Louisville Beauty Academy (LBA), The College of Human Service of Di Tran University, proudly shares Chapter X of THE COMPLETE NAIL LICENSING MASTER BOOK — 2025 Edition.
As part of our mission to humanize education and remove fear from the licensing process, we are releasing all 50 chapters online for free for students, schools, ESL learners, and future beauty professionals across the nation.
Each chapter is part of the most comprehensive nail licensing textbook ever created, designed specifically for State Board Theory & Practical and built on our core philosophies:
YES I CAN™ (courage, confidence) and
I HAVE DONE IT™ (achievement, professionalism).
Louisville Beauty Academy continues to adapt and adopt at light speed, providing not only this complete textbook but also upcoming videos, visual guides, and step-by-step practical demonstrations, all aimed at ensuring every learner feels supported and empowered.
LBA is proud to serve as a true YES I CAN™ institution and a Center of Excellence in beauty education.
CHAPTER 9 — ACRYLIC (LIQUID & POWDER) SYSTEMS
Louisville Beauty Academy (LBA) — YES I CAN™ Sculpt, Shape, Blend & Build Safely
Acrylic nails are created from liquid (monomer) and powder (polymer).
When combined, they form a bead that hardens into a strong enhancement.
Acrylic is:
- strong
- long-lasting
- versatile
- sculptable
But acrylic must be used properly and safely, because:
- incorrect ratios cause lifting
- skin contact causes irritation or allergies
- improper filing causes damage
- MMA monomer is illegal and unsafe
- poor technique can harm the natural nail
This chapter gives you every key concept needed to perform acrylic safely and pass your licensing exam.
🔑 KEYWORDS WITH DEFINITIONS, EXAMPLES & LBA SPEAKING SENTENCES
(ESL-friendly)
1. Monomer
Meaning: Liquid used to create acrylic.
Use: Dip brush into monomer before powder.
Don’t use: On skin or natural nail alone.
Sentence: “At LBA, monomer stays on the brush—never on the skin.”
LBA Tip: Liquid.
2. Polymer (Acrylic Powder)
Meaning: Powder that combines with monomer.
Use: Creating the acrylic bead.
Don’t use: Alone—it will not harden.
Sentence: “Polymer is the powder that forms the acrylic bead.”
LBA Tip: Powder.
3. Polymerization
Meaning: The chemical hardening process.
Example: Bead setting and becoming firm.
Don’t use: For gel (gel is cured with light).
Sentence: “Acrylic hardens through polymerization—no lamp needed.”
LBA Tip: Hardening.
4. EMA (Ethyl Methacrylate)
Meaning: SAFE, legal monomer approved for salons.
Sentence: “LBA teaches that EMA is the correct monomer for acrylic.”
LBA Tip: Approved.
5. MMA (Methyl Methacrylate)
Meaning: Unsafe, banned monomer.
Don’t use: EVER—illegal for nails.
Sentence: “MMA is unsafe and never used at LBA.”
LBA Tip: Avoid always.
6. Bead
Meaning: The ball formed when brush meets powder.
Example: Wet, medium, dry bead.
Sentence: “A perfect bead makes acrylic smooth and easy to sculpt.”
LBA Tip: Bead = start of magic.
7. Ratio (Liquid-to-Powder Ratio)
Meaning: Balance between monomer and polymer.
Wet bead: Too much liquid
Dry bead: Too much powder
Medium bead: Correct
Sentence: “Good ratio = good nails.”
LBA Tip: Balance is everything.
8. Apex
Meaning: Highest point of nail for strength.
Example: Slight hump near stress area.
Use: Keeps acrylic nail from breaking.
Sentence: “The apex is the nail’s strength point.”
LBA Tip: Build the bridge.
9. Stress Area
Meaning: Weakest part of the nail needing reinforcement.
Sentence: “We reinforce the stress area to prevent cracks.”
LBA Tip: Support zone.
10. Smile Line
Meaning: Where pink meets white in French style.
Sentence: “A crisp smile line gives clean French style.”
LBA Tip: Curve of beauty.
11. Cuticle Area
Meaning: Area near eponychium.
Use: Thin application only.
Don’t use: Thick product—causes lifting.
Sentence: “Thin near the cuticle, strong in the apex.”
LBA Tip: Gentle zone.
12. Tip Application
Meaning: Gluing plastic tip to natural nail.
Use: Before acrylic or overlay.
Sentence: “We fit the tip sidewall to sidewall for strength.”
LBA Tip: Fit matters.
13. Nail Form
Meaning: Guide used to sculpt acrylic without tips.
Sentence: “Forms allow us to sculpt a custom nail shape.”
LBA Tip: Your shape, your design.
14. Dehydrator
Meaning: Removes oil/moisture.
Sentence: “Dehydrator helps acrylic bond better.”
LBA Tip: Dry first.
15. Primer
Meaning: Helps acrylic adhere.
Sentence: “Primer is the invitation for acrylic to stick.”
LBA Tip: Use lightly.
16. Overlay
Meaning: Acrylic applied without length.
Sentence: “Overlay adds strength to the natural nail.”
LBA Tip: Strength only.
17. Fill / Fill-In
Meaning: Maintenance service after growth.
Sentence: “We file down the growth and apply fresh acrylic.”
LBA Tip: Maintenance.
