Skip to Content

The Distinctions Between Nail Primer and Dehydrator in Acrylic Nails

The Distinctions Between Nail Primer and Dehydrator in Acrylic Nails

Beautiful nails complement your outfit and add a unique touch to your personality. Clean and attractive nails not only look gorgeous but also reflect the personality of a person. Regular manicures and pedicures are essential in encouraging new skin cell growth.

Beautifully groomed and stylish nails enhance the beauty of your hands. For gorgeous hands, you can use different colors of nail polish or nail acrylic. There are many products and processes that you can use before you apply nail polish or nail acrylic.

These include nail primers and dehydrators. Primers and dehydrators are used for one common goal: to increase adhesion to the natural nails.

The main difference between the two is that primer is used before applying gel or acrylic nails while dehydrator removes dust and oil from the nails. The dehydrator dissolves in the nails, giving the primer a better surface.

Most people think they are the same but have different properties and uses. Learn more about their differences by reading this blog post.

Dehydrators

Beautiful nails with nail primer
Beautiful Nails With Nail Primer

The dehydrator is gone first. It dehydrates the nail when you do traditional manicures and artificial nail services such as acrylic nails, gel nails, nail wraps, and tips. A nail dehydrator is applied to the unpolished nails to dissolve the oils, allowing for a more desirable nail surface.

When you are doing a manicure, nail dehydrators are commonly used. The main reason for using nail dehydrators is to improve the way nail polish, gel, or acrylic sticks to your natural nails. It is good because it helps ensure that your manicure and pedicure are long-lasting.

The dehydrator will prepare your natural nails and make them a suitable surface for other nail products that you are going to use.

There are so many dehydrator harvests available in the marketplace that you can buy them according to your choice, such as:

  • Emma Beauty Grip Nail Dehydrator
  • Model One 
  • Kween Nail
  • Moro Van 
  • Glam
  • Lakme
  • Sugar

Benefits of Using a Nail Dehydrator

 There are many benefits to using dehydrators.

  • It cleans a nail of dust particles and oil.
  • It cleans the cuticle and moisturizes the nail.
  • It creates a surface that helps the acrylic nails to stick better.
  • It prevents the nail from breaking and scratching.
  • The coat of dehydrator puts a smooth surface on the nail and gives extra shine.

Possible Side Effects

When you use it in a limited amount, it’s perfectly safe, but if you use it daily, it can harm or weaken your natural nails.

When Applying Dehydrator

A dehydrator is available in a small bottle like nail polish; you can apply this before nail polish, gel polish, and acrylics as a first layer. It gives a beautiful adhesion and shines on your nails.

Nail Primers

A nail primer is used before a manicure. It would be best if you always used primer. It’s an essential step before acrylic and priming the nails, making acrylic stronger and longer-lasting.

It will prepare your nails for manicures and nail acrylic. It’s applied on unpolished nails before nail polish and other nail enhancements and gives stability.

It forms the bond between the nail and other products. It also prevents any air bubbles for better attachments.

The Purpose of Nail Primer

Benefits of Nail Primers

Some benefits of nail primers are:

  • The biggest benefit of primer is that they make your enhancements and nail polishes adhere better. 
  • It’s safe for your natural nails.
  • It makes nails long lasting up to 3 weeks or more.
  • By applying primer manicure can last without chipping, lifting, or peeling.
  • Because of primer, your nails won’t peel, crack or lift easily, so your nails will look much more consistent and stunning.
  • It saves the nails from damage.
  • It makes your nail smooth and gives extra moisture.
  • It’s also used for durability and protection.

Possible Side Effects

  • Improper or accessed use of primer is harmful to your nails and skin. 
  • Using too much primer can also affect the strength of your nails. 
  • Different types of primers work differently. Acid-free and vitamin-based prier is less harsh, but acid-based primers are intense because of chemicals.
  • It will make your acrylic nails hard to remove. Because of that, you use more acetone to remove enhancement, which is harsh for your nails. So, if you want to change your nails very often, stick with a simple nail dehydrator.
  • Regular uses of primer can affect your nail plate.

