Dipping Powder Ombre Tutorial

First thing's first: Always start with Powder Perfection nail prep.

Before ya apply, scoop out enough powder into a separate container to prevent cross contamination. Then stir it up.

Gently fan out your Acrylic Brush so it'll pick up as much powder as possible.

Begin your ombre look by brushing on 1 coat of Base Coat. Make sure to cover the entire surface evenly while leaving a tiny margin at the cuticle area.

Angle finger downward and use your acrylic brush loaded with I Am What I Amethyst to tap the powder onto the top half of the nail.

Before that dries, reload the brush with Bubble Bath and tap the powder onto the rest of the nail. Pro Tip: Work quickly because the Base Coat has a tendency to dry fast. Applying one finger at a time helps.

Once powder has had a few seconds to be absorbed by the Base Coat, tap excess powder from the finger, then move onto the next finger repeating the same steps.

Dust off any remaining powder with a sanitized cosmetic brush making sure to focus on the cuticle area, side walls, and under the free edge.

Apply a second coat of Base Coat, getting slightly closer to the cuticle line. Repeat the ombre technique on each nail.

Dust off any remaining powder again making sure to focus on the cuticle area, side walls, and under the free edge.

Apply a thin and even coat of Base Coat, then dip the finger at a 45-degree angle into Clear Color Set Powder. Let it absorb, then tap off any excess powder. Pro Tip: Don’t worry if the nail looks bulky at this stage. Some systems either use the clear powder as a base or not at all which forces you to file into the product you just applied, compromising the color.

Apply a thiiiick coat of Activator making sure the entire nail surface is covered, then cap the free edge and allow it to harden for up to 2 minutes in the US, and 4 minutes if you’re international.

Once hardened, shape them and contour around the cuticle area and sidewalls using the 180 Grit File to prevent a bulky look.

Buff the nails using a heavier 220 Grit Buffer and work your way up (don't forget the cuticle and sidewall areas), then continue smoothing the nails by using a finer buffer.

Remove any excess filing dust. Remember to pull the skin back around the sidewall areas and the free edge to remove any hidden dust that could impact the final result.

Apply another thiiiick coat of Activator–the thick coat is what creates that high-shine look. For those in the US, let it dry for 2 minutes. 4 minutes for international.

Apply Top Coat using a few quick brush strokes.

Allow Top Coat to dry for a couple minutes, then apply a second coat. Focus on precision as this is your final coat and you cannot go back and touch up once its applied.

Once nails are dry, complete the Powder Perfection mani with a few drops of ProSpa Nail & Cuticle Oil.