QuestionWhy isn't a manicure part of getting a fill? Wouldn't the fill last longer because the acrylic is applied at the true base of your nail bed? Not to mention that the finished result would look that much better, and it comes with a massage. Of course I would expect the service to cost more and I would gladly pay... Thanks in advance for your time and reply.
AnswerSome salons do incorporate a manicure into their fill procedure. However, I believe the reason that this isn't the norm is due to a variety of factors:
For one thing, in the early days of nail enhancements (acrylic, silk/fiberglass wraps, gels, etc# the products that were available were not nearly as technologically advanced as they are now and information regarding how those products worked was even worse. It used to be commonly thought that using oils or lotions led to lifting and that applying product to hands that had been recently washed #or soaked in a manicure) would keep the products from adhering.
This thinking resulted in many manicurists not even allowing clients to wash their hands before a service! Let alone soak them to soften cuticles for a manicure.
Plus, people want their services to be fast. In an age of walk-in salons where a full set is often done in less than an hour, adding extra time to perform a full manicure isn't what most clients want. The market reflects that. The market also reflects that most people do not want to pay the additional cost of what is, essentially, two services.
There are many professionals in the industry that wouldn't dream of applying product to nails that have not been properly prepped-- and that includes pushing back cuticles and removing hang nails. And there are also many pros who incorporate massage as a standard part of their procedure.
As for a fill "lasting longer," I have had a hard time explaining my theory on this: Essentially, your nail grows as fast as it grows. There is nothing a nail tech can do to speed that up or slow it down. So your fill will last as long as it lasts. Yes, the cuticle area should be well maintained so that the product is applied at the proper point on the nail, but applying product too closely to the cuticle runs the risk of contacting the skin which can lead to chemical sensitivity; the risk of the product being applied against the skin which will lead to lifting; and in some nail shapes and types, the cuticle area undergoes significant change in shape as the nail grows toward the free edge-- this means that the product, which is nowhere near as flexible as the natural nail, is more likely to lift just from these changes in the natural nail as it grows.
A skill pro will recognize this nail type and apply product as necessary in order to ensure that the enhancement offers optimum wear.
Try shopping around and calling salons in advance to ask about their procedures regarding a manicure with fill-- and don't be surprised if the salons that make that a standard practice require an appointment. It'll be worth it when you find someone who offers what you're looking for!
