Charlotte
health buddies report that Hoodia is causing quite a stir for
its ability to suppress appetite, thereby promoting weight loss.
Click Here for the full study
Click Here for the full study
QuestionsWelcome to Nails Q & A This page will fill with more content often, so check back to see what's new! Ask a question or make a comment at the bottom of this page and I"ll get back with you a.s.a.p. and possibly add your suggestion/question to this page. Thanks so much, Gretchen Q ~
How often
should I take my acrylic off to let
my nails breathe?
A ~ You don't ever need to. Where this myth got started I'm not sure, but I've heard it ever since I started this career 14 years ago! Nails don't have lungs, therefore, they do not need to breathe. If you think about it, they haven't been "breathing" the entire time you've had the acrylic/gel on! They're fine (if they aren't lifting and turning green that is). * Salon workers; I think sometimes clients who don't want to make you feel bad use this reasoning to get themselves out of getting their nails done, for whatever reason. Money usually. That's ok. I usually say something like, "ohh, are you sure?! I hate to see you go (because I do)! Well, call me when you decide to put them back on, ok?". Make sure after you remove the nails to give her a manicure, show her the nail strengthener she should buy (you should have retail!!!!), cuticle oil and so on. Ask if she would like to rebook for manicures (or mini manicures incase it is about money) once a week while you are getting out your book and looking for a date. You might say," is Friday the 10th at 3:00 a good time?" Q ~ How did I get fungus? What is it? Did the salon give it to me? A ~ The problem is not from the salon per-se. It is from the acrylic lifting, allowing moisture in. If you're lifting a lot it could possibly be that the nail tech's products are contaminated with dust etc., or improper application and filing techniques and sometimes it's just the nails themselves. The word fungus seems to be used for all disorders when, in actuality, the infection between the acrylic and nail is bacterial! ************** *************
Q ~ My nail cracked all the way through to my own nail where I can see the skin. I used glue and acrylic but it keeps cracking. How do you fix it? A ~ Good question. Covering up a crack doesn't mean it's mended, it will just continue to crack. Follow
these steps:
1. While doing any prep work hold the nail shut the entire time by placing the side of your thumb under the free edge so it won't move. 2. Carefully clip any loose, lifted acrylic away with nippers. Blend acrylic down so it's all close the same level (so theres not a big hunk of acrylic on either side of crack). 3. Cut a strip of fiberglass larger than width of crack to place it leaving a small margin where there is just bare nail on the sideds for a good seal. 4. Glue over the material a 3 or 4 times so there is room for a little filing with out getting down to the fiberglass. While waiting for the first layer of glue to dry make sure you're holding the crack shut. Try
dropping the glue in the center of nail then spread to the sides with
the tip of glue bottle so it doesn't end up all over the skin. I also
like to use a brush on glue but be sure the brush doesn't rub against
the mesh during the first layer, it will mess up the fibers. Also if
you are going to sparay an accellerant and then use the brush it will
turn it
 into a club to beat
yourself with,
so you might want to go back to a regular glue tip after the first
layer.You can use a drying accelerant like "hands down" but keep a spray bottle of water or alcohol in your hand ready to spray the nail when it gets hot (and it will) from drying so quickly. And, by the way, when you're spraying an acellerant make sure the glue bottle is nowhere near the spray zone. Don't ask how I know! 5. Light handedly file the lumps of glue down a little, dust off and reapply glue to big dips. Using a block buffer flile to get all the shine off. 6. Apply a medium-wet ball of acrylic to the center of nail and blend it down toward the free edge. Apply a medium-wet ball close to the cuticle blending it in toward the center. Check for dips and thin sidewalls, fill in and file to shape. ******************
Q
~
How come nail
polish chips on my own
nails but not when I have acrylic on? Is there some kind of base
coat I should
use?A ~ It's because the natural nail is flexible and will bend, chipping the polish off. Acrylic won't budge, so the polish will just wear off the ends. Unfortunately there really is not much you can do about the natural nail chipping off polish. You may want to consider a fiberglass overlay. This will keep your nails from bending. Fiberglass is simply nail glue and a little piece of fiberglass mesh that when used together forms a strong bond. There are a lot of questions about fiberglass so the next question will clear it up. Read on. Fiberglass
 Q ~
What is
fiberglass and is it any better than acrylic?
A ~ Fiberglass is a mesh material that helps keep your natural nail strong when used with a resin (nail glue). Pros ~ Thin and natural looking, easier to do yourself than acrylic, keeps polish on with out chipping. Cons ~ Even the best resin starts to break down in about 10 days, getting brittle causing lifting especially at the free edge (the natural nail separates from product) allowing dirt in between. Then cracks start on the side walls. If you're diligent with fills every two weeks and shorten your nails beyond the free edge's lifting point you can keep them in pretty good shape and enjoy the benefits of fiberglass. Steps to Apply Fiberglass 1. Prep the nails by lightly filing away any cuticle that is stuck on to the nail. (Important! Product does not stick to skin for very long then here comes the dreaded lifting!) then dust off completely. 2. Cut a piece of fiberglass so there is a small margin of bare nail all the way around. Most fiberglass sold in places like Sally's Beauty Supply have a sticky side so it will stay in place, thank God. Press and trim a little if you need to. 3. Drop a dot of resin (the kind made for the fiberglass is best) in the center of the nail and let it get absorbed by the mesh. Drop another where the mesh is still dry. When the fiberglass is covered (hopefully you haven't glued your hands to your hair or anything!) spray a light dusting of 'Quick Dry' glue dry (found at Sally's or at the 'Professionals Beauty Supply' link above under Nails then Isabel Cristina). Read all directions on containers to be sure your doing things proper and safely. 4. Continue to add resin and spray until (about 4 x's) there is enough resin to file to shape with out breaking through to the fiberglass. If you do break through stop filing and add enough resin so you can shape some more. 5. Buff to refine, shape and smooth. Then add one last layer of resin to the top and on the underside of the free edge to seal it and make it look clear again. You can also use a gel top coat and cure it under a gel light ('IBD Intense Seal' is my favorite) to give it a high gloss finish.   |