applying fake nails????????????

Alanna Bunton · 06-25-2010, 03:03 PM

best tips and advice to applying nice fake nails

?

Lacquertopia · 06-07-2011, 10:33 AM

1. make sure you file your nails down first. having long nails isn't too good for applying acrylics and they may not work out as good.

2. buff the surface of the nail, file it over so it is a little rough. This will help once the acrylic is applied, also for the strength of the natural nail - acrylic tip bond as it will be less likely to slide off (sounds silly but has happened to me haha!)

3. Take your time. People get it into their heads (from what i've seen) that they need to go at super speed when applying acrylic, but this isnt the case and although it dries quick you have a good few minutes to create an even surface with no lumps and bumps

4. don't let the acrylic touch the skin or most importantly, the cuticle. Acrylic which touches the cuticle will cause the nail to lift and they wont last as long, it can also cause a reaction for some people

5. get an electric nail filer. It reduces the time you're filing the acrylic so much especially when you're doing a full set, so forking out a bit of money saves os much time and hassle.

6. remove cuticles before applying acrylic -- when i first started i never removed the cuticle which leads to the problem above ^^. to do this, you can push it back and pull it off (with a proper tool!!) or use some cuticle remover liquid

7. get your tips from ebay if you dont already - super cheap and so many different varieties!

8. practice getting the powder - liquid ratio right. too much liquid means it isn't going to form right and set on your nail properly. Also don't pick up too much powder or it jsut wont work!

I cant think of anything else right now! :S
i hope these have helped in some way!

Lacquertopia

Claudia Iacovetto · 06-07-2011, 03:05 PM

GO to a professional and have it done or go to a school and get an education.
There are many valid reasons why an education, certification and licensing are required to legally "nail" and purchase pro grade product in the US.
The advice given above is an example. You never want to file on your natural nail to create a rough surface. You never want to use an efile without training. And you want to be able to sculpt with your brush not your file. No box or kit is going to give you the necessary information about nail structure, anatomy, product chemistry, ratio, technique, nail prep, sanitation and the myriad of other things that are necessary to apply a good-looking, long-lasting set of enhancments. At the very least you will end up making a mess of your nails and you could do real physical and possibly permanent damage to yourself.

Lacquertopia · 06-07-2011, 10:47 PM

Hi Claudia, I noticed you left a references to my previous post so I thought I would come back here and clear a few things up

I was vague in my answer but I do actually recommend roughening the nail a little, but by no means is it good not your nails, but if you are applying HOME acrylics especially for the first new times it will make it easier, In my opinion. This probably isn't done in the salons but everyone picks up their own techniques and mine are tried and tested ---- for applying home acrylics.

The acrylic won't do your nails any good anyway, I've studied even the pro stuff and because of the nature of the acrylic liquid and powder will not do your nails any good anyway, the concentration of the molecules and compounds which form the liquids makes a very strong aqueous solution. If your nails were weak before acrylics, they'll be weak after! Haha!

I wouldn't ever use a file to apply the acrylic mixture onto the nails, I always use brushes with varying sizes depending on the surface area of nail. I would neither recommend using a file to do this - under no circumstances! I must not have been clear with what I used in my previous post.

My electronic file was bought from a UK department store a good few years back, it's not the same as the 'pro' ones used in salons but it equally does a good job for my home application of acrylics and it is designed for filing nails, acrylic or natural and the changeable speeds go much slower than the salon e filers, so it is much safer and doesn't require the training that a salon standard e file might need. However I do agree it should be used safely, keep the filer in control

Claudia is right in saying that your nails may be more good looking with a pro doing them, that's their job after all, but if you've practiced and you have a valid technique then your acrylic nails will look great once you have the experience!

*by the way I did a good study of the products I was using and what I should and shouldn't be doing with them before I started home acrylic appliance, I undertook chemical tests to give myself a better idea of what was in there its chemical properties *

Have a great day!

Lacquertopia

Claudia Iacovetto · 06-08-2011, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacquertopia

Hi Claudia, I noticed you left a references to my previous post so I thought I would come back here and clear a few things up

I was vague in my answer but I do actually recommend roughening the nail a little, but by no means is it good not your nails, but if you are applying HOME acrylics especially for the first new times it will make it easier, In my opinion. This probably isn't done in the salons but everyone picks up their own techniques and mine are tried and tested ---- for applying home acrylics.

The acrylic won't do your nails any good anyway, I've studied even the pro stuff and because of the nature of the acrylic liquid and powder will not do your nails any good anyway, the concentration of the molecules and compounds which form the liquids makes a very strong aqueous solution. If your nails were weak before acrylics, they'll be weak after! Haha!
I wouldn't ever use a file to apply the acrylic mixture onto the nails, I always use brushes with varying sizes depending on the surface area of nail. I would neither recommend using a file to do this - under no circumstances! I must not have been clear with what I used in my previous post.

