Ah, the joy of seeing stunning acrylic nail art designs on your social media feed. Some beginners perceive acrylic application as something that looks good but sounds complicated. But, based on the pros, acrylic could only get overwhelming when mishaps occur, especially with marbling.

Every nail tech wants the application of acrylic to be smooth and enjoyable for them and their clients; it's a win-win situation for both parties. If you're having difficulty applying acrylic and marbling is getting in the way, here's your guide on how to combat your marbling woes.

 

 

What is Marbling?

Dissociation of pigments on your nails, known as marbling, causes an uneven appearance. Unintentional marbling might be splotchy, unpolished, or a color mash-up.

 

 

What causes Marbling?

First things first, we have to know why marbling occurs. Marbling happens for several reasons, such as an incompatible monomer, forgetting to stir the powder well, or the wrong dip ratio. Before tackling the marbling dilemma, it's essential to know how to do acrylic nails; we have an in-depth guide you can read.

 

 

Main Causes of Marbling:

1. Incompatible Monomer

 

Compatibility is essential to get the correct amount of beads to apply to your nails and to avoid further issues. Try to choose a slow-setting monomer that fits the powder you intend to use. When it comes to iGel Beauty powders, you'll need to mix them with our monomer to ensure compatibility.

Otherwise, you may end up spending more money than necessary if you try to find a match for your powder through trial and error and the purchase of several monomers. It would be best to find the exact monomer that matches the powders.

 

 

2.  Not getting the Dip-Monomer ratio right

 

There are times when we get the dip monomer ratio incorrect, and it's completely okay; there's room for us to learn! The ideal Acrylic to Monomer Ratio is generally about 1.5 to 2 parts liquid monomer to 1 part powder, producing a manageable, creamy bead, although this can differ based on brand and conditions. You can read our blog about common acrylic mishaps you should avoid making.

 

 

3. When the brush is too wet

 

If you use too much water on your brush, you'll get a watery, uneven mess of acrylic beads that lacks pigment. Your brush wouldn't have enough control over the highly diluted pigment if it were runnier. This makes it vital to practice achieving the proper bead consistency—not overly wet or dry—for durable, long-lasting acrylics, frequently modified by the amount of liquid wiped off your brush before dipping into the powder. 

 

 

4. When the brush is too dry 

 

Insufficient liquid creates lumps, causing weak nails, lifting, or a subpar finish. When your brush is too dry, your bead becomes stiff and difficult to work with. To produce a better bead, use a nearly saturated brush with monomer, but not so saturated that it becomes runny. Then, firmly pat the acrylic to get a good shape. 

 

 

5. Improper blending

 

It's not enough to just mix and match the acrylic powders! Stir your powders when you're mixing them with monomer. During shipping, the acrylic powder's consistency or pigments might get altered or disorganized due to the movement and environmental factors. Most powders would cluster together, so it's important to give powders a good mix before application.

 

 

How to prevent Marbling issues?

 

 

STEP 1: Prep your nails properly

 

We may sound like a broken record, but prepping your nails sets the base for any nail design. You can read our nail prep guide to refresh your memory.

 

 

STEP 2: Create the right bead

 

Beads without marbling can be made by drizzling the brush with water and gently sliding it along the side of your dish (where you placed the monomer). Excess liquid from the brush can be loosened by squeezing it gently.

Ensure that your bead shape is not disrupted or the acrylic drags by patting it firmly on your nail afterward. Make sure your brush is still moist when you pat it down.

 

 

STEP 3: Use a clear Dip powder

 

We strongly recommend mixing our DP01 Clear Powder with the colors if they don't come through after the preparation, mixing, and application. With the DP01, you may quickly scatter the pigment particles and increase the production of your preferred pigment without changing the color, as it is a colorless powder.

 

 

STEP 4: Clean your brush

 

To prevent cross-contamination, ensure that all powders from the prior design are fully cleared away before using your brush. By doing this step, you can avoid color mix-ups, marbling, and other application issues.

 

 

Acrylic nail art designs are fun to do and gorgeous to wear! Don't let marbling ruin your masterpiece; with practice and determination to learn, you can improve and give your clients breathtaking acrylic nails. If you want to learn more about acrylic nails and find acrylic nail art, join our iGel Beauty Facebook community!