18. Lifting
Meaning: Acrylic separating from natural nail.
Cause: Bad prep, poor ratio, thick cuticle area.
Sentence: “Lifting tells us something went wrong in prep.”
LBA Tip: Prep is king.
19. Contaminated Powder
Meaning: Powder exposed to brush or debris.
Sentence: “Contaminated powder must be thrown away immediately.”
LBA Tip: Clean products only.
20. Acrylic Removal
Meaning: Soaking in acetone.
Don’t use: PRY or FORCE—damages natural nail.
Sentence: “We soak, not peel.”
LBA Tip: Dip, don’t rip.
🧼 LBA ACRYLIC PROCEDURE — SAFE, CORRECT, LICENSING-READY
1. Sanitize Hands
Student and client both sanitize.
2. Remove Polish
3. Prep Natural Nail
✔ Shape
✔ Gently push cuticles
✔ Remove shine lightly (240-grit)
✔ Dust off
Sentence: “We prep gently to protect the natural nail.”
4. Dehydrate & Prime
✔ Apply dehydrator
✔ Apply acid-free primer
(One thin coat)
5. Tip or Form Application (if adding length)
6. Acrylic Application
✔ Pick up bead (medium ratio)
✔ Apply to nail
✔ Build apex
✔ Perfect cuticle area
✔ Create smooth sidewalls
Sentence: “Thin at cuticle, strong in center, smooth at tip.”
7. Shape & File
✔ Sidewalls
✔ Surface smooth
✔ Apex refined
8. Buff & Finish
✔ Buff smooth
✔ Apply polish or gel top coat
9. Clean & Oil After Service
Never before. Oil blocks adhesion.
❤️ LBA MINDSET MOMENT
Acrylic is an art.
It is patience, practice, balance, and safety.
Say with LBA:
YES I CAN™ master acrylic.
YES I CAN™ work safely.
YES I CAN™ perfect ratio, apex, shaping and sculpting.
YES I CAN™ pass my exam.
Soon I WILL say: I HAVE DONE IT™.”
📝 50 LICENSING-STYLE QUESTIONS — CHAPTER 9
- What liquid is used to create acrylic?
- What powder is used in acrylic systems?
- What is the hardening process called?
- Which monomer is safe and legal?
- Which monomer is unsafe and banned?
- What forms when brush meets powder?
- What indicates correct ratio?
- What happens when bead is too wet?
- What happens when bead is too dry?
- What structure adds strength to acrylic nails?
- What area must be kept thin?
- What causes lifting?
- What prepares nail by removing oils?
- What improves adhesion?
- What is acrylic built on when sculpting?
- What is an overlay?
- What service maintains acrylic after growth?
- Why should acrylic not touch skin?
- What must be done if powder is contaminated?
- What tool removes acrylic safely?
- Why shape nails before acrylic?
- Why use 240-grit for natural nails?
- What should not be cut during prep?
- Why must primer be applied lightly?
- Why is apex important?
- What causes cracking?
- Why should acrylic be thin near cuticle?
- Why must sidewalls be straight?
- Why avoid thick application?
- Why should acrylic not be peeled off?
- Why check expiration of monomer?
- What does dehydrator do?
- What tool is used for sculpting?
- Why are forms used?
- What is the safest bead type for beginners?
- Why remove dust before applying acrylic?
- What happens if moisture remains?
- Why choose EMA over MMA?
- Why should brush be cleaned regularly?
- What product is used after filing?
- Why avoid oil before acrylic?
- Why does poor prep cause lifting?
- What must be done if skin irritation appears?
- Why avoid heavy pressure when applying bead?
- Why must sidewall areas be smooth?
- What must tech do if acrylic burns client?
- Why disinfect tools?
- Why avoid product flooding into cuticle?
- Why file acrylic after it hardens?
- What is the LBA mindset for acrylic work?
📝 ANSWER KEY — CHAPTER 9
- Monomer
- Polymer
- Polymerization
- EMA
- MMA
- Bead
- Smooth, medium bead
- Runs/floods
- Grainy
- Apex
- Cuticle area
- Poor prep / thick cuticle area
- Dehydrator
- Primer
- Nail form or tip
- Strength without length
- Fill / fill-in
- Causes irritation
- Dispose immediately
- Acetone soak
- Foundation for product
- Gentle on natural nails
- Living skin
- Too much causes lifting
- Strength and balance
- Bad ratio or no apex
- Prevent lifting
- Clean shape
- Heavy and causes lifting
- Damages natural nail
- Old monomer won’t work correctly
- Removes oils
- Acrylic brush
- Sculpt length
- Medium bead
- Dust prevents adhesion
- Lifting
- Safe and legal
- Prevent contamination
- Top coat or buff
- Blocks adhesion
- Oils prevent bonding
- Stop service
- Pushes product into skin
- Avoids lifting
- Stop, adjust technique
- Safety and law
- Causes immediate lifting
- To refine shape
- YES I CAN™ sculpt safely. YES I CAN™ perfect acrylic.
To access the full announcement and explore all 50 chapters of THE COMPLETE NAIL LICENSING MASTER BOOK, visit:
This book is LBA’s gift to the world — a fully public, free, humanized educational resource built to uplift every learner.
YES YOU CAN.
YES YOU WILL.
YES YOU HAVE DONE IT.
