When performing a tips overlay, what is the correct timing for applying primer?

• A. After applying tips
• B. Before applying tips
• C. Before dehydrating
• D. After buffing

Answer: (A)

Primer acts as a bonding agent to improve adhesion for the overlay. In a tips overlay, applying primer after the tips are already in place ensures you’re priming the exact surface that will be bonded—the natural nail surface at the tip junction and the area under the overlay. This creates a strong, uniform bond across the seam between the natural nail and the tip, which helps prevent lifting.

If primer were applied before the tips, it can be displaced when the tips are attached, and the critical interface under the tip might not get the proper bonding. By waiting to prime until after the tips are applied (and the nail is properly dehydrated and prepped), you maximize adhesion where it matters most and reduce the chance of lifting at the junction.