To add to that, the most important thing you can do for your nails is to carefully research your tech. Use the time you have left before grad to find a QUALIFIED, REPUTABLE, KNOWLEDGABLE, LICENSED TECH!
These are just some key points for you to use as a guideline when looking for your tech/salon:
■If the technician hurts you – LEAVE
■If the salon is dirty – LEAVE
■If the technician is using DIRTY, USED implements, files etc on you – LEAVE
■If the technician is using chemicals in unmarked containers – LEAVE
■If the technician can not/will not answer your questions about the products used – LEAVE
■If the technician can not/will not answer your questions about their sanitation procedures – LEAVE
■If you are getting any type of enhancement service and the technician is slopping product all over, getting it on your skin – LEAVE
■If the technician attempts to PRY or RIP off your current enhancements – LEAVE — LEAVE RIGHT NOW — LEAVE IMMEDIATELY
■Acrylic is a liquid & powder mixed, applied with a brush that will harden (cure) with no lamp in 2 minutes or less.
■Gel is, in basic terms, pre mixed acrylic in a gel like state, that almost always needs to be cured under a UV lamp, Acrylic usually has an odor while gels are general completely odorless. Gels often will cost slightly more than acrylic.
■Silk (interchangeable with fiberglass and sometimes linen) is applied with resin (glue) and sometimes glue & acrylic powder (Dip System).
■Acrylic Dips is the use of resin applied tot he nail, then dipped or sprinkled with acrylic powder
■Crystal nails is any type of enhancement done with CLEAR acrylic, gel or resin either with clear tips or sculpted.
■All of the above systems can be applied:
■Directly on your nail (overlay)
■On tips that have been applied with resin (glue) or acrylic
■Sculpted using a paper, plastic or metal form.
■All of the above types of services can be finished with a UV gel top coat to protect the enhancement. The UV coating is applied either with a brush or polished on and is “cured” under a UV lamp for around 3 minutes. UV top coats are very protective to the enhancement and will need to be filed off at your next appointment. There might be a slight additional charge for this extra.
■A “French Manicure” can be done using several different techniques – #2,3,4 are also referred to as “Pink & Whites or “Permanent French” – #3,4 will usually cost more:
1.Using polish over any type of enhancement or natural nails
2.Applying white tips with a clear or sheer pink acrylic or gel, or resin with fiberglass or acrylic powder.
3.Applying natural colored tips with white acrylic or gel, resin with fiberglass or acrylic powder in the tip and clear or a sheer pink on the nail bed.
4.Using a “form” and sculpting the white tip using acrylic, or gel and clear or a sheer pink on the nail bed.
5.Airbrushed over any enhancement or natural nail
Examples of typical scams include:
■SOLAR NAILS – Solar Nails is a BRAND of acrylic manufactured by Creative Nail Design. It is one of the original brands. It is a true acrylic and nothing more.
■GEL NAILS – which are actually acrylics with a UV gel top coat
■CRYSTAL NAILS – simply a clear tip with clear acrylic overlaid on the entire enhancement
■PORCELAIN NAILS - nothing more than acrylic or gels possibly with a UV gel top coat
■DIAMOND NAILS – the reason these are “more expensive” is because they are hard like diamonds
■BAIT & SWITCH – salons will have three jars on the table, possibly hand labeled, one says acrylic, one says gel and one says fiberglass. They are all acrylic, but the consumer will be told fiberglass and gel are better for their nails and cost more
■SHELLAC’D WHEN IT’S NOT- A regular polish with a UV top coat is NOT “Shellac” or any of the new Gel Polish brands (eco So Quick, Gelish etc). A UV Top coat (needing to put your hands in a lamp to “cure”) will NOT allow the polish underneath to dry properly. If the salon is selling you a “Gel Polish Service” no matter what brand or what they call it, EVERY layer needs to be cured under the UV lamp. Ask to see the bottle or jar WITH a brand name on it.
NONE of the above services are anything special, nor should they incur any additional cost
__________________
Claudia Iacovetto
C-C My Nails
Newcastle, WY
Get a grip on reality and--CHOKE IT TO DEATH!! | 
Linear Mode
