Getting a manicure at a salon or putting polish on your nails is only as successful as the preparation of the nail base itself. In order to make sure your manicure is looking the best it can, for as long as it can, prepping the nail properly is an important step in any nail routine.
If you are someone who likes to give yourself at-home manicures, investing in a nail primer, or a nail primer alternative, can help extend the wear time of your nails with each application.
But what can you use instead of nail primer? You can make an at-home alternative using rubbing alcohol and acetone in a 4:1 ratio. Whatever you do, don’t skip priming your nails altogether, as this can lead to premature chipping and peeling or even damage to the nails.
Below we discuss how to do so, along with discovering the benefits of nail primers and how they differ from other nail products.
What Is Nail Primer?
Whether you are getting a gel or acrylic manicure, or using regular nail polish, a nail primer can extend the longevity of the manicure as the first step in the nail routine.
While a nail primer may seem similar to a base coat polish, it is instead a nail care product that is meant to dehydrate and clean the nail bed to prepare for the application of gel or acrylic polish.
Nail primer helps the polish adhere to the nail and extend its longevity while also removing any dirt or oil from the nail bed to allow the following polishes to be applied evenly
There are a couple different types of professional nail primers that are often used to prepare the nail bed for the products and layers that follow in a manicure session, although there is also an at-home nail primer alternative that is easy to DIY, which we will explain later in this article.
Although it may not be as well known as a base coat nail polish, nail primer is a product that is used in many manicure sessions, especially when it comes to gel or acrylic applications as the first step in creating a long-lasting manicure.
There are two options available for nail primers: acid based and acid-free based. Both aim to dehydrate the nail prior to the gel or acrylic nail application, although they naturally have some slight differences.
Acid based nail primers (like this one from Kodi) are used to completely dehydrate and dry out the nail bed before additional product is applied. The base of the product is most made up of methacrylic acid, which requires a careful application to prevent any potential irritation that can come from being in contact with the skin.
Acid based nail primer helps especially with those with oily nail beds, however acid-free nail primer (like this set from Modelones) also helps to dehydrate and degrease the nail beds. Acid-free primer works as a barrier between the layers of the polishes placed on top and the natural nail. It also helps to balance the nails’ pH levels, as they need to be after being dried out from the primer.
The acid based primer leaves a white residue on the nails after it is dried, while the acid-free does not. The most popular option for a nail primer is the acid-free option, and it also offers a stronger adhesion between the gel or acrylic nail and the natural nail.
As gel and acrylic manicures often require several layers of product in order to achieve the final desired results, it is easy to overlook the importance of nail primer as the beginning of the nail bed preparation.
In order for the gel or acrylic polish to adhere to the nails, they must be dry and free of any oil or debris first, which is where the nail primer plays a key role.
Differences Between Nail Primer And Base Coat
Although it can seem like they would work in the same way, nail primers and base coats are two different products that have differing purposes.
Nail primers are meant to dehydrate the nail to prepare it for having a gel or acrylic manicure applied on top of it. It is a product that works to rid the nail bed of any excess dirt, oil, or debris to allow the following layers of product to adhere strongly and extend their longevity.
Base coats are a product that most would be familiar with, as they are meant for regular polish to help extend the wear.
They are applied before regular polish is applied as a way to act as a barrier between the natural nails and the polish. This can also help to prevent any polish staining the nail bed, as it has a protective barrier in place.
Based on their dehydrating nature, nail primers should not be used all the time, while base coats can be used on their own or with regular polishes on a consistent basis.
DIY Nail Primer Alternative
There is a nail primer alternative that will help to degrease and dehydrate the nails, especially if you are looking to apply an at-home gel or acrylic manicure.
The most common alternative to creating a nail primer is using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and pure acetone.
The DIY nail primer alternative is an easy, at-home remedy to create perfect nails. The two ingredients required are isopropyl alcohol, the higher percentage, as close to 100% as you can find, is ideal because it contains less water, and pure acetone.
The correct ratio of isopropyl alcohol to acetone is 4:1 for DIY nail primer.
It helps to apply the solution with a clean nail polish applicator brush. It will enable you to coat the nail evenly, without leaving behind any residue that can come from using a cotton ball or cotton round.
It is important to wait for the acetone to be completely dried before adding any of the following layers to the nails, to ensure the mixture will not alter or dilute the gel or acrylics manicure that is to follow, while also creating a strong adhesive base.
This mixture will create a similar effect, as the alcohol is being used as a disinfectant and the acetone is being used as a dehydrator.
However, nail primer is specifically formulated for your nails, so if you’re looking for an alternative simply because you haven’t found a good enough nail primer to commit to, why not take a look at our list of the best nail primers?
How Do Alternative Compare To Nail Primer?
While the isopropyl alcohol and acetone mixture is a good alternative to professional nail primer, there are some differences between the two.
To ensure the nail is properly disinfected, isopropyl alcohol will work to clean the nails. Most primers will have some level of alcohol included in their ingredients as a way to disinfect the nail as well.
The acetone works to remove any dirt, oil, or debris from the nails in order for them to be dry and ready for the proper products to be applied afterwards. While the acetone will dehydrate the nail beds, professional primers are also formulated to re-balance the pH levels of the nails as well.
The isopropyl alcohol and acetone mixture is an effective alternative, however professional nail primers will ultimately allow the gel or acrylic nails to last for a longer amount of time.
Conclusion
Overall nail primers are a completely different product compared to a base coat nail polish, and it targets a different need in the manicure application process.
While a base coat can create a barrier between the nail bed and the polish, it is best used with standard nail polish for a regular manicure. It can be used frequently, and on its own, as a way to add shine to your nails.
Nail primer, instead, is ideal to use with gel or acrylic nail extensions, and is not meant to be used as often as a base coat. The nail primer works to dehydrate the nail bed, so the gel or acrylic can adhere more strongly, which will result in a longer lasting manicure.
As we all want our perfectly styled nails to last as long as possible, a nail primer could be the missing step in our routine.
A nail primer, or a nail primer alternative, cleans, disinfects, and dehydrates the nail bed for a perfectly smooth and well-adhered application of your nails, whether you are at home or at a nail salon.
The nail primer alternative of isopropyl alcohol and acetone is an easy way to mimic the professional level nail primers through a DIY, at-home method, using products that may already be existing in your house.
Once you start using a nail primer as part of your nail care routine, your nails will be able to look salon-level for as long as possible for some of your best manicures yet!
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