What is a primer and how is it used? The primer provides a clean, degreased surface on which to apply a base coat, coloured nail polish and top coat to significantly increase the life of the manicure.
Has anyone not heard of primer yet? To clarify, it is a liquid cosmetic used in nail reconstruction procedures and is formulated with alcohol and acids to facilitate and guarantee complete evaporation of the water and the total 'degreasing' and cleaning of the natural nail surface.
This is because one of the main causes of 'detachment' or non-adherence of gels to the nail surface is precisely the presence of humidity and small water particles, which can compromise the hold of the manicure. This is why the primer is also called an adhesion mediator or adhesion promoter.
Hands are increasingly becoming the centre of attention and if you want to treat yourself to a perfect manicure with gel or semi-permanent nail polish, the first essential step is to apply a primer to your nails. But how does this cosmetic work?
The primer appears visually as a transparent liquid, very similar to water, but it has a very pungent odour: although it has evolved a great deal over time (the first formulations were really acidic and characterised by a very persistent odour), and today it appears in more delicate and methacrylate-free solutions, the 'scent' is still unpleasant.
The primer has the function of de-hydrating the nail surface, which means degreasing it and allowing the water to evaporate thanks to the lifting of the keratin lamellae: after the application of the primer the nail surface is ready to better absorb the gel or acrylic which, in this way, adheres perfectly.
We have to answer "absolutely not" to this question: primer should only be used if the nail is "difficult", too smooth or shiny and therefore too oily: a feature that can significantly undermine the durability of the manicure.
In addition, the primer becomes essential for those who, perhaps for professional reasons, stay all day with their hands in contact with water. It is recommended you seek advice on this from a professional nail beauty salon like Nail ETC, while they help you get the best nail art, they can advice as you as well.
Primers can be used on both hands and feet, but only if the nails are strong, resistant, oily and without any particular problems. Today, there are also acid-free formulas for weak and flaky nails, suitable for people who are constantly on medication, or who are undergoing heavy hormone treatment because they are trying to get pregnant, or who are fighting cancer and have to undergo chemotherapy.
It is very important to disclose your 'state of health' to your beauty therapist so that she can identify the most suitable product for you.
This cosmetic is applied with a very thin and small brush because it is essential, in order to avoid unnecessary irritation and damage, to stay away from the cuticles and the skin around the nail: an even and not too abundant brush is needed only on the surface of the nails.
The primer should be used after the buffer has been applied and the powder residues have been removed, then it should be left to act for a couple of minutes before moving on to the next step: if during this time, the nails take on a white, opaque colour, it means that the surface is ready for the subsequent treatments. And at this point, you can apply a strengthening base coat, the gel in the colour of your choice, and the top coat to seal everything in.
Be careful not to confuse the primer with the nail-prep: while the former acts as a promoter of adhesion, as already explained, between the nail and the gel, maximising their adhesion, the 'prep' is used during the reconstruction before proceeding with the application of the primer.