Dip powder (also known as SNS, for the brand Signature Nail Systems) Dipping powder Panailsnspa nails have grown in popularity, but before trying this trendy new service, there's at least one woman warning to proceed with caution.
Most dip powders are a combination of a glue-type liquid and powder that hardens when it hits the air, and leaves long-lasting color on your -- nails minus the need for any ultraviolent (UV) lighting to cure or dry. There also isn't the pungent smell that's often associated with gel or acrylic.
You simply dip your nail in a colored powder of your choice, and seal it with a top coat of polish. The finished look can last anywhere from two to four weeks.
"Just like classic acrylic systems, there are two crucial parts to a dipping system: the liquid hardening agent and the powder," according to chemist Doug Schoon as noted in Refinery29.
"In a dip system, the liquid is based on cyanoacrylates," says Schoon. "They are used for suturing wounds in the body and eyelash glue. When they react with moisture in the air or the nail, it causes them to harden."