You were clear, but evidentally, I was not. When I say "sculpt with your brush not your file"--what I mean is: You should be applying product in such a way as to not need to do anything more than finish file the edges and lightly buff the surface. As opposed to using your file to shape the nail.
And I would also like to say that enhancment products do NOT ruin or weaken the nail--it is the "fools holding the tools" that ruin, damage or weaken the nail. And filing on the surface of the nail is the main cause of that. If you have excellent procedures for natural nail prep, and professional grade products--there is no reason file on the surface of the nail. That is what causes most all natural nail damage. Just one more reason why and education is a must. A well-rounded education that encompasses all the areas of nail enhancment; not just one piece of the puzzle.

Lacquertopia · 06-08-2011, 07:45 AM

sorry, I had misunderstood. You're right in what you say (you are the 'expert' of course!), but I prefer in my technique to file the nail down before any acrylic products are applied, my own and some of the people I apply acrylics too have naturally long nails. However, they wish for the acrylic tip to finish at a shorter length than what the natural nail would, so filing is necessary and I bring the natural nail down to a few mm above the end of the nail bed. I learned this is several salons and classes, so I guess the elusive education of the 'correct' way must vary between professionals.

From personal experience of having acrylics on, I have found that upon removal my nails are weaker than what they were weaker than before they were enhanced, and all 10 nails broke with days and were not strong like usual. However, this could just be due to how my nails are and their properties. I know there are different theories on this (subjective to ones opinion of course!) but I believe that because the availability of oxygen to your natural nail is cut off completely with acrylic or at least hindered with gel, so the nail will not retain its natural properties despite growing against the 'false' nail. Even if the nail does not get 'weak' as you insist, I dont believe it becomes more brittle and breakable as the protein is prohibited

A very interesting discussion, thank you! I've always been a firm believer in not paying over the odds for nail enhancements when you can apply them yourself but I'm aware this isn't going to be up to the same standard and it won't be done by a pro, who's had the 'education'. Education doesn't mean much to me, but in the UK (I notice you're in America) the 'professionals' (I shall use this term loosely haha) are not exactly always the brightest of the bunch (some, not all) and money comes before customer needs for them. This could be why we have such differing views on professionalism in terms of enhancement quality, this could be a case of regional (perhaps international!) Variations.

Have a good day!

Lacquertopia.

Claudia Iacovetto · 06-08-2011, 11:09 AM

Funny! And yes there are some big differences internationally! Here in the US; an education, certification and licensing it required to legally "nail". And diy'rs are generally discouraged in all cases. As is the giving out of free advise to diy'rs. Especially in today's litigous society. No one wants to be sued over information that someone misused.
I am completely willing to help anyone that asks for help with materials and advise on home care for their natural nails; but when it comes to enhancment information--I try to keep it to private conversations between me and the student/newbie or professional so that no diy'rs can use my information or knowledge without the necessary education and accreditation. It's just a "cover your butt" thing.
By the way, I will offer one more "opinion"; nails are made up of dead cells and do not breath or need air and there is no protein in them at all.

Lacquertopia · 06-08-2011, 12:05 PM

Well if that's your opinion, okay, your choice, you are the 'professional'

after all. I guess being nice will get me no where these days...

Keratin + methyacrylate --- not 'beneficial'. In MY opinion.

Ah, see, in my UK us 'diy'rs' aren't so inferior - although I do not consider myself to a professional level at all, and I would never claim my ways to be the 'correct' (if such a thing exists) or the right way, I am willing to share my advice that I've picked up from experience and other nail enthusiasts, but I shall never claim it to be something I have been certificated and fully qualified and tested in - its something I do for enjoyment but I do like to compare and contrast methods and ideas with others.

Its great that you have confidentiality with those who ask you for it, I can relate completely to this with my current field of work, but this is after all a forum!

while your opinion may be much more valuable and in qualitative terms more accurate, I was responding to Alanna's post asking for tips and advice, I gave mine, completely subjective to my own opinion!

- which brings me round to the reason I actually joined this forum, believing that it was a medium where I could exchange ideas and entirely personal views.

Lacquertopia

Claudia Iacovetto · 06-08-2011, 02:29 PM

Sorry, not trying to be "un-nice" but passing on information about processes and chemicals that one has not been educated in is just dangerous, IMO. I'm here to offer advice where I can and to help those who I can and discourage those that are in above their heads. I have been a licensed nail tech for 20 + years and a an educator in the field for several and I update my education continually--in all areas of the process and products; just so I can help people understand what they are dealing with. Sharing ideas is a great thing for all, but to encourage dangerous, unhealthy or just unwise behavior is not in anybody's best interest. That is why so many people come to these forums to ask for a professional opinion.