Superbonder Vs Nano Mister—Which Is Better?
One of the first things that aspiring lash artists learn about in their lash training is using a nano mister for lash extension.
It has been, for the longest time, the go-to product to cure your clients’ lashes after setting them in.
It’s also used to aid retention—ensuring those beautiful new lashes stay on longer!
Superbonder, on the other hand, is pretty much the same in terms of function.
Where they differ is in terms of their form and how they work.
Let’s talk about the two—their pros and cons, whether they can be used together, and why—ultimately—you’ll want to go for superbonders in the final accounting of things.
The Quest for Comfort
As lash artists, we always work to make our clients look beautiful.
What separates good artists from great ones is the ability to do so with the client’s utmost comfort in mind.
The key to making your clients’ experiences as comfortable as possible?
High-quality products, the right tools and equipment, a steady hand, and a gentle touch.
While those last bits fall entirely on you and your skills as a lash artist, there’s much that can be done with regard to the products used and the equipment you favour.
With that discussion out of the way, let’s dive into our discussion of superbonder vs nano mister.
How Do Nano Misters Work to Begin With?
You need adhesives to get your clients’ lashes in place. And for them to hold those new lashes for longer, that adhesive needs to cure—which is a fancy way of saying solidify.
Much of the pain and irritation a client can experience—like stinging or burning sensations—happen when the glue isn’t fully cured.
Now, part of that curing process is having that glue exposed to the air and the teensiest bit of environmental humidity.
Some lash artists would just warn their clients about this irritation and just call it a day.
But better lash artists turn to post treatment products.
A nano mister works by spraying tiny (hence nano!) water droplets evenly onto the lashes to cure the glue.
It sounds completely counterintuitive to wet something for the purpose of drying…
But it works!
That’s because that tiny amount of water acts to create environmental humidity artificially—but on an even plane on your client’s lashes.
This way, it covers all layers simultaneously and does away with the risk of irritation and pain.
The downside of a nano mister is that its effectiveness depends entirely on your technique.
If you manage to use it evenly in misting lash extensions, you and your clients enjoy the benefits mentioned above.
But used incorrectly, and you risk several things.
The first is what is called shock polymerisation. That happens when you apply far too much water than what is necessary.
As a result, you’ll end up with the lash extensions turning white.
It is not a pretty sight and could drive customers away.
A second risk has to do with retention.
The lash extension glue typically takes 24 to 48 hours to cure on its own.
So, if you try to speed this up too hastily, there’s a chance only the outer layer of glue will be cured—leaving the inner layer still wet.
And when this happens, the extensions might fall out sooner!
Finally, hastening the curing process too much will harden the lashes making them look unnatural and be ultimately very brittle and prone to shattering on touch.
Either way, it isn’t a good experience for your clients.
What Can I Use Instead of a Nano Mister?
So, what’s a great nano mister alternative?
Well, that’s where superbonder comes in.
Superbonders are glue sealants.
They cure glue instantly after treatment without causing shock polymerisation.
Plus, they don’t cause the glue to become brittle, either.
Superbonder also supports better retention by adding elasticity to the glue.
This added flexibility means bonds don’t break easily, so the lashes last longer.
Finally, the sealant means that you no longer have to caution clients to avoid water post-treatment as the glue is totally sealed.
Another benefit of superbonder is that it can and should be used on clients who have sensitivities or are prone to redness after lash treatment due to glue fumes.
Because of the instant curing effects of superbonders, they don’t ever get exposed to those fumes even during treatment.
In the event that your client complains about stinging in their eyes, you can actually give them a lash bath as the glue will be cured.
If you do this, ensure you wait about 5 minutes to guarantee no shock polymerization will occur.
It’s a win-win for you and your more sensitive clients.
Furthermore, it's relatively easy to use too.
After you finish your eyelash treatment, just apply superbonder via microfiber brush to the adhesive area—taking care to avoid getting the product in your client’s eyes, of course.
Once you let them dry for around a minute or two, that’s it.
You can ask your client to open their eyes and enjoy their new lashes.
Of course, make sure you apply only the amount needed to cover the adhesive area.
Because applying too much might cause it to drip onto your client’s eyes which is an absolute no-no.
A few points to also note regarding the use of superbonders: If you don’t apply it evenly, you risk weakening adhesive in some areas.
This means some lash extensions will stay on longer than others.
It does not look good at all when this happens and can be exceedingly disappointing for your client.
Worse, it’s a problem likely to be discovered some time after treatment has lapsed.
This can ultimately be a very frustrating experience for your client, so be very careful and conscientious in the application.
Which is Better?
So, should you go for a nano mister for lash extension treatment or skip over it and go for a superbonder lash extension booster?
Well, the answer is that it depends on two things: which one’s benefits matter more and which one’s downsies you can manage.
A lot say that you should ultimately ditch nano misters for bonders, but there’s something to be said that nano misters are more cost-effective.
You get one unit, and—so long as you take care of it—it will last your longer.
Whereas with superbonders, you have to keep buying.
The best advice is to try both and see which works best for you.
Of course, the more curious among you might ask…
Can You Use a Nano Mister and Super Bonder Together?
It’s a fair question really, considering the liquid nature of superbonders and the ability of nano misters to deliver liquids effectively.
There are two answers to this question – if you are wanting to use a nano mister to deliver superbonder, the answer is YES you can.
But you must be using a high quality nano mister that offers the finest mist possible for best results.
Why?
Because cheaper nano misters release rather large particles that can cause you and your client to experience the worst of both cons listed earlier. You must also ensure you are spreading it evenly as well so it's vital to get your technique down.
However, if you are wondering if you can use a nano mister then apply superbonder, then my answer is that this is redundant.
You’re better off using one or the other – if you use a nano mister first then apply superbonder, you are essentially introducing moisture/humidity/hydrogen to the bond on the outside and then curing the bond inside out by using superbonder.
When you can alternatively save time and just use superbonder to cure the bond from the inside out – all while avoiding irritation and fumes.
We hope this guide will help make you a truly successful lash artist because there’s nothing better to see than your success!
So, are you a team Nano Mister or Team Superbonder? Let us know in the comments below.
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