What Do You Need To Do Acrylic Nails At Home? [Supply List] (2024)

Acrylic nails are gorgeous, aren’t they? They are strong, beautiful and reliable and with the proper care, you can enjoy them for weeks. But if you want to do your own nails at home, what kind of supplies will you need? I’ve documented all for you below.

So, what do you need to do acrylic nails at home? Typically, to do acrylic nails at home you will need: a cuticle pusher, lint-free wipes, a nail file, acrylic nail brush, acrylic powder/liquid, and a dappen dish. You will also need a spacious table or working surface to feel comfortable and time.

There are also a few optional supplies that will be revealed in more detail later in this article – so be sure to keep reading!

Acrylic nails are long-lasting and sturdy and once applied you do not have to worry about not having a manicure for the days ahead.

Usually, only professional manicurists are able to do acrylics and are qualified to create a good quality manicure.

As much as acrylics are beautiful, they are also expensive and are not just a manicure but an investment.

They also need proper maintenance, if they are to last longer.

Regular visits to the salon cost money and time, and effort. That is why I am sure you are keen to learn how to do your acrylic nails at home.

Applying acrylics, especially if you are not that skilled, is a relatively lengthy process.

Let us now take a closer look at the supplies and why they are so important!

What Supplies Do You Need For Acrylic Nails?

To do acrylic nails at home you need the following supplies:

The list is long but it is recommended to supply yourself with everything in order to achieve optimal results.

Otherwise, the manicure will be of lower quality, or you could even run into issue such s lifting!

You need a cuticle pusher to prep your nail before applying the acryl.

Cuticles are essential to be moved out of the way as much as possible.

They have the habit of getting in the way of any artificial nail enhancement (even regular nail polish) and prevent the creation of a strong and long-lasting manicure.

The nail file and the buffing block are also part of the nail’s preparation process.

The nail dehydrator removes the natural shininess and oiliness from the nail that also prevent proper enhancement application. Same goes for the nail primer.

The dappen dish is necessary for pouring your acrylic liquid inside and the nail brush you need for the actual application of the acryl.

You need lint free wipes in case you need to wipe something out. You want to prevent the risk of any small cotton threats getting stuck to the acryl.

The acrylic powder and acrylic liquid are the acryl themselves and you will not be able to create your manicure without them.

The top coat is necessary for final sealing of the nails and prevention of damage later on.

The rest of the items in the list – from the nail tips to the manicure brush – are optional.

Nail tips you need only if you have decided to apply artificial nails to your own. You also need glue to attach them.

Acetone is needed in cases you have to remove regular nail polish leftovers.

The cuticle oil and the manicure brush are also optional for final cleanings and hydrating the cuticles after the whole manicure is set and done.

Using a cuticle oil is recommended, though, to provide hydration for the cuticles after the whole process.

What Do I Need To Fill My Acrylic Nails?

Getting fills is the most common maintenance activity your acrylic nails require.

Let’s see what you need to do and how you can fill your nails at home.

You are going to need:

A refill is needed when there is a gap between your natural nail and the acryl.

When you apply the artificial enhancement, your own nail underneath does not cease to grow and eventually, a growth gap appears. I

t is not a very pleasant sight and that is why refills are needed every two-three weeks.

The two most common reasons for refills are:

• Natural growth gap
• Lifting of the acryl

A Step-By-Step Guide To Do A Refill At Home

Step 1: Prepare

Use a cotton ball soaked in acetone-free nail polish remover to erase any remaining old paint.

Do not use acetone because it will damage the acryl.

Once you are done, clean your nails with a wipe (baby wipes work too) to get rid of any dirt that may in the way of the refill.

Make sure there is no dust because it may lead to infection later on.

Step 2: Buffing

It is possible that your growth has caused the lower end of the acryl to lift up.

You need to properly remove the lift before applying the refill.

Use the nail buffer for this purpose and smoothen out the edge between the acryl and growth until they look like one.

Step 3: Apply Dehydrator And Nail Primer

After you make sure there are no leftovers and dust, carefully apply a nail dehydrator and then primer to remove oil and shininess.

You apply both only on the gap that needs filling and not on the whole nail bed.

