I need some remedial manicure terminology help. I generally do my own nails (having regular manicures for special ocassions). However, I kind of want to ensure my nails look nice and even for my wedding so I'm thinking of getting something additional.
I've looked around online but haven't really been able to get a clear idea of the definitions of the various kinds of options. I asked at the nail place I got to on occassion and there was kind of a language barrier and neither side understood what the other was asking/saying.
Can anyone tell me the difference between gel, acrylic and silk wraps? Also, I don't want to keep these on forever and don't want to destroy my actual nails. Which of these is the easiest to remove without ruining your real nails?
My mom has been doing nails for over 18 years now and I think I might be able to help you out:
Gel- This is basically like putting a think coat of laquer on your nails. If it is applied with just the gel, it's not very strong and can easily break. But it can also be used by applying acrylic first and then the gel on top of the gel. In order to set the gel on the nails, you would have to place your hands under a special light. Once it dries, it is super shiny like a clear coat. But if you dont want just a clear coat and want color, beware, because your nails will look really think when you add color to it
Acrylic- Powder that is very durable. It withstands a lot and looks very nice when left with just a clear coat or with color. It resists paint chipping too and you don't have to come back until 2-3 weeks again for a fill.
Silk wraps- this is exactly what is means. They wrap your nails in white silk fabric, put nail glue all over to hold it in place and then put a thin layer of acrylic on your nails before they file & paint your nails.
Honestly, none of these will destroy your nails. But once you remove the gel, acrylic or silk, it will leave your nails very thin and prone to breakage until it "heals" again.
Are your nails long or short? I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
I should preface this with, I'm a licensed manicurist and I did nails through college.
Silks, by far are the least damaging on your nails. However, they're also most difficult to add length with. Ideally, you should use silk to strengthen your nails so that they are capable of growing out and simply continue using silks until your wedding. However, if that is not an option, have a reputable establishment apply tips and then silks. I say reputable because the application of the tip is crucial. They can either make it look natural or like a hunk of plastic. They also posess the least amount of strength out of the three. However, they're applied with super glue so they are technically water soluble. Post wedding, you should have a manicurist soak your nails in a bowl of pure acetone covered with a towel. The towel will help the heat from your hands heat the acetone. Warmer acetone is more effective. However, don't nuke it or boil it! If you want it warmer, put warm water into a bigger bowl and place the smaller bowl inside.
Gels (the UV cured kind from Creative Brisa or OPI) is more damaging than silks, but less damaging than acrylics. The reason is, it is pre-mixed, you won't get that, chemicals are soaking into my nail bed feeling. However, it has no solvent. The only way of removing them is by yanking them off with nippers which would make them more damaging than acrylics. However, gels are exceptionally clear and shiny, which makes it look like uber top coat. You can have them buff it down to a nice thin coat and then apply a thin coat of gels over it or clear polish and grow it out with your natural nails. Depending on your taste, Gels may not be the way to go, because like silks, they have little to no color. They have come out with colored gels, but they're not like the vibrant pinks you see with acrylics.
Acrylics are mixed and polymerized on your nail bed. They typically warm up as they cure. They're probably the most caustic, but you can remove them by soaking a very long time in acetone. Also, they are by far the strongest, so you can get away with them being the thinnest of the three. They also come in vibrant colors if thats your cup of tea. In fact, they come in shimmers and primary colors (if you go to a salon that carries Creative). I guess that's all...
I should preface this with, I'm a licensed manicurist and I did nails through college.
Silks, by far are the least damaging on your nails. However, they're also most difficult to add length with. Ideally, you should use silk to strengthen your nails so that they are capable of growing out and simply continue using silks until your wedding. However, if that is not an option, have a reputable establishment apply tips and then silks. I say reputable because the application of the tip is crucial. They can either make it look natural or like a hunk of plastic. They also posess the least amount of strength out of the three. However, they're applied with super glue so they are technically water soluble. Post wedding, you should have a manicurist soak your nails in a bowl of pure acetone covered with a towel. The towel will help the heat from your hands heat the acetone. Warmer acetone is more effective. However, don't nuke it or boil it! If you want it warmer, put warm water into a bigger bowl and place the smaller bowl inside.
