While incredibly fun and attractive, acrylic nails can be a tricky business! This is because they appear to be high-maintenance and difficult to apply for oneself at home. But with the best acrylic liquid monomers, you can spruce up your nails with a DIY manicure with ease and precision. And, unlike monomers with cheap and harmful adhesives like MMA or HEMA, these high-quality products would be a safer choice for you. 

Acrylic nails have a buffed, shiny, dewy aesthetic that makes your nails appear healthy and attractive. They add a protective barrier over your nails and shield against external aggressors and UV damage, which is a great choice for people with brittle and sensitive nails. If you are someone who enjoys nail art, then an acrylic coating can act as an adhesive bed on your nails wherein you can carve intricate designs and embed beads for 3D nail art. They also act as binders for your nail extension and simply enhance the appearance of your nails if you want to mask any imperfections in them. To help you get your hands on the right product to help you achieve this, we have curated a list of our favorite nail monomers. Scroll away to see our top picks!

• 1
  Best Overall

  Mia Secret Professional Nail System LIQUID MONOMER

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This acrylic monomer by Mia’s Secret is formulated under strict quality control to ensure it is safe for you and the environment. It is made with ethyl methacrylate that helps sculpt the anatomy of your nails and provides a superior bond. The liquid is pretty purple-tinted, which prevents the yellowing of your nails by neutralizing the color. In addition, the product improves the appearance of your nail color and gives it a lovely, buffed appearance.

2

Best Bubble-resistant Formula

MODELONES COLORING LIFE Acrylic Liquid

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You don’t have to worry about getting bubbles or a crumpled finish with this acrylic nail liquid by Modelones as its self-leveling formula texturizes your nails evenly. The MMA-free formula of this product is incredibly durable and works as a protective barrier over your nails. It provides great adhesion and flexibility and prevents your nail polish from flaking or peeling off. What gives this product an edge over the others is that it is relatively odorless as compared to other monomers.

3

Best Pocket-friendly Formula

KARLASH NEW YORK ACRYLIC MONOMER

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Among the best liquid monomers, this product by Karlash works marvelously in strengthening your nails and protecting them against external aggressors. It also prevents yellowing and discoloration of your nails. Formulated with UV stabilizers, the product improves the color of your nail polish and ensures it stays vibrant for weeks. Even without using a primer, it adds a beautiful shine to your nails — as if you’ve just stepped out of a salon.

4

Best to Enhance Your Nail Polish

YOUNG NAILS NAIL LIQUID

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The self-leveling formula of this acrylic nail liquid gives you an impeccable finish without any bubbling or uneven texture. Despite having an MMA-free formula, the product does not have a very overpowering odor. It has a purple tinge that prevents the yellowing of your nails. Plus, it is infused with color stabilizers and optical brighteners that boost the appearance of your nail polish. When mixed with acrylic powder, the solution gets a creamy consistency that goes on smoothly over the nails without clumping.

5

MODELONES ACRYLIC LIQUID

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The advanced formula of this professional acrylic liquid Modelones gives a gorgeous finish to your nails. It ensures outstanding color clarity, impeccable adhesion, and resistance to fading and discoloration of your nails. It smells less obnoxious than typical monomers, making it more pleasant to use. Your manicure might last up to two to three weeks after its application. This product is adaptable and can be used for acrylic nails, nail extensions, and nail carving.

6

IntiMD GLAMOURSHIELD PROFESSIONAL LIQUID Monomer

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One will drool over the beautiful, glossy finish of this liquid nail monomer by IntiMD. The finish of this product enhances the vibrancy of your nail polish and makes it last for weeks. Its formula is adequately flexible, so a very small quantity is enough to coat the entire nail. Besides, it is quite durable and gives you long-lasting manicures. You don’t have to worry about this product peeling or lifting off your nails as it stays put after application.

7

Best to Prevent Yellowing

MOROVAN MONOMER ACRYLIC NAIL LIQUID

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You can use this acrylic nail monomer to protect and beautify your nails or as an adhesive bed to stick beads and rhinestones. It gives an incredible sheen to your nails without you having to use any primer. The product stays put after application and acts as a protective barrier to your nails against external aggressors and UV damage. It is fortified with a special blending formula that resurfaces your nails and gives them a healthy, buffed look. While the product dries slowly, it uses that time to level evenly on the surface of your nails and gives a flawless finish.