Types of Nail Primer

The most common types of primers include:

  • Acid-free primers are acid-free and less harsh as this primer doesn’t contain acid. It is the most commonly used primer with a gentle formula.
  • Acid primer: this primer is used professionally. It works better for problematic nail plates and those with hormonal problems. Due to their strong chemicals, it’s not recommended for weak nails.
  • Vitamin E primer is a vitamin base primer that gives weakened nails strength. It’s used for damage and peeling nails.
Nail colors with primer
Nail Care Products

When Applying Primer

Like dehydrators and nail polishes, primer is available in a small bottle with a tiny brush for easy application.

Apply small drops and spread the nail over 30 to 40 seconds. After priming your nails, prepare regular nail polish, nail gel, or nail enhancements.

The Difference Between Nail Primer and Dehydrator

PrimerDehydrator
It is used before applying acrylic or gel nails. If you don’t use primer, they are lifted off in a short time.It removes oil and dust from the nails, so the enhancements are done better.
Primers are acidic or acid-free, but both use for the same purpose.It is only in one form and is used to clean the nail.
It provides a bond between gel or acrylic nails and natural nails. It protects nails from damaging and peeling off.It makes the nail surface smooth and clear for further procedure.    
Differences Between Primers and Dehydrators

Application of Nail Dehydrator and Primer

As pH balances the nail plate before getting a nail augmentation product, in this case, acrylic, using a nail dehydrator is a crucial step in applying acrylic nails. Primer is an essential step in the application of acrylic.

To improve the adhesion of the acrylic nail to the nail plate, primer “primes” the nail plate. Together, the two products guarantee that your acrylic nails will adhere correctly.

Plastic nail tips will not adequately attach to the nail plate and will pop off if the nail dehydrator and priming are applied beforehand. Start here if you already have a complete set of nails and only need to do “fills.”

  • To start, use a paper towel to cover the area you will be working on to protect the surface. Remember that acetone and polish remover will harm laminate and wood surfaces. For exteriors, glass or tile works well.
  • Always wash your hands to eliminate any lotion, oils, or cosmetics that might prevent the substance from sticking to them.
  • Rub in the ten cuticles after using the cuticle remover. Your cuticles can be gently pushed back using a cuticle pusher. To remove any cuticle remover residue, wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Any dead tissue that will obstruct the application of acrylic should be carefully removed. Avoid cutting live tissue. Cuticles trimmed short will regrow thicker and expose the nail matrix to infection.
  • To eliminate the gloss from the new growth area of your natural nail plate, use a 180-grit or finer file. Blend the acrylic at the site of the new growth so that it is flush with the nail plate, being careful not to file and hurt the natural nail while doing so.
  • To prevent the nail from getting larger and thicker with each fill, thin the entire acrylic nail by 50%.
  • Using a plastic manicuring brush, eliminate any filing dust. Avoid touching the nail with your fingers, as this will cause your acrylic additions to lift by transferring skin oils to the pin. Use no soft “cosmetic” brushes, including blushers.
  • You must thoroughly clean the surface of the nail and the nail tip because these brushes are designed to apply powder or blush to the skin. Otherwise, your acrylic nail enhancement will lift
Primer Application
Primer Application

Avoid wiping with nail cleaner or acetone since both can “melt” the acrylic product’s surface, smoothing it out and preventing new acrylic products from adhering to existing acrylic products on the nail.

Which One Should I Use First?

Use the dehydrator carefully before the nail primer if you use both products.

Applying nail primer first won’t work well, then adding a dehydrator because the latter won’t touch your nail’s surface and won’t be able to remove the primer’s oils.

You may remove the oils from your nails using a dehydrator, which will also help the primer adhere better. The nail can then be more efficiently reacted with by the priming, creating a rough surface and an ideal key for the acrylics.

Conclusion

  • Nail primers and dehydrators are important for manicures and nail enhancements.
  • Both help nails stick better but work differently.
  • Dehydrators clean nails by removing dust and oil.
  • Primers create a bond between natural nails and enhancements like acrylic or gel.
  • Applying dehydrator before primer is key for good results.
  • They come in different forms. Each has its benefits and side effects.
  • Understanding their differences helps achieve great manicures.
  • Both improve the beauty and durability of nails and enhancements.

Other Articles

Skip to content