QuestionVictoria,
I have just moved to a new state and I am searching for a new salon. I started going to this one and I always thought there was a Gel powder and a Acrylic powder but the salon I am going to all they do is put this powder the man told me it is all the same and then put the liquid gel on and put me under the uv light. Let that dry and then I always get color. My quuestion is there a difference between gel and acrylic powder I do not want that MMA.
Thank you
Jane
AnswerHi Jane!
I have also received your email to me from my site (Ongles Chez Victoria).
In answer to your question. There is only ONE powder that exists. There is NO difference in a powder used for "liquid & powder acrylic nails" and that used in conjunction with uv gel for the 'acry-gel' combo (such as "le chat" brand) and that is ACRYLIC powder. It is used for Acrylic nails, wraps, dips & 'acrygel' combos. There are many brands of this one powder, and it also comes in a variety of colors. Most common; white, clear and pink.
HOWEVER, there are different grades of this powder. There is the quality kind that is legal. Then there is the illegal kind containing MMA that is much too hard and doesn't soak off of the nail (and a host of other problems). There are salons 'claiming' to use 'le chat' brand, while still using MMA acrylic powder. It's difficult to be sure, unless you know what to look for.
Ask your technician for the brand name of the product. Also, ask for an MSDS sheet (material and safety data sheet) If they avoid answering and do not provide the MSDS, LEAVE. This is the "Le Chat" site if you want to familiarize yourself with teh packaging of their products to if your tech claims to be offering this, and you want to be somewhat sure http://www.lechatnails.com/home.htm HOWEVER it's no guarantee that they didn't just buy the products once and refill the containers with something else. Asking for an unopened container that's sealed to be shown to you would not be amiss and any self respecting tech will not take offense, understanding that you are avoiding MMA.
REAL UV Gels that are NOT accry-gel combos and that do NOT contain MMA simply do NOT have powder in them. That is the ONLY way to guarantee that you are not receiving MMA is to get real UV Gel nails. The gel is exactly like it sounds, a gel with the viscosity similar to hair gel (different thickness for different types of gel but still a gel nonetheless). No powder is used at any point AT ALL.
Also, even if a tech puts your hand under a uv light, that is not a guarantee that your nails are UV Gel. UV light is also used for uv sealants that are applied like polish as a topcoat to acrylic to protect it from yellowing (as is often the case with MMA acrylic nails).
Some also use nail polish drying lamps and claim that they are UV Lights.
I suggest that if you're still in doubt, visit beautytech.com and look up a technician on there that's in your area. It's an american site for nail technicians of like mind: healthy natural nails, using only legal and quality products, with quality and hygeinic services.
I hope that this helps.
Best regards
Victoria
