Nail Truth #1: The Industry Doesn't Hate Dip Powder—They Hate Who Created It

They don’t actually hate dip powder.

What they hate is that Vietnamese nail techs created it before them.

Let’s go back to the beginning.

The Real Roots of Dip Powder

Dip powder wasn’t born in a lab. It came from fiberglass nails—a nail strengthening method using resin, fabric, and acrylic powder. It was considered one of the most natural and healthiest options for nail enhancements.

Here’s how it worked:

• Prep the natural nail
• Apply fiberglass mesh
• Brush on resin
• Pour clear acrylic powder over the wet resin
• Spray activator
• Shape and seal with top resin

Safe. Effective. Natural. But… slow.

After years of using fiberglass, Vietnamese nail techs realized they could skip the fabric step. It made no difference in the final strength or wear time. So they innovated: keep the resin and powder—ditch the mesh. That evolution became today’s dip powder system.

From Innovation to Industry Pushback

The moment it became popular, big brands got nervous.

They began spreading fear:

• “Double dip is unsanitary!”
• “Dip jars are a health risk!”
• “Don’t use dip—it’s not safe!”

They framed it like a medical crisis, using influencers and educators to push these narratives. But behind the scenes, the same brands began developing their own dip systems.

So… was it ever really about safety?

Or was it about control?

Let’s Talk About Sanitation Logic

Here’s the truth:

• In gel services (BIAB, builder gel, soft gel, Gel-X), the same brush is used from bottle to nail.
• No one throws away a bottle of gel polish after one client.
• If we applied the same fear logic to gel, no nail service would be affordable.

So why is dip the only system being shamed?

Vietnamese Techs Deserve Credit, Not Criticism

Dip powder didn’t come from billion-dollar labs. It came from Vietnamese nail techs working long hours, testing techniques, and finding smarter ways to work.

They made it faster. Cleaner. More efficient.

Big brands didn’t like it—until they could profit from it.

Now those same companies are selling dip powder directly to consumers, after years of attacking it.

Where’s the apology? Where’s the credit?

The Bottom Line

This industry is full of emotional manipulation—especially when it threatens the status quo.

If you’re a nail tech who’s ever felt ashamed for using dip, you’ve been lied to.

You’re not unprofessional. You’re not unsafe. You’re part of a legacy of innovation.

And the new generation deserves to know the truth.