Perfect Smile Line on own nails??? (2025)

As a lecturer i teach two ways to achieve a perfect smile line these can be used for other systems gel and nail polish but with a slight difference,

• Prep natural nail

• Set out tips to fit natural nails (these will not be stuck on)

• Apply white acrylic to zone 1

• Now pick the tip that fits the nail you are applying acrylic to, Dip the tip into the acrylic liquid ( dip the well area)
  

• Now place the tip well upside down to the nail and using the shape of the curve on the tip dig out a smile line (you will find the white acrylic will smear up the nail slightly)

• To perfect the smile line and to remove the smear of acrylic up the nail use your brush and dip it into acrylic liquid drag brush round the smile line to perfect.

• Apply acyrlic to zone 2

• Apply a smaller bead of acrylic to zone 3 making sure no product touches the cuticle or side walls as this will aid lifting.
  

Note:

• Acrylic liquid will free up the acrylic overlay for extra time to perfect the nail but using to much will make the overlay weak as with a 'runny' acrylic consistency.

• Gel can be applied in the same way except use cleanser to dip the tip in to and to use on the brush to perfect smile line.

• Nail polish for a manicure can be used in the same way apply base coat and dip tip and brush (nail art) into cleanser or non acetone nail polish remover.

Let me know if this helps or if you have any other queries

Lauren x

No not really hun just practice!!! You will get there in the end as long as you dont give up!!!!
With regards to your smile lines you will get there eventually yet again just keep practicing we have all been there. :!:

And just a note for the last thread only dip the brush into the acrylic for over exposure reasons as some find this worrying i would advice you control the other factors of over exposure and possible routes of entry by covering the acrylic with a lid windows open e.ct. But i would not worry to much as when using acrylic as it is on the over exposure chemical list you should be checking for signs of over exposure anyway if u need a list of the signs let me no x

Any other questions i am happy to help x

Hi Honey

I am a total convert of the revers application works every time for me. Perfect smile lines all the time:hug:

Whilst I'd agree that doing your own 'Wrong' hand is difficult, especially when you're a novice, the good news is that it does get easier with practise.

I think that most of the measures I've read about could be a help when applying a new set, but aren't you still going to be stuffed at the rebalance stage if you can't do it adequately by the traditional methods? :irked: What are you going to do, soak them off each time and apply a new set? The time you take doing that might as well be spent on painstaking practise of the traditional methods, I'd have thought? :hug:

peter pan did a good tutorial on how to do this. I will try and find the link for you
xx

here it is:
http://www.salongeek.com/nail-geek/24086-smile-lines-your-right-hand-cheating.html
HTH's

nottinghamtech said:

As a lecturer i teach two ways to achieve a perfect smile line these can be used for other systems gel and nail polish but with a slight difference,

• Prep natural nail

• Set out tips to fit natural nails (these will not be stuck on)

• Apply white acrylic to zone 1

• Now pick the tip that fits the nail you are applying acrylic to, Dip the tip into the acrylic liquid ( dip the well area)
  

• Now place the tip well upside down to the nail and using the shape of the curve on the tip dig out a smile line (you will find the white acrylic will smear up the nail slightly)

• To perfect the smile line and to remove the smear of acrylic up the nail use your brush and dip it into acrylic liquid drag brush round the smile line to perfect.

• Apply acyrlic to zone 2

• Apply a smaller bead of acrylic to zone 3 making sure no product touches the cuticle or side walls as this will aid lifting.
  

Note:

• Acrylic liquid will free up the acrylic overlay for extra time to perfect the nail but using to much will make the overlay weak as with a 'runny' acrylic consistency.

• Gel can be applied in the same way except use cleanser to dip the tip in to and to use on the brush to perfect smile line.

• Nail polish for a manicure can be used in the same way apply base coat and dip tip and brush (nail art) into cleanser or non acetone nail polish remover.

Let me know if this helps or if you have any other queries

Lauren x

Click to expand...

I actually bought a purpose made thingy the other day that does the same thing but you don't need to dip it in the liquid. (I personally, would not like the idea of using liquid for this because of over exposure risk) Its called a smile cutter. Its stainless steel and round in shape with various size smiles cut into the edges. You just use it in the damp acrylic the same as the tips in the method above. Does it work? Well I don't know because as if by major miracle the minute I sat it on my table to use, my smiles on both hands have been good and so I haven't used it yet but the idea is good. :lol: When ever I can I have practiced brush control with my right hand (I'm a lefty) cos I think if I can conquer it with my wrong hand it will make it seem easier with my stroner one.
Cheers
Karen

Well it certainly sounds safer than the above method which I wish had never been posted. The fact that someone has posted it and also told us that she is an educator worries me even more.

Basic Rule No 1 is Never use liquid monomer without polymer. IOW never dip into monomer and use it for anything other than to collect a bead of powder.

