Side Effects of Dip Powder Nails: Tips and Tricks for Client Safety

In 2019, a woman in North Carolina visited her local nail salon and requested a dip powder manicure. Days later, her nail beds were swollen, bleeding, and oozing pus. Her nail technician had accidentally cut one of her fingers while filing—then proceeded to dip that same finger into the powder. A doctor later diagnosed her with a fungal infection, Taheshah Moise wrote for WFMY News 2.

Once the nail powder has come in contact with a client, it must be thrown away, the director of the NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiner told Moise in the same article. Unfortunately, many techs, salons, and clients ignore this advice. 

“I know I’ve picked my nails/skin before and have had cuts on my fingers and have wondered how many other people with bloody nail beds or even fungus have dipped their fingers in the container before me…Kinda gross when you think about it,” one Reddit user commented.

Ultimately, those who suffer the painful side effects of dip powder nails often swear off nail salons altogether. To help set you and your customers up for success, we’re breaking down common side effects of dip powder nails, plus tips and tricks that keep everyone safe.

Are dip powder nails safe? 

Is dip powder safe? Generally, yes. In fact, some people claim it’s a safer alternative to gel nails, as it dries fast without LED or UV lights, Cleveland Clinic explains. These manicures are durable, more flexible than gel or acrylic, and easy to do at home. Furthermore, dip powder helps strengthen nails (at least temporarily) by protecting them from breaks.

Common Side Effects of Dip Powder Nails

Realistically, is dip powder healthier than gel or acrylic nails? Not necessarily. All trending nail techniques have their drawbacks. Like any other technique, dip powder at a nail salon can cause damage if not applied and removed correctly. Some side effects of dip powder nails include:

Weakened Nails

Much like acrylic or gel manicures, dip powder manicures require routine buffering and filing. If done over long periods of time and without breaks in between, this can weaken your nail base, Cleveland Clinic wrote.

Allergic Reactions

Some dip powder nail health risks are unique to each client. 

For example, those who are sensitive to dip powder liquids may get “Dip Flu” from inhaling the liquid’s vapors. It irritates the nose and throat, causing symptoms like headaches and stuffiness, Revel Nail says. Folks may also have an allergic reaction to the adhesives that hold the powder in place, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Association says. 

Nail Infections From Dip Powder 

This one mainly applies to salons and nail techs who reuse nail powder. Doing so exposes the client to microorganisms trapped from previous clients. It also traps microorganisms from the current client, a biology professor reported to ABC30. Bacteria, fungus, and mold spores may survive there for weeks, the same professor hypothesized. 

Therefore, one of the side effects of dip powder nails is infections. Doctors have expressed concerns about contact dermatitis, herpes, bacterial infections, and fungal infections. Some are caused by cross contamination. Other infections are simply the result of water trapped under a lifted nail, which is common. The latter, known as a pseudomonas nail infection or “greenies,” is treatable and preventable.

Research is ongoing about possible risks and side effects of dip powder nails, and in most cases, nail infections from dip powder are not dangerous. Nonetheless, sanitation concerns have been enough to steer salons away permanently—regardless of how much money they could make from dip powder.

Safety and Dip Powder Nails: Tips and Tricks

We don’t believe the potential dangers of dip powder nails should scare you away completely. Rather, it warrants conversations about how to do dip powder nails more safely.

We share ideas below. 

Avoid double dipping.

Queso and guac aren’t the only places where double dipping is frowned upon. You should avoid it at your salon, too.

Do not dip multiple clients’ nails into the same powder. Instead, follow OPI’s guidelines and pour fresh powder into a separate, small cup for each client. When you’re done, dispose of the cup and any leftover contaminated powder. 

You can also sprinkle the powder onto their nails. For added hygiene, some nail salons even encourage clients to buy their own powder. All of these steps can reduce your risk of cross-contamination. This is absolutely crucial for protecting your next clients from infections or warts a previous client could expose them to, the AAD Association says.

Keep things clean.

Good nail salon hygiene can make (or break) a client’s experience with dip powder nails. 

To start, all clients should wash their hands with antibacterial soap, one nail salon owner told WCPO News. They should scrub not only their hands, but also underneath their fingernails, she said. Additionally, dry their hands and prep their nails thoroughly to combat bacteria, Dipwell advises.

Another nonnegotiable dip powder nail step is to keep your tools clean. Consider choosing single-use tools. If your client shows signs of existing nail problems, and you still treat them, toss any tools that came in contact with them.

Learn the signs.

As a nail tech, learn to recognize side effects of dip powder nails. For example, allergic reactions can develop within hours or days, the AAD Association writes. Symptoms may include swelling, itching, fluid-filled bumps, or nail lifting. 

Do a trial run.

If it’s your client’s first dip powder mani, consider a trial run on just one finger. This allows you to test for sensitivities before the client commits to a full set. 

Send the new client home with instructions for what symptoms to look for. If they don’t have a reaction after seven days, they can proceed with a full set, the AAD Association says. Reactions within seven days require removal of the dip powder immediately. If the reaction lingers for a few weeks, they should see a dermatologist, the AAD recommends.

Explore alternatives.

If they do get a bad reaction, encourage your client to try another technique. 

What are the safest alternatives to dip powder for clients prone to infections or allergies? If they’re interested, you might try dip powder liquids that are designed for sensitive skin. Keep in mind products like this one from Revel Nail must be cured with a UV/LED lamp, which may be counterintuitive if your client is avoiding UV curing. 

In reality, if your client has an allergic reaction, a dermatologist should test them for other allergies. Otherwise, they run the risk of identical reactions to acrylic, gel, or even dental treatment products. A dermatologist may recommend a break from all nail treatments before trying something simple, like regular nail polish. 

Encourage periodic breaks.

Another way to avoid side effects of dip powder nails is to recommend periodic breaks. 

The AAD Association says repeated nail powder dipping isn’t dangerous. So, does dip powder damage your nails? If a client hasn’t had a bad reaction, their biggest concern should be repeated filing and acetone exposure, which thin the nails and irritate the adjacent skin over time, the AAD explains. 

After every removal, you might recommend the client take a few weeks to a month off. If they still want to come in, regular polish should be fine, according to the AAD. If clients do develop problems from dip powder, those few weeks off should hopefully allow them to heal on their own. Alternatively, clients can try over the counter treatments before seeing a dermatologist.

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