QuestionQUESTION: I just moved to Southern Maryland. I am trying to find a qualified nail tech for Solar Nails. My previous wonderful and highly qualified tech used Brisa Gel Nails with white and clear gels to give me a french manicure set. LOVED IT! I have been given a "solar" set by a small salon here in MD but I do not think they are true to form. I was given a gel coat over them and not a buff. I think they maybe were taking a short cut and not using quality products. Plus each of my nails are sore today (had it done yesterday) and that kind of freaks me out - never had that sensation before! (thinking maybe they went too heavy on filing with drill- YIKES!)
How do I find a quality nail tech? I have done searches on the Internet and called a few Salons, but they all say they are qualified. Any suggestions you give would be appreciated! Thanks!
ANSWER: Are you looking for pink and white nails? Gel nails? or pink and white gel nails? Which ever one you are wanting, use that term-- calling a salon and asking for "Solar nails" only confuses and frustrates high end nail techs who know their stuff, and it might mean listening to a long winded explanation of the differences.
Some of the problems you're going to have with finding someone to do "solar nails" is related to the misuse of the term. There's no such thing as "solar nails" being an actual service or technique.
"Solar Nail" is a registered trademark of Creative Nails Designs, a company that manufacturers many high quality nail products, including the Brisa Gel that your former nail tech used.
For reasons many in the industry don't really understand, the term "Solar Nails" started being used by many NSS (non-standard salon; the accepted term for salons that fail to meet minimum standards of health and safety protocols, often use unlicensed manicurists, turn out sub-standard workmanship, often using dangerous chemicals such as MMA and employ questionable marketing such as "solar nails" or claiming to offer gel or fiberglass nails when actually performing acrylic services, etc) to describe pink and white acrylic nails.
Now that gel has become popular, the industry is starting to hear accounts of the term "solar nails" being used to describe gels too.
Problem is, we aren't really sure WHAT "solar nails" are, because many salons keep changing what they call "solar nails."
Is that confusing enough? Sorry. I have a done a blog about the Solar Nails which has gotten some positive feedback from my colleagues, you can read it here: http://afishwithabicycle.blogspot.com/
Your best bet is to find a salon that actually uses Brisa Gels by CND. I found a couple in Maryland via Google: http://www.visualchanges.biz/price.html#Anchor-NAI-55182
or http://www.bellasalonandspa.net/ourservices.htm
I'm not sure where in Maryland you are, so I'm not sure if either of these salons is located within a reasonable distance of you.
Also, try checking out the salon locator at http://www.beautytech.info/
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QUESTION: Thank you for your answer and for the links for the 2 shops in Maryland, unfortunately both are very far from Southern Maryland. The closest town to me is Prince Frederick, MD. Annapolis is a possibility and so is Waldorf.
I guess my main concern is that I am unsure if the product I got is a good product. I know (and did while being serviced) that these are "pink and white" acrylic nails. What I read online about "solar" is that the final application is buffed. Mine was not - a layer of clear gel was applied and I put my hands in the UV light.
Should I call every salon and ask about buffing to see what response I get. I have been unable to find Brisa Gel Nails - exactly what my wonderful and totally missed Nail Tech from my previous home told me to look for here. Really wish there was a data base to find someone. I like the white and clear gel look but don't mind the pink and white. I just want to find someone reputable who will not hurt or damage me!
What questions should I ask a salon to find "reputable" and what does a real pink and white application look like? What was used on me was first a pink powder with the brush dipped in a liquid and the gellous gunk put on my nail. Then scraped off the end and a white powder with the brush dipped in a liquid put a "foamy" white filler on the end. All was shaped with a drill to smooth and then the gel coat was applied.
Thanks so much for your help.
AnswerYes, it sounds like a pretty standard pink and white acrylic application.
There really isn't too much to worry about with the buffing vs gel finish. Many nail techs are switching to gel sealants now instead of buffing-- partially because buffing is hard on our wrists, partially because buffing takes more time, and mainly because gel sealants just look great longer.
What's important is making sure you are happy with the end result, and that getting your nails done doesn't hurt!
When looking for a nail tech you might want to start with questions about product used: Brisa is the name of the gel by Creative Nail Designs (or "CND") they also make acrylic products called "Moxie," "Retention+," and "Radical" which helps to know if you decide you really want to stick to CND products!
Ask about disinfection practices, what the salon does to make sure your health is being safeguarded. A good salon will be happy that you asked and be glad to explain it to you.
The CND website has a few salons listed for Annapolis! Here's the link: http://www.creativenaildesign.com/Locate/Salon-Listing.aspx
Good luck!