Why not just make your life simple and use a CND Performance white well-less tip when doing your own nails? The white looks JUST LIKE you used Liquid and powder and there is zero stress. so easy.

nottinghamtech said:

No not really hun just practice!!! You will get there in the end as long as you dont give up!!!!
With regards to your smile lines you will get there eventually yet again just keep practicing we have all been there. :!:

And just a note for the last thread only dip the brush into the acrylic for over exposure reasons as some find this worrying i would advice you control the other factors of over exposure and possible routes of entry by covering the acrylic with a lid windows open e.ct. But i would not worry to much as when using acrylic as it is on the over exposure chemical list you should be checking for signs of over exposure anyway if u need a list of the signs let me no x

Any other questions i am happy to help x

Click to expand...

I dont mean to sound rude but I am not even qualified yet and I am fully aware of the risks of overexposure from monomer...it is not just about using a lid and opening windows and checking for 'the signs'....most importantly you should be doing everything to PREVENT overexposure from ever happening in the first place.....which means not letting 'neat' monomer touch any part of the nail and surrounding skin.

I almost get the impression by the way you talk that you aren't aware that overexposure is something that develops over time from repeated contact of the monomer...it isnt usually something that just happens 'there and then' . You talk like its just another product on a list..its nothing to worry about...you just need to keep an eye out for the signs of overexposure...that is the impression im getting.

To be honest I personally would be worried if I was being taught bad practices like this by my educator...as a student I want to know that I can fully trust my tutor to teach me correctly and have thorough knowledge of everything.

You have posted this method in quite a few places on this site which tbh I find a bit worrying....there are a lot of new geeks on here with varying degrees of knowledge...some have little or none...if they keep reading that post everywhere then they will most likely think its a valid and professional method! These are the people that lay their trust in someone like you because you are an educator and tbh it makes me feel a little angry at the thought of how many new geeks will read and take on board your bad practices.

xAnnaBannAx said:

I dont mean to sound rude but I am not even qualified yet and I am fully aware of the risks of overexposure from monomer...it is not just about using a lid and opening windows and checking for 'the signs'....most importantly you should be doing everything to PREVENT overexposure from ever happening in the first place.....which means not letting 'neat' monomer touch any part of the nail and surrounding skin.

I almost get the impression by the way you talk that you aren't aware that overexposure is something that develops over time from repeated contact of the monomer...it isnt usually something that just happens 'there and then' . You talk like its just another product on a list..its nothing to worry about...you just need to keep an eye out for the signs of overexposure...that is the impression im getting.

To be honest I personally would be worried if I was being taught bad practices like this by my educator...as a student I want to know that I can fully trust my tutor to teach me correctly and have thorough knowledge of everything.

You have posted this method in quite a few places on this site which tbh I find a bit worrying....there are a lot of new geeks on here with varying degrees of knowledge...some have little or none...if they keep reading that post everywhere then they will most likely think its a valid and professional method! These are the people that lay their trust in someone like you because you are an educator and tbh it makes me feel a little angry at the thought of how many new geeks will read and take on board your bad practices.

Click to expand...

Hear hear!!! I quite agree.

xAnnaBannAx said:

I dont mean to sound rude but I am not even qualified yet and I am fully aware of the risks of overexposure from monomer...it is not just about using a lid and opening windows and checking for 'the signs'....most importantly you should be doing everything to PREVENT overexposure from ever happening in the first place.....which means not letting 'neat' monomer touch any part of the nail and surrounding skin.

I almost get the impression by the way you talk that you aren't aware that overexposure is something that develops over time from repeated contact of the monomer...it isnt usually something that just happens 'there and then' . You talk like its just another product on a list..its nothing to worry about...you just need to keep an eye out for the signs of overexposure...that is the impression im getting.

To be honest I personally would be worried if I was being taught bad practices like this by my educator...as a student I want to know that I can fully trust my tutor to teach me correctly and have thorough knowledge of everything.

You have posted this method in quite a few places on this site which tbh I find a bit worrying....there are a lot of new geeks on here with varying degrees of knowledge...some have little or none...if they keep reading that post everywhere then they will most likely think its a valid and professional method! These are the people that lay their trust in someone like you because you are an educator and tbh it makes me feel a little angry at the thought of how many new geeks will read and take on board your bad practices.

Click to expand...

makes me wonder who can choose such an educator- sorry if I'm rude.

on my right hand I have to use the reverse method... I apply an opaque pink bead (with the habbit I know the size I need) and let it settle, it creates a perfect smile line cuz I then just have to kinda push it up with my brush and then I take a white bead, and finally zone 3...

hard to explain but works perfect

and for a rebalance I file off my free edge (very long) and since I always use and opaque under, I then simply keep the pink part, the size I want, and file to give it a perfect smile, and then apply my forms and start again...