QuestionQUESTION: I supposedly had got solar nails this last time I visited the nail salon. I was bought into the whole more natural look, better for nails and longer lasting scam paying more ($45 full set). Since I had always had acrylics I decided to do some research on the removal of these famous "Solar Nails". To my surprise I see that this is just another acrylic brand. And it the service is made up of the pink and white application. Well what I received was an artificial tip to add lenght then the solar purple product over. I love the way they look and can say that I have not had lifting as I did with acrylics. I decided its time for them to come off so from what I read it shouldn't be too difficult if I indeed received a quality product . But my question is did I get what I paid for??? Should this product have been applied over a tip??? Please help. My natural nails are very weak and thin so I deffinitly need something over them.
ANSWER: You got scammed.
Solar Nail is a patented liquid and powder (AKA "acrylic") enhancement product created by a company named Creative Nail Designs. It is a professional product.
The name has been picked up by many Non Standard Salons in malls and other commercial centers, and touted as a "healthier" alternative. These shops will also tell you sometimes that gel is healthier. Sometimes fiberglass wraps.
Problem is, they are always using the same product, which is basically refined dental acrylic used in fillings, purchased blackmarket for very low prices, and used on you.
All nail enhancements are in the same chemical family- ACRYLIC. It doesn't matter what is used, no one product is "better" than the other, as long as the product is high quality professional product! If they are done correctly, and with a masters technique, you can't even tell them apart by looking.
You also didn't actually pay very much for the set (eek, sorry, I know). Just for an example, I charge upwards of $85 for a full set of enhancements, and they rarely lift, break, chip, yellow, or otherwise fall apart. They never have to be replaced, be removed so the nail can "breathe," and always look brand new with each rebalance (AKA FILL).
Your enhancements may NOT be very easy to remove, methyl methacrylate based liquid and powder is not normally dissolved very easily in normal solvents.
Your best bet is to go to a well trained tech, and have them removed professionally and then manicured. You may be suprised at how thin they are from your previous appt. THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE NAIL ITSELF! This is the fault of a heavy handed tech filing your nail away when he/she was putting the nails on!
Here are some other terms that should help you see the red flags:
Organic: simply means occurring in nature and containing carbon, road tar and excrement are also all natural and organic.
All natural- See above.
Chemicals in a negative tone- everything on the EARTH is a chemical except for air and electricity! And water is considered a dangerous chemical!
So in short, you did actually get what you paid for, all enhancements products can be applied over a tip, a form, or your own nail alone.
I urge you not to return to the salon you received your set from to remove them, they have a habit of removing your enhancements by peeling and prying them off. THIS IS EXTREMELY DAMAGING to your natural nail!! it removes MANY MANY layers of your nail plate, sometimes leaving nothing but the spongy tissue of your nail bed behind!
Good luck! I'm sorry I didn't have better news for you :)
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: What would you recommend for after care. You were right my nails are horrible. Yes, before they were thin but now they even hurt! I didn't return to the original place since before I got my set they removed the old ones in a painful manner. I soaked in pure acetone forever!!! And I still didnt get all the product off I even damaged two of my fingernails with the nippers.(I was desperate to remove them, I hadn't followed up on seeing if I got a response(Bad Girl)Any help is greatly appreciated. Another thing can you recommend any GOOD nail places in the metro Denver Area 80205?
AnswerOHH YOU POOR THING! Sometimes its the toughest lesson to learn, isn't it?
You are only 5 hours away from me lol- how funny is that. But you ARE in the same area as MY mentor, e-mail me and I will give you her digits, and she will take FABULOUS care of your fingers ;)
hreynosa@hotmail.com
