Non Acid UV Primer: Optima

Avoid Skin Contact

15ml

Crosslinked and locked in, Optima UV Primer forms a densely linked, locked-in chemical bond without unnecessary damage. Optima creates a watertight bond without air-drying variables, no lifting, no doubts.

Optima (UV-Cured Primer) =Locked-In Strength

• Covalent bonding meets crosslinked adhesion, Optima doesn’t just sit on the surface, it fuses with gel and keratin for a long-lasting, non-soluble hold.
• UV curing eliminates evaporation, ensuring no weak spots, no lift, and no failures.
• Formulated with advanced methacrylates & photoinitiators for a flexible yet durable grip that moves with the nail.

Why Our Non-Acid, HEMA-Free Primer Beats “Protein style bonders'” for Nail Adhesion

• Base coats are already formulated with extra monomer (HEMA, etc.) to ensure adhesion to the nail plate.

• Adding a protein-style bonder (HEMA or MEK) increases the total monomer load on the nail.

• If you add more monomer than the photo initiator system can cure, you end up with unreacted monomer left behind.

• This increases the risk of uncured chemicals remaining on the nail or skin, which can lead to sensitivity, allergy, or product breakdown.

• Some systems may be chemically balanced to work with their own primer/base combination, but most techs mix brands, so the chemistry may not match.

• Using extra monomer-rich primers with monomer-rich base coats is unnecessary and potentially damaging.

• MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) is a strong solvent and adhesion promoter used in some protein-style nail bonders. It is a known skin and respiratory irritant, flagged by cosmetic safety regulators as a sensitizer. Overuse can increase the risk of irritation and is not required in modern copolymer-based primer systems.

• Our  system avoids this by using balanced copolymer adhesives, not excess free monomer. In a HEMA and MEK free formula.

If a primer tells you to file the nail down like wood, it’s working against you. The top 10% of the nail is the only part that can hold product, etching past that is asking for lifting. Traditional primers force aggressive filing to compensate for weak chemistry.

Strong adhesion starts with the right chemistry, not over-filing. Focus on the next set, not the last one.

Cures in Arch Rival professional lamp for 30 seconds. 

FAQ

Q1: What is UV primer?
A: It’s a UV-cure primer that bonds gel to the nail instantly—no air-dry step, no timing variables. Just cure it and you’re locked in.

Q2: Why use a HEMA-free primer?
A: HEMA and MEK can irritate or sensitize. Our primer is formulated without them—tough on lifting, easy on the skin.

Q3: Do I need to file before using UV primer?
A: No. If they’re filing harshly, that’s their problem. You need only lightly buff the nail—not scrape it down. Over‑filing causes lifting—it’s chemistry, not coercion.

Q4: Does UV primer need to air dry?
A: Nope. UV primer cures under your lamp—no waiting, no dust, no variables. Just apply, cure, and go. No extra steps, no guesswork.