Let me just start by saying that I will probably always be that girl who gets her nails done in some shape or form. I have short and stubby hands that resemble a little kid’s hands if I didn’t get a regular manicure. I’ve been getting my nails done in some way shape or form since I was a little high school teenager and I haven’t really looked back since.
I have always been obsessed with nail polish. I slowly graduated to gel polish, since it lasted longer. I was the queen of french manicures not just on my hands, but also on my toes. I then moved on to fake nails to get that extra length. I did that for a while as I joined the Navy, minus the bootcamp months of course. Then one faithful day, I discovered dipping my nails.
Dip powder nails can be called a variety of different things. Some call it SNS nails due to the popular brand. Some call it dip nails. It is basically a form of manicure where you “dip” your nails into powder after applying a base coat, after an activator after your desired amount of coats, then finally put your top coat on.
Simple right?
Well yes, for the most part, dip nails are theoretically just what the name implies. DIP.
But it does take a certain amount of practice to do, without even taking into consideration the shaping aspect of it. Fear not, as all things, there are endless Youtube videos that show you exactly how you can do dip powder nails at home, at your office, or in a truck as my favorite Rachel AT Schmitz does.
I learned about dip powder nails from a co-worker. We don’t talk anymore but least I will never forget how she has changed my life by introducing me to dip powder nails.
Before the pandemic, I used to get my nails done at the salon. It took a while to find a salon that actually did dip nails, but when I did, that salon became my home base. I found my nail girl, who ironically has the name nickname as me. I was in heaven.
But then COVID-19 changed our lives as we knew it and made us become creative in many different ways. We stayed home, which I was already a pro at. We ordered groceries online, which I was too happy to oblige to. The only thing that really changed my routine is the nail salon. It was my little sense of normalcy.
I will always support staying home and being safe though. I wasn’t going to risk getting me and family sick just to get my nails done.
The pandemic made me think that I was actually capable of doing my own nails. Not only because of the government shutdown, but also because the idea of dipping my fingers into a jar that ten other girls have dipped their own finger in was not the move.
I learned how to do them myself. I bought my own little nail kit and just did it with the help of my imperfect memory and the millions of Youtube videos. I mean trust me, they aren’t like perfect like the #nailfie accounts on Instagram or even intricate because in my very soul I am a basic ass bitch, but it truly has become a form of self-care for me.
I went back into the salon when California opened back up. I thought it would be great to see my nail girl again. She has always been the best I’ve ever had (cue Drake). But to my demise, she did not work there anymore. I was shocked. I was appalled. I was broken inside. I ended up going with another girl, but it truly was not the same after that. I tried another salon, but really, my heart still yearns for the good old days.
I decided to try dip nails at home again, partially because of my broken heart, and partially because the Delta strain is getting louder at this point in 2021.
Final Thoughts on Dip Powder Nails
And I mean, honestly, I do love it.
I still need to get my life together and figure out why I can’t get it to last like the salon does BUT I will always love on my dip powder nails.
PS. There are so many small businesses that have opened because of the new widespread popularity of dip nails. And of course we stan female businesses.
Have you ever tried dip nails?