Gels (the UV cured kind from Creative Brisa or OPI) is more damaging than silks, but less damaging than acrylics. The reason is, it is pre-mixed, you won't get that, chemicals are soaking into my nail bed feeling. However, it has no solvent. The only way of removing them is by yanking them off with nippers which would make them more damaging than acrylics. However, gels are exceptionally clear and shiny, which makes it look like uber top coat. You can have them buff it down to a nice thin coat and then apply a thin coat of gels over it or clear polish and grow it out with your natural nails. Depending on your taste, Gels may not be the way to go, because like silks, they have little to no color. They have come out with colored gels, but they're not like the vibrant pinks you see with acrylics.
Acrylics are mixed and polymerized on your nail bed. They typically warm up as they cure. They're probably the most caustic, but you can remove them by soaking a very long time in acetone. Also, they are by far the strongest, so you can get away with them being the thinnest of the three. They also come in vibrant colors if thats your cup of tea. In fact, they come in shimmers and primary colors (if you go to a salon that carries Creative). I guess that's all...
What a great question-- I've been wondering about this but didn't think to ask the hive! Thanks for the really thorough, informative responses, you guys are great. One question, though, if I were to go the silks route (my nails naturally grow pretty long, but may break/snag as I finish up the wedding DIY stuff) do I need to get them done a while before the wedding and then redone the day of? How durable are they/how long do they last?
You should have them done regularly every 1-2 weeks depending on how much you beat up your nails. Then, have them touched up the day before the wedding. They'll be significantly stronger than your natural nails alone, but don't beat them up the way you would beat up acrylics.
Awesome responses!! Thanks so much! My nails are naturally a good length- I just want to prevent the 'every nail breaks in the week before the wedding' debacle. And I'll probably not want to keep up with it (can't afford it) for long after the wedding. So I think I'll go with the silk wraps so they don't do mucho damage to my nails.
With silks can you just wear a clear coat or will it look weird?
you can just wear a clear coat of polish over silks if they are done well. like all skilled labor, it depends on who is doing it. I've seen atrocious cloudy messes to silks that would only show if you were looking at them closely from just the right angle with just the right lighting, you might see a bit of the grain of the fabric. I have a friend who uses 100% pure silk (a lot of people now use microfiber, which is what they make casts for broken bones out of). The silk is so smooth and so transparent that the only difference is that the color of your nails is slightly lighter, but you don't even know that its fabric underneath. The microfiber has much more of a moire or a grain to it.
prettykatie,
I'm guessing you're asking about pink and whites (forever frenchs, french acrylics, solar pinks, etc). The name varies by the salon. Pink and whites are different from regular acrylics in that they are done with two colors of powdered acrylic. Regulars are just done in pink or clear (depending on your preference). Its like putting a really thick topcoat on. Its shiny, and can be tinted, but you still see your nail underneath. Pink and whites, think Britney Spears. You see the white tip at the front and the pink towards the back. Its like a french manicure, but done with acrylics.
SoCalBride you are so great to answer all these questions!
With silks, do they just fill the space at the base of the nail as it grows or do I have to have them entirely redone every few weeks as they grow out?
No problem :-). I knew my time doing nails had to pay off at some ponit. I'm glad I can answer your questions. Now to your question, it depends on the manicurist. Most will take a soft buffer and take a layer or two off of the old silks. Then they'll put down one or two layers of silk. The thing is, you don't need the strength near your lunula. You need the strength at the area where the white meets the pink on your nail. they simply added the layers to blend in the new growth. By the time that part of the silk gets to the pink/white meeting area, it will be several layers thick.
So informative SoCalBride! I've never done gel or acrylics but I had silk done before. I use to go to a place right by my house but every time I ask for silk I feel like it's such a bother for them to do it. Just like the other stuff you put on your nails it depends on who you go to to get a good job. I've tried silk from all the ladies that work there but there's only one lady that makes it look really natural. Also when it comes time to pick those suckers out it wasn't too bad. I don't know what my co-worker gets but she's always picking at the same nail for a day trying to take it off.