The primer will also protect your natural nail from the harmful effects of the acryl.

Step 4: Prepare The Acryl Mixture And Apply:

Get the dish and mix the acrylic liquid and powder together. You have to achieve a pearl like bead of acrylic mixture.

Take the necessary amount with the brush and apply on the gap.

Apply just enough amount to fill in the gap. Make sure you do not touch any skin and cuticles.

Step 5: Dry and File

Let your fill to dry completely and then buffer and file your nails.

Buffer to make the filled texture smooth and tidy and fit well with the rest of the nail.

You can also file the tips to reduce the length that has piled up for the last two-three weeks.

Step 6: Paint

Congrats! You have now reached the final and most pleasant step – painting.

The refill has to go with the rest of the design. Apply a base, colour and top coat in the wanted design and dry!

How Do I Prepare My Nails For Acrylics?

The successful application of acrylics depends largely on the correct preparation of the nail plate beforehand.

Following a few well-established steps will help you immensely to achieve that much-desired, perfect looking manicure!

Treat The Cuticles

First and foremost, push the cuticles as further away from the nail plate as possible.

If you are confident enough in your skills, cut them.

Shape The Manicure

With a nail file, shape the edges and file the length, as desired.

Sculpt the tips and smoothen out the edges.

Prepare The Nail Plate

The next step is to prepare the nail surface itself. With a buffer file, remove the shininess and make the nail slightly rougher on top.

This will provide a less smooth surface for the acryl and help the artificial enhancement to hold onto something.

Apply Dehydrator And Primer

The dehydrator and primer eliminate excessive oil and moist from your nail.

This is important because any moist left between the acryl and the nail plate can eventually cause infections such as fungus.

Prep The Tips

If you decide to apply artificial tips, you have to prepare your own first. Choose a tip that best fits your natural nail, stick it with glue and then apply the desired shape and length.

Buff and file until the tip is smoothened out with your own nail.

Disinfect And Clean

This is the final step before applying the acryl itself.

You need to make sure your nails are very well cleaned from any dust, skin, leftover nail polish and anything alike.

Use an alcohol-based disinfectant and wipe them thoroughly. After that, you can proceed to apply the acryl itself.

Are Acrylic Nails Hard To Do At Home?

Acrylic nails can be hard to do at home if you do not have all the equipment to hand and you do not follow the right process steps.

Equally, it is usually harder in the beginning; if you are your used to doing your own nails and simply lack enough practice to do so.

If you are not too confident, maybe try applying regular nail polish at first until you gain more confidence in doing nails.

If you follow the steps for acryl application correctly and prepare your nails well, acryl should not be too difficult to perform.

Remember that acrylic nails are the most complicated and sophisticated form of a manicure and it may take some time to master it, unless you already have some practice.

I have actually released a step-by-step acrylic nail from home course.

I would thoroughly recommend getting it if you want to give yourself a flawless mani from the comfort of your own home!

Finally

You need a number of supplies to be able to do acrylic nails at home.

The most essential include cuticle pusher, nail file, buffing block, nail dehydrator, acid-free nail primer, dappen dish, acrylic nail brush, lint-free wipes, acrylic powder, and acrylic liquid topcoat.

Those that are optional are nail tips, nail glue, pure acetone, cuticle oil, manicure brush.

Thankfully though, you don’t need UV lamps or anything of the sort!

Pretty much the same supplies are needed when you do a refill at home.

A refill is done every two-three weeks (depending on how fast your nails grow, it is different for everyone) and its purpose is to refill the growth between the acryl and the natural nail.

The other most common reason for a refill is lifting. However, if you have applied your acryl correctly lifting is an unlikely and rare occurrence.

Doing a refill at home takes 6 basic steps in total. If you follow them precisely, your refill should come out successfully.

It is both easy and hard to do acrylics at home.

It is not so much about the appliances that you need – they are easily purchasable from anywhere. It is more about the personal skills and practice everyone has and your confidence.

Doing an acrylic manicure is considered the most skillful craft in nail art and does take some practice to master.

That is why most clients trust professional technicians.

However, if you feel confident enough in your skills then doing acrylics at home is not difficult at all.

Getting on my affordable course is perhaps, one of the best things you can do.