Silk Wrap Nails Guide
Silk wrap nails are one of the under the radar ways nail technicians are creating epic manicures. If you’re completely lost and have never even heard of silk wrap nails, you’re not alone! Because it’s not something that’s widely used and referenced in the nail world as often as other types of nail extensions, it’s not a process many are familiar with. We’re always here to keep you up to date with what’s going on all things nail related, so we’re breaking down silk wrap nails and sharing everything you need to know about them.
1What is Silk Wrap Nails
First things first, what ARE silk wrap nails? Well, they’re actually exactly as they sound. Silk wrap nails are created with silk that is, well…wrapped around the nail. Believe it or not, silk wrapped nails have been around since the 80’s (at least). Silk wrap nails are said to be great for strengthening natural nails, and tend to be ideal for shorter nail lengths. While experts say additional length can be added to natural nails using silk wraps, most don’t like to add too much length using this material. The process is (fairly) simple to achieve, which is a major bonus! Silk wraps are wrapped over the nail and held in place using an adhesive and topped off with a resin.
2Silk Wrap Nails Pros and Cons
So let’s get into the pros and cons of silk wrap nails. Kicking things off with the positives, one of the main pros of these nails their ability to strengthen (as we mentioned above) the natural nails. This is great for people who have a lot of cracks or splits in their natural nails and need some time to heal/strengthen. Another major pro? Silk wrap nails are very lightweight and breathable for natural nails. See why they’re so great for your nails? Some nail extensions and faux nails can feel a bit heavy for people. If you want something that feels very similar to natural nails – silk wraps are for you. That actually brings us to our next pro – silk wrap nails LOOK like natural nails. Because they’re so thin, lightweight, etc. they give an extremely realistic appearance when applied to nails. Last (but certainly not least), another favorite pro of silk wrap nails is how easy they are to apply and remove from nails. They don’t require any UV lights or soaking for removal. Pretty great pros, right?
Of course, with all pros there are cons. This is a silk wrap guide so we want to make sure you have ALL the information, even the cons. One main con of silk wrap nails is they’re known to be less durable than other types of nail extensions. While the lightweight element is a pro, it can be a con for some if you like your nails to be extremely durable and tough. Next, some people experience silk wraps coming off a little TOO easily. Again, this is a pro in some sense they have been known to come off quite easily when you’re exposing them to a lot of moisture.
3Silk Nail Wrap Kit Recommendations
While silk wrap nails aren’t super common in nail salons, they’re easy enough to apply that you can do it at home. We found this simple silk nail wrap kit on Amazon that gives you everything you need to DIY, it even comes with step-by-step instructions for you to reference (or you can come back to this post!).
4How to apply silk wrap nails at home
Start by cleaning your nails and creating the shape you want by filing and cutting. Next, use a nail file over the top of the nail – you’ll need to remove the natural shine nails have on the surface. Be cautious when doing this, you need to remove the shine but don’t damage the nails! Now begins the actual application process, select the size silk wrap necessary to fit your nail and cut to the right shape/length, apply some adhesive to the nail and wrap the silk around your nail. It’s recommended to start the wrapping process at the base and then working your way to the tip – don’t go over the cuticles with the silk wrap! Once you’ve secured the silk wrap, apply the resin (also known as the sealing product) to the top of the silk wrap to hold it in place. After the resin has fully dried you can use a nail file to perfect the shape and surface. Last but not least- paint your nails in any color or design you please!