8

KIARA SKY EMA MONOMER

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This acrylic monomer by Kiara Sky works with absolutely any acrylic powder to give you flawless, even-textured nails. Unlike other liquid monomers, this product has a light smell despite being formulated without any MMA. It is easy to work with as the formula doesn’t get clumpy in the brush, which makes it beginner-friendly. Also, you don’t have to worry much about discoloration of your nails as the purple tinge of this solution helps neutralize the yellowing.

9

TACHIBELLE ACRYLIC MONOMER

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With this liquid acrylic monomer by Tachibelle, you can create an adhesive bed for nail carvings or three-dimensional nail art. When mixed with acrylic powder, the formula becomes sufficiently flexible, so that a little quantity goes a long way in coating your nails (and you don’t run out soon). To top off its benefits, the product prevents yellowing or discoloration of your nails and enhances the color of your nail polish.

10

SAVILAND ACRYLIC LIQUID MONOMER

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This monomer by Saviland doesn’t require a UV lamp to harden the formula, unlike similar other products. With this liquid monomer, you can achieve the best color vibrancy and finesse with any acrylic powder. It provides superior adhesion and doesn't harm the health of your nails, but instead works as a protective barrier on them. In addition, the product prevents the yellowing and discoloration of your nails and gives a great finish.

11

MABELINA ACRYLIC LIQUID MONOMER Kit

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This nail kit by Mabelina comes with an incredible purple-tinted liquid monomer and three applicator brushes of different sizes to suit your nail art needs. The formula is purple-tinted, which helps prevent the yellowing of your nails by neutralizing the color. It beautifully sculpts your nails and cures in just 5-8 minutes without using a UV lamp. This adhesive gel can be used to carve your nails or stick rhinestones for three-dimensional nail art.

Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best acrylic liquid monomer, let us go through the following buying guide and steps to use to make the best of the product.

Here are a few factors to consider before investing in an acrylic liquid monomer:

Formulation: The main ingredient you should look for when buying a monomer is EMA (Ethyl methacrylate) — an organic compound that breaks down the acrylic powder on a molecular level and turns it into an adhesive for your nail bed. EMA is a safe ingredient for cosmetic purposes, unlike MMA, which has been banned due to its damaging effects on your nails and skin. HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is yet another cheap and harmful adhesive compound that you must avoid in your liquid monomer. 

Finish: Your coated faux nails will only look good if they have an impeccable finish, which largely depends on the product you’re using. Ensure that your liquid monomer does not cause bubbling, chipping, or peeling on your nails and levels itself evenly on the nail bed. Look for a monomer that makes your nails appear healthy, shiny, and buffed by resurfacing them. Also, it always helps that your product lasts about 2-3 weeks on your nails without lifting off. 

Ease of Application: Ensure that the formula of your nail monomer does not get clumpy in the applicator brush and goes on smoothly over the nails. If you’re applying a good-quality, flexible nail liquid, then a little quantity will go a long way in coating your nails. And, it only makes your job easier if the product does not need a UV lamp to be cured and dries on its own. 

Here are a few simple steps to apply an acrylic liquid monomer to coat your nails. 

Step 1: Take your liquid monomer in one small container and the acrylic powder in another. 

Step 2: Dip an applicator brush into the monomer and then into the powder. You will notice that the powder dissolves into the liquid and sticks to the brush like a slick, semi-viscose formula. 

Ensure you don’t take too much of the liquid on your brush so that the mixture starts to drip from it. However, if you don’t take enough liquid, then the semi-viscose bead would be quite dry and powdery, which would look clumpy on your nails. Getting the right amount of each would require practice, till you master this art!

Step 3: Place the acrylic bead onto your nail bed or the surface of your nail extension with your brush. 

Step 4: Using the same brush, gently press the bead and spread it out evenly on the surface of your nails. Give the mixture a few seconds to settle on your nail bed to level out on the surface. 

Step 5: You can stick rhinestone beads on your nails or carve intricate designs onto them if you love nail art. Feel free to skip this step if you like your nails to be smooth and minimalistic.

Step 6: Allow the adhesive to dry for about 5-8 minutes or as suggested in the instruction manual of the product. You can also use a UV lamp to cure the nails faster. 

Once the product has settled and dried out on your nails, you’re good to go!

The following video will guide you in understanding the application process:

Choosing a liquid monomer can be tricky! Hence, ensure you go through our buying guide before investing in the right product. The above-mentioned recommendations for the best acrylic liquid monomers consist of products that provide finesse and durability while being gentle on the cuticles. Invest in a monomer that dries rapidly, doesn't contain MMA or HEMA, and doesn't irritate the skin, or cause other problems. Happy shopping!