip solutions is a product with its main active ingredient, isopropyl alcohol. You may also choose everyday nail products, such as nail polish remover or gel base coats.
However, it’s crucial to remember that these alternatives may not always produce the same high-quality result as slip solutions. You should avoid certain products altogether if you plan to replace slip solutions.
What Is A Slip Solution?
Slip solution is an essential tool used in PolyGel services. It’s often described as an oil-based component that aids in the curing, applying, or removing of PolyGel nails. Additionally, you can use a slip solution to sculpt and shape your PolyGel to fit the nail plate.
However, slip solutions may not always be the most accessible product for some nail enthusiasts.
Benefits Of Slip Solution
Why are slip solutions so beneficial? First, it can help create long-lasting PolyGel enhancements, making the product more manageable. It can also complete a seamless removal process to reduce damage to your natural nail plates.
Overall, it simplifies the process of applying PolyGel nails at home. Additionally, understanding the benefits of slip solutions can help you make a more informed choice about an alternative product.
Thins Out Polygel
Why are slip solutions so beneficial? First, it can help create long-lasting PolyGel enhancements, making the product more manageable. It can also complete a seamless removal process to reduce damage to your natural nail plates.
Overall, it simplifies the process of applying PolyGel nails at home. Additionally, understanding the benefits of slip solutions can help you make a more informed choice about an alternative product.
Quickens Removal Process
Slip solutions act as a barrier between the natural nails and your PolyGel.
Because it’s a moisturizer or oil-based product, it can help quicken the removal process. Removals are intimidating in nail enhancement services because they can cause damage.
However, slip solutions can reduce the pressure of removing PolyGel nails.
No Harsh Scent
Finally, most slip solutions have little to no scent, which makes them a huge plus in the nail enhancement category. Its more complicated counterparts, like acrylic, can exude harsh fumes that can take a toll on your senses.
This can make it more convenient for home use, so you don’t have to worry much about your environment.
How To Use Slip Solution
Knowing how to use slip solutions to produce a high-quality set of PolyGel nails is crucial. Understanding how slip solution works and functions will allow you to pick a better alternative product if you can’t get your hands on another bottle of slip solution.
The process of applying PolyGel may resemble the techniques used for acrylic enhancements.
Nail Prep
First, you’ll want to complete all the prep necessary to apply PolyGel nails. This step can include basic manicure tasks like trimming/shaping the nails or pushing back cuticles. You’ll also want to use the correct base products before the slip solution.
The correct nail preparation will help prolong the life of your PolyGel nails.
Apply Polygel To Nails
Next, dispense your PolyGel onto a nail palette or an easily accessible area, allowing you to control the amount of product applied to the nails. Finally, you can add a dot of PolyGel to your nail plate, making it ready to sculpt with the slip solution.
Dip the Polygel Brush Into the Slip Solution
Now it’s time to use your slip solution or alternative product to coat your brush. You can have a small cap filled with slip solution to make it easy to dip your brush into. Gently soak your brush with the slip solution, so it’s ready to help sculpt your PolyGel.
Sculpt The Nail
You can take your brush and slowly start sculpting your PolyGel. The slip solution or slip solution alternative will thin out the PolyGel, making it more manageable. It will also be easier to shape the PolyGel into your desired length and shape.
This step requires practice to develop a feel for creating your desired PolyGel nail.
Cure
Once you’ve sculpted your PolyGel into the desired shape, place it in your UV nail lamp and cure. PolyGel also shares some similarities with gel nails, as it requires UV light to cure and harden fully, resulting in a long-lasting enhancement.
You can repeat these steps for the rest of your nails for a complete set.
Best Alternatives To Slip Solution
So, what are the best alternatives to slip solutions?
A slip solution may not always be readily available for purchase by average consumers. Some brands will only sell exclusively to beauty supply stores, which require a nail technician’s license.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol will make a great alternative to a slip solution. The primary or most potent ingredient of the slip solution is isopropyl alcohol. Therefore, you can utilize this common household object to achieve a similar result with PolyGel.
Isopropyl alcohol will help thin out the PolyGel, and it shouldn’t alter its ability to cure your PolyGel.
Non-Acetone Polish Remover
You can also opt for a non-acetone nail polish remover. This product is also highly accessible, and you will probably already have it at home. However, this alternative may not yield the most seamless results, such as those achieved with alcohol or a slip solution.
However, it can become a better alternative if you are stuck when applying PolyGel nails.
Gel Base Coat
Finally, a gel base coat can also act as a slip solution. A helpful tip is to purchase a gel base coat from the same brand as your PolyGel to ensure its compatibility. This will ensure no mishaps, and you still get a clean set of PolyGel nails.
What To Avoid Using As a Slip Solution
Now that we know what products will be a great alternative to a slip solution, what products should we avoid? Not all products will provide excellent results when curing or applying PolyGel nails.
You’ll want to opt for semi-compatible products.
For example, water, acetone, and hand sanitizer may not be the best alternative for a slip solution.
Water
Water may seem like a no-brainer ingredient. It’s liquid, neutral, and can thin out PolyGel. However, using it in place of a slip solution is not recommended. It can potentially impact your PolyGel’s ability to cure correctly and without fault.
So, while it may be convenient, it won’t offer long-lasting PolyGel nails.
Acetone
Acetone is the next product you may want to avoid using as a slip solution. Acetone will do the exact opposite of a slip solution. Some slip solutions can contain acetone, but it’s usually in small amounts because acetone is made to remove enhancements.
Therefore, acetone can dissolve PolyGel, and you won’t be able to cure it properly UV light. However, it will be helpful when you plan to remove PolyGel.
Hand Sanitizer
Finally, hand sanitizer should also be avoided as a slip solution. Some people may use hand sanitizer because of its alcohol content. Unfortunately, it won’t provide a clean finish because it’s incompatible with PolyGel.
Are Slip Solution And Acrylic Monomer The Same?
A monomer is a similar liquid used in acrylic enhancements to sculpt and shape acrylic powder. A slip solution will offer a similar purpose for PolyGel nails.
However, monomer and slip solutions aren’t the same and shouldn’t be used interchangeably.
The slip solution doesn’t contain the same active ingredients as the monomer, which is why it produces stronger fumes. So, it may not be wise to use a monomer as a slip solution.
Takeaway
PolyGel nails are a relatively easy and convenient at-home nail service. They require minimal tools, but obtaining a slip solution can still be challenging. Slip solution thins out PolyGel to sculpt the nails and aid in removal.
Some popular alternative benefits of slip solution include isopropyl alcohol, gel base coat, and non-acetone nail polish remover.
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