Most nail artists nowadays prefer acrylic paints as nail polish. Do you know the reasons? Today, I saw some nail polish on Instagram that I liked. The nails had acrylic paint which really surprised me!
Until today, I never knew acrylic paint would make such amazing nail polish. Surprised as I am?
Today, I’m going to show you how to use acrylic paint as nail polish and the pros and cons of using it. Let’s dive in as we learn.
Can Acrylic Paint Be Used As Nail Polish?
Before we look at the pros and cons of acrylic paint as nail polish, did you even know acrylic paint can work as nail polish? This is a common question people ask online.
Yes, acrylic paint can be used as nail polish and many people are using it nowadays. Acrylic paint is quite popular with more people using it than in the past decade.
Similar to nail polish, acrylic paint is available in a variety of colors. It is also cheaper and readily available than most nail polish. According to paintcentric – Randy Charles, you can use the non-toxic version of acrylic paint.
There are different types of acrylic paints on the market. You need to know the different types and the best for your nails. Common types of acrylic paints include:
⦁ Heavy-duty acrylic paints
⦁ Soft body acrylic paints
⦁ Acrylic inks
⦁ Fluid acrylic paints
⦁ Acrylic markers
⦁ Acrylic gouache
Why Do People Prefer Acrylic Paint As Nail Polish?
The increase in the number of people using acrylic paint as nail polish is for a number of reasons. However, the major reason for using the paint is that it doesn’t affect the growth of nails. You want your nails to look stylish but growing.
Secondly, results from acrylic paints are long-lasting. You don’t want your nail polish to look faded after a few days. Acrylic paints look flawless as nail polish with long-lasting results. This also reduces frequent nail polishing.
Lastly, acrylic paints are readily available in various colors, cheap, and easy to shop.
The Pros and Cons of Using Acrylic Paint As Nail Polish
With the increasing popularity of acrylic paint as nail polish, what are the pros and cons? Unlike most watercolors and oil paints, acrylic paint is relatively new in the art industry. However, it has taken the world by storm.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of acrylic paint as nail polish?
The Pros
Supports color mixing due to slow drying
Acrylic paint takes longer to dry than nail polish. This allows artists to apply more colors and create amazing nail polish. Nail polish comprises acetates and alcohol that dry very fast. Nail polish will dry immediately; hence it is difficult to mix colors.
With acrylic paint taking longer to dry, you can mix colors and create impressive results. This takes us to the next advantage.
You can make any color
With acrylic paint, you can literally make any color on your nails. You just need black and white colors, along with the three primary colors ( red, blue, and yellow).
Are you lacking a certain color in your nail polish collection? With acrylic paint, you can make just any color. For example, mixing red and blue gives you purple. This is something you can’t achieve when using nail polish.
Easy drawing designs
With acrylic paints, you can make different designs on nails with ease. Nail polish tends to be thick when it has too much alcohol. While this is a great feature at maintaining opacity, it does help when drawing designs on nails.
Most nail polish designs usually turn out lumpy. In addition, nail polish dries faster, making it difficult to draw designs. You have to do it fast before it dries.
Acrylic paint is quite easy to draw designs and correct mistakes. With the paint still wet, you can scratch any mistakes and apply a new coat for a new design.
Durability
Acrylic paints tend to last for longer, giving users excellent results. Designs and paints on the nails will last longer than nail polish.
Cheap and readily available
Lastly, acrylic paints are cheaper than nail polish and readily available. Various colours make it easier to shop for acrylic paints than nail polish.
The Cons
Despite the numerous benefits, there are a few downsides to using acrylic paints as nail polish. One of the major downsides is the paint opacity.
When not working on canvas, acrylic paints tend to be streaky. You can solve this by applying multiple coats. However, make sure the coats are fully dry before applying another coat.
The slow drying time of acrylic paints might be an advantage on one side but a disadvantage on the other. You need to be patient as coats take longer to dry.
How to Use Acrylic Paint as Nail Polish
Proper application of acrylic paint for nail polish is important to prevent damage and growth of your nails. Applying acrylic for nail polish is cost-friendly, fun, and exciting.
Below, I’ll discuss steps to follow when using acrylic in place of nail polish.
⦁ Start by cleaning your nails. Make sure the nails are free of dirt and oils. Clean the nails with soap and water. If they have oils, then clean them with alcohol-based cleaners.
⦁ With the nails clean, the first step is applying a coat. Use a base nail primer that is clear and transparent.
⦁ With the first base coat applied, wait for it to dry.
⦁ Once completely dry, apply the first acrylic paint coating. You can dilute the paint with water to make it thinner.
⦁ Use the correct brush to apply the acrylic paint. Consider nail brushes with quality bristles.
⦁ Wait for the acrylic paint to dry completely before adding a second coat. This should be the ultimate coat to leave fingernails shining.
⦁ After the last coat, you can add any innovative finish to leave your fingernails looking attractive.
Does Acrylic Paint Damage Your Nails?
Non-toxic acrylic paint is safe and harmless on your nails. The ingredients on the paint are generally safe and will not affect your nails. Additionally, it is pretty easy to apply and remove the paint from the nails.
However, toxic acrylic paint can damage your nails. Harsh chemicals inside the toxic acrylic can damage the smooth texture of your nails. Consider non-toxic acrylic with water-based paint only.
Non-toxic acrylic paint dries on nails into a semi-permeable porous layer. You need to apply a fresh coating to
ensure flawless and long-lasting results.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Fake or Acrylic Nails?
You can use the paint on fake nails or acrylic nails as the paint is extremely versatile. Non-toxic acrylic paint is quite effective with fake plastic nails. It bonds with the nails easily. For best results, make sure you seal the paint with nail polish.
How Do You Seal Acrylic Paint on Nails?
After the excellent application of acrylic paint on the nails, you need to seal the paint. This is crucial in preventing the paint from chipping after a few days.
You can seal acrylic paint as nail polish using a nail polish coat. You can also use aerosol. The process is simple. First, wait for the acrylic paint to dry and set on the nail.
With the paint dry, apply the nail polish gently. You can also spray aerosol and let it dry. It should dry and seal the paint on the inside.
Sealing the paint is crucial to prevent chipping. Acrylic paint is water-soluble and easily comes off. Sealing it prevents chipping and ensures the healthy growth of the nails.
Final Words
Well, that’s it from me! Now you know the pros and cons of using acrylic paint as nail polish. It is completely safe and okay for non-toxic acrylic paint to be used as nail polish. More people are moving towards using acrylic paint as nail polish due to the many benefits.
However, you need to learn the application process to avoid damaging your nails. Always have the safety of the nails first over the beauty. I hope you enjoyed reading and can now do your nails.
