QuestionQUESTION: Sorry if this is long winded. I go to a technician who works from home. In August I had tips and gel put on for my wedding. Within a week the edges had started to lift. After two weeks I went back for a fill - and again they lifted. This happened all the time, sometimes the gel even cracked and became discoloured. Therefore I had different colourations of gel. The technician couldn't understand it - and she was putting the gel on really thick... I didn't like it because they looked so phony.
When I was in the US in November I went to a salon and had the gel taken off and replaced with acrylic and a gel coating. They looked beautiful and lasted a long time - no lifting. Returned home and went back to the tech. who then started putting on acrylic with the gel coating. Within a few weeks again they started to lift and become discoloured. Every time I had a fill she would have to clip lots of "nail" from the edges. You may ask why I kept going to her - I really like her and we had good visits and I wanted to give her a chance!
A few days ago I was out of town and I went to a salon - where they did "solar nails". They told me it was powdered gel. After looking at this website I now know there is no such thing - that they are acrylic. However they look really good. They put a cream on top of the acrylic and gave it a buffing to make them super shiny. After several days there is no appearance of lifting.
So my questions are why were the other gel and acrylics lifting, and now that I realize that I will have to bite the bullet and find another salon to maintain my nails - will it be just a regular "acrylic" fill?
Sorry to be so long winded on this.
ANSWER: It's so hard when your nail tech is someone you really like, but you're not getting the service quality that you need. I bet she's as frustrated as you are about the lifting (I'd wonder if all her clients are having the same problems!) But you gotta do what you gotta do.
It sounds like your tech's main problem is prep. Improper prep is the number one cause of lifting around the cuticle and sidewall areas. Also, making the nails too thick in these areas, and letting the product run into the skin, will cause lifting. You have the right idea by looking around for a more skilled tech. But give your old tech a heads-up so she knows you're not satisfied with her service, and why. She might take it as an incentive to get more training and improve.
In answer to your last question, yes, you'd ask for an acrylic fill. However, a skilled tech can also do a set of gels that won't lift, as well. Just something to consider.
I hope this helps! Feel free to follow up if you have any other questions!
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QUESTION:
thank you... this really helps.
Now I have a question about nail fungus...
It is only on one toe (left big toe) so obviously it has not spread anywhere else over the months.
what is the best way to cure it without prescription drugs.?
is there a good over the counter ointment?
I want to get a pedicure.. but cannot do this until the fungal infection is gone from that toe.
AnswerToenail fungus is tricky. To my knowledge, the only effective treatments for it are both prescriptions: a tablet, or a topical brush-on. There are a lot of "snake oil" remedies out there that don't really do much good (they just make your wallet lighter!). Do you know for certain that you have a toenail fungus? Only a doctor can diagnose it properly (s/he has to take a scraping from under the toenail and have it tested.). But you're right, you would have to wait until you get the fungus treated before you can get a pedicure. You can always give *yourself* a pedi, you just need to be careful to not use the same implements on the infected toe, and you'd need to disinfect and/or throw away the ones you used on it. It's not as fun, but at least you'd have pretty toes in the mean time!
