QuestionI recently had my nails done in California by a tech who said she was applying gel to my nails as it would be better than the fiberglass wrap I had. She used a power which said "gel powder" on the container and a liquid with a brush to apply it. There was no smell as you usually would associate with an acrylic and there was no curing lamp. I simply held my fingers by a fan. When it was done (short time), my nails were strong and have held up extremely well. Now I'm back home and have no idea what was used. They said gel but there was no lamp and it did not have the smell you would usually associate with an acrylic and the drying was done by a fan. Can you help me find the system so that my nail tech can use it in my hometown?
AnswerI honestly think you have acrylic on your nails. It may have been a low odor product or even an odorless product. I know many people have become so accustomed to the strong odors from acrylics made with MMA (methyl methacrylate monomer) due to the proliferation of low-cost salons that use this inferior formulation for the low price of the chemicals. Therefore, when many people come across a cosmetic-grade acrylic product which has a significantly lower odor, they don't notice the smell at all. That, and having your fingers in front of a fan, could mean that even if there was an odor associated with the acrylic, you may not have noticed it.
There is such a thing as odorless acrylics, and using a fan doesn't really "dry" the product, but may speed the polymerization process slightly.
I have, sadly, encountered many nail techs over the years who insist on doing acrylic instead of wraps or true gels, simply because they are not proficient at these services and don't want to admit it. So they say that it's "better" and, sometimes, even lie about the product they are using to assuage the client.
Depending on why you were wearing fiberglass to begin with, if you are happy with the product that is on your nails now you may want to see if you can find someone who is able to maintain the quality of work you received in California. Too often I hear acrylic's good name besmirched by people who simply have never seen what acrylic is capable of being when applied and maintained by a truly competent professional. And not all acrylics are created equally; in addition to the differences between MMA, EMA and HEMA (lots of different chemical compounds that different liquids-- or monomers-- are made of) products can be affected by everything from how fine the powders are, to how the products are stored in the salon.
If you like the new product better than the fiberglass wraps you began with, give the acrylic a try. However, if you are allergic to acrylics, go back to wraps.
You might try calling the salon where you had your nails done in California and asking if they could give you the brand name of the product they applied. Make sure you get the brand name, the actual company that makes the product, not just "powdered gel" or some similarly elusive answer, or your regular nail tech won't be able to find the same product.
BTW: I only know of one company that makes a product that they call "powder gel" which is a light activated liquid and powder acrylic system, but it does still require a UV light.
