Nail dehydrators: what are they, how to choose and use?

A manicure using gel polishes is a complex, multi-stage procedure, during which several mandatory means are used. If the technology is violated, then the result will be a disappointment, it will not last long and can harm the nail plates. Today we're going to talk about a dehydrator, which is one of those must-haves.

The nail dehydrator is applied to the plate in front of the gel polish. It is transparent and is sold in regular bottles with a brush. The bottle may be labeled "bond" or "bonder". They are one and the same remedy. It is applied to the treated nail before the varnish or extension material. This tool serves a number of important functions:

• degreasing the plate;
• restoration of natural acidity of nails;
• healing effect;
• disinfection;
• increasing the strength and durability of the manicure;
• removing moisture, which is the main enemy of gel polish.

Always applying a dehydrator is a must. This is especially true for people with wet hands. If dehydration is not carried out, the following consequences may occur:

• fragility of a manicure, which can last even less than a week;
• peeling of the coating from the nail plate;
• nail problems;
• the formation of bubbles when drying the varnish due to moisture that remains on the nail plate.

The dehydrator is available in several varieties, which we now have to study.

• The dehydrator can be part of other manicure products. It is very convenient to work with, besides, the time of the whole procedure is reduced.
• Dehydrators that are sold separately, not included in other products.

Such manicure products can also differ in composition. Some components are the basis for all types of dehydrators, others are added at the discretion of the manufacturer.

• Butyl acetate is the base, it is an acetic acid ester with butyl properties, which is used as an organic solvent.
• Dyes and fragrances are used by many manufacturers, these components do not have the most beneficial effect on nails, therefore it is better to choose a product without them or at least with a minimum content.
• Various acids are included in some products, they are used to open the scales of the nail plate, which improves the penetration of the dehydrator. Methacrylic acid is commonly used. The concentration can vary from 30 to 100%. Such a product is valued for its excellent bonding properties, therefore it is often used for acrylic extensions. It is important not to let the material come into contact with the skin, which will cause burning and itching. A white coating appears on the dried material.
• Bonders without acids in the composition have a delicate effect, the plate remains more integral, and the product has a shallow penetration depth. In the composition of such bonders there is a large amount of resins, respectively, after drying, a sticky layer is obtained.

The dehydrator is very easy to use. Even a novice master will not have problems with him, you just need to adhere to the recommendations of specialists.

• Work must be carried out with gloves.
• The nails are prepared according to the standard scheme (the cuticle is removed, the shape is given, polishing is carried out).
• The dehydrator is applied to the plate gently so that the skin is not touched. An extra bonder is removed from the brush on the edge of the bottle. Some materials are applied with a brush like a regular varnish. But it is also possible to apply with a napkin.
• The application starts from the central part of the nail. A high-quality product will spill over the plate on its own.
• We are waiting for complete drying, usually a minute is enough. We continue to work with other means according to the standard scheme.
• The dehydrator dries quickly, so do not treat all your nails with this product at once. The treated nail must not be touched; after the bonder has dried, varnish is immediately applied.

Many companies are engaged in the production of dehydrators. Not all of them offer a quality product to apply to your nails. We will help you navigate this variety of manufacturers and products.

IBD Dehydrate is the choice of many craftsmen, because it can often be seen in salons. It is also purchased for home use.

This tool has a number of features that deserve your attention:

• excellent cleansing;
• mild effect on the nail and no danger when it comes into contact with the skin, from such a remedy there will be no burning sensation and itching;
• restoration of the PH-balance of the plate;
• can be used in conjunction with any coating / building agent;
• fragrances, dyes and other harmful components are absent in this product;
• complete evaporation.

Under the brand Patrisa nail a powerful dehydrator is produced, with the help of which high adhesion is ensured not only of varnishes, but also of gels and acrylics. Despite its high efficiency, this tool gently affects the nails, removes various types of pollution from their surface. This material is sold in 16 ml bottles, the price starts at 200 rubles.

CND - a professional tool that is often used in nail design salons.It is produced in America and is characterized by high quality. This dehydrator dries up in 5 seconds and does not require a lamp. The disadvantage is a strongly pronounced odor and high cost (600 rubles for 15 ml).

Nail Dehydrator PNB is the most popular manufacturer of manicure materials. The range of products from this company also includes a dehydrator. It does not have an unpleasant odor, but some masters claim that the nail is dry. Professional products cannot be cheap, so for 15 ml of such a product you will have to pay about 650 rubles.

Dehydrator Lily angel behaves well with natural nails, acts carefully on them, demonstrates excellent adhesion of all materials to each other and to the nail plate. I am pleased with the affordable cost of such a product - 15 ml will cost only 260 rubles.

Another professional material is produced by the company Kodi... With such a dehydrator, you can accomplish several tasks at once. This tool belongs to the middle price segment, therefore it is equally available to both professional craftsmen and home self-taught ones.

Finally, consider the German dehydrator, which is produced by the company El corazon... It is applied with a napkin, does not smell, provides decent nail care and serves as a guarantee of the durability of the manicure - the coating will definitely be worn for 2 weeks. The price is also pleasing - for 150 rubles you can buy 120 ml.

In the process of studying reviews of dehydrators, we learned how to replace this tool. It is better, of course, to use an original product from one of those manufacturers that are included in our rating. But no one is immune from situations where the dehydrator is over and a manicure really needs to be done. Or there is simply no way to purchase a quality product at the moment.

In such emergency situations, acetone or alcohol, which is used in medicine, will help out. And also a 3% solution of boric acid based on alcohol can help out. Citric acid can be used as a degreaser, which not only removes dirt, but also serves as a source of vitamin C.

These products do a good job of degreasing and drying the plate, which cannot be said about nail care. Here, both acetone and alcohol turn out to be even harmful, since they excessively dry the surface of the nail. Therefore, their use can only be one-time.

Professional craftsmen in their reviews recommend working with materials from one manufacturer. Only in this case it is possible to achieve maximum adhesion of materials and obtain a durable result. All the positive reviews that we studied came, for the most part, to the materials of manufacturers from our rating. Some users note a new Russian-made product - RuNail. It is odorless and contains no harmful components.

There are also negative reviews. The reason is most often the materials that were purchased from questionable points of sale. In this case, we can confidently talk about a fake, expired material or violations of storage rules. Negativeness from users also arises from the incompatibility of materials from different manufacturers.

For information on the differences between primer, bonder and dehydrator, see the next video.