What Is A Cuticle Apex

We're dishing out all the deets about the apex method for dip nails—which is an effective way to strengthen your nails by giving them a nice, rounded structure, and go close-up set curve perfection.

Apex, what's that?

If that's the start thought that came to listen... well, today's your lucky day!

If y'all've been dealing with ugh-inducing uneven nail bed or flat nails that easily break, it'south time to provide 'em with the natural-looking, durable curves and symmetry they deserve once and for all.

BONUS BENEFITS: The noon method also helps the cuticle area get less beefy. And that'll help you cut down on your filing and buffing fourth dimension. (Nosotros always love finding means to get our time back!)

Now, let'due south get downward to the nitty-gritty of how to build an apex with dip powder (and more).

What is the nail noon?

Put simply, Information technology's the curvation over the stress area of your nail plate.

Where is this stress signal we speak of?

As illustrated below, it typically sits in between the complimentary edge and the middle of the smash bed.

To know its exact location, practice this: Press your nail'due south free edge.

See a white, faded area? Bingo! That'due south the stress point y'all're looking for. It'due south the weakest point of your blast plate. The proficient news is, you can strengthen it by edifice up your dip powder in multiple layers.

According to salon owner, educator, and award-winning nail stylist, Katie Barnes:

"The position of the apex varies in dissimilar shapes and lengths. In full general, the apex will sit in the dorsum 1/three of the nail enhancement even so the longer the enhancement, the higher and further dorsum to the cuticle the apex is just not too far back so it creates an unsightly hump that will create no force. If your noon placement is too far forward and your upper arch line is non straight, information technology will pull the complimentary edge downward over the fingertip and create weakness."

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How to build an apex with dip powder—the right style

Click here for the full tutorial of this blast enhancement.

In a nutshell, you start with a small strip downward the middle of your nail. Then yous progressively cover a wider area with each layer of the Base & Finish Dip Blast Powder & Dip Color Powder.

Here'southward your cheat canvass of the smash apex placement.

Take note that the arch tapers down into thin layers toward the cuticle area and the sidewalls. Be careful non to overdo filing down the sides of your nails that already have a thinner layer of dip products. Most importantly, avert getting your dip products on your cuticles equally this may lead to premature lifting.

Like shooting fish in a barrel as ane-2-3-iv-five-6-7-eight, correct?

No?

So you lot might still have these lingering questions on your mind. (And we'll do our best to respond them!)

1. Do I really have to employ all 8 layers to build an noon with dip powder?

For maximum back up that'll keep your nails from bending, yep.

Simply if you lot're concerned virtually your dip nails ending up on the thick side, you tin also do a partial apex.

The virtually popular noon method consists of 5 layers merely.

1st Layer: Small strip halfway down the blast
2d Layer: ¾ of the style up the nail
third Layer: ¾ of the way up the smash, extending almost all the way to the sides
quaternary Layer: Entire blast
5th Layer: Entire nail

Some DipWell users have reported success in maintaining a not-too-thick noon by skipping a few layers of this modified apex.

You lot can do layer one, 3, five. Or layer 3, 4, five. Or any other mash-up of layers that works best for you.

Others stick to the oft-recommended five layers, merely they make sure they exercise v (or even more than) layers of thinner coats.

two. Do short nails need an noon?

Brusk answer: Length doesn't matter. ;)

It's all almost proper nail apex placement.

But feel costless to do a modified version of the apex method as mentioned above.

Information technology all boils down to personal preference.

Have y'all already tried building an noon with dip powder? Share your own tips and tweaks at DipWell's Dipper Guild. We'd as well beloved to see your epic apex pictures. Tag us on Instagram @dipwellnails and use our official hashtag #DoYouDipWell.

If you're an noon newbie, best believe this method will brand a huge difference in your dipping game. It's a slam dunk!

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