1. Preparation before picking up powder
- Always keep the tip of the brush evenly moist with liquid (monomer), but never soaking wet.
- After dipping into the liquid, lightly wipe both sides of the brush against the dappen dish to remove excess liquid.
(If there is too much liquid, the bead will run; if there is too little, the bead will be dry and difficult to work with.)
2. How to pick up the perfect bead
- Dip the tip of the brush into the powder gently and precisely.
- Do not swirl the brush in the powder. Simply press the tip lightly into the powder.
- Once the brush tip touches the powder, hold it steady for one to two seconds to allow the powder to absorb the liquid.
3. Watching for the bead to reach the right shine
When lifting the bead, observe carefully:
- At first, the bead may appear rough and grainy.
- As the bead absorbs liquid, it will develop a soft, wet shine.
When you see this light glossy appearance, that is the right moment to place the bead onto the nail. - If you place the bead too early (while still dry), it will not spread smoothly and will be difficult to manoeuvre.
- If you wait too long (until the bead looks watery), it will become too wet and will lose its shape.
4. Technique for placing the bead
When the bead reaches the correct shine:
- Bring the brush gently to the desired position.
- Place the bead lightly onto the nail without pressing hard.
- When placing the bead, slightly tilt the brush upwards; do not press the brush flat against the nail.
5. How to control the bead and prevent running
After placing the bead:
- Use the belly of the brush (the wider part) to gently guide the bead, smoothing it from the centre outwards to both sides.
- Do not press hard; just lightly touch the surface to guide the flow of the bead.
- If the bead begins to drift slightly, use the tip of the brush to nudge it back into position before continuing to shape it.
- Avoid sweeping back and forth too many times, as this can break down the bead and make it watery.
🧠Quick reference guide
| Common mistake | Result | How to fix it |
| Placing the bead before it shines | Uneven, rough surface, difficult to shape | Wait until the bead has a soft wet shine before placing |
| Waiting too long to place the bead | Bead becomes too runny and loses form | Watch carefully for the right shine; do not delay |
| Brush too wet when picking up powder | Bead becomes overly runny on its own | Lightly wipe excess liquid before picking up powder |
| Pressing too hard when shaping | Bead floods into the sidewalls | Use the belly of the brush to guide lightly without pressing |