One of my clients had "pink and whites" done. They look so beautiful that I went to "The Nail Shop" and asked for it. They looked at my nails like I'm crazy and said "why would you get them done for? It'll make your nails weak." WTH?! A nail shop that's talking me out of getting what I want and suggesting something cheaper??? (mani and pedi combo) It wasn't busy nor was it close to closing so it's not like they were trying to kick me out. I'm kind of confused on why they did that. AnyWHO I guess I didn't help much did I?
I get solar nails. They are very similar to the acrylics in terms of how they look, but they last longer. I can get fill after fill without having to get a new set. They take longer to do during the first and follow-up visits (which is why the nail tech probably didn't want to do them-especially if you didn't make your appointment specifying them over acrylics) and they cost more, but I think they are much more durable. When I had acrylics I broke them sometimes, but haven't broken a single one with the solars.
Also, when getting the solars they might ask you if you want the pinker powder or the more natural looking one-pick the more natural one if you tan, spend a lot of time in the sun, or if it is summer-they tend to turn yellow in UV light.
Take it as a compliment that they discouraged you from getting acrylics done. They're perfectly fine for people who can't grow nails, but honestly, if you have fairly strong nails, all you need is polish. I was a manicurist and the only time I had ever worn these nails was when I was taking a class or competing. I'm such a dork, no matter what I do, I have to go to competitions.
Hi Niki,
Solar nails are a fancy term for uv cured gels (hence the solar). And yes, typically, they last longer. Honestly, if you go to truly skilled and educated manicurist, you shouldn't ever have to have new sets put on (outside of you waiting too long to have a fill). I worked in the industry for several years and rarely had to put a brand new set on a person. It actually takes us longer to file and fill than it does to start from scratch. The solars are also more flexible and give more. Thus, if you need your nails to bend, yes they will hold up longer. However, acrylics have always been stronger as far as hardness goes.
As far as things turning yellow, I should warn all the brides out there, avoid applying strong sun block on your own near the wedding. Some of the sunblocks out there turn acrylic and gel nails yellow very quickly. I've even seen bullfrog sunblock cause major lifting. Try to find a sunblock with mexoryl (ecamsule), which blocks sun, but I've yet to see it cause problems with lifting acrylic nails. It was recently approve by the FDA for sale in the US (it's been available around the world for years). You'll probably find it through L'oreal, but I believe many others now produce it as well.
i had the same issue for my wedding. i am a surgeon and can't keep long nails and needed something i could remove easily right away. i did virtual nails at dashing divas. check out their website: www.dashingdiva.com for locations. the nails melt off in a solvent you can buy for them and leave your nails in their original condition. i have tried silks and acrylics and they look great but are more difficult to remove and leave your nails looking beat up afterwards.
I think I should also note that it is only when I have fake nails on that I stop biting my nails. No other solution has worked.
And there is no reason for your nails to look beat up after getting fake nails removed. Have your tech do some filing and buffing and throw a clear coat on the top. *Almost* as good as new.
Oh, and that thing about suncreens-watch out! "Lifting" wasn't the word for when I tried a new sunscreen. My nails actually started to melt! I could not figure out why it was happening, then someone pointed out the sunscreen. What n expensive mess!
Although they can buff and file your nails down, you'll rarely find a manicurist ethical enough to do so. They'll usually just rip them off. Why? Because few salons charge you money to remove acrylics. Its a simple matter of economics. In a high end full service salon with five manicurists, I was the only one willing to spend the 30-45 minutes to soak, buff and file them off to their original condition. The damage is usually done when they prime your nails for the acrylics as well. Many manicurists seem to think they need to take a thick file and leave grooves in your nails. In actuality, they only need to remove the first 2 layers to cells and a smooth dull finish is fine.
The same is true with silks everyone. There are manicurists out there that think they need to file the top of your nail before they apply it. They do not, they only need to softly buff it. In fact. when I repair my own nails, I don't even bother buffing it. I just lay the silk on top and put a coat of super glue on it. Then, as the nail grows out and its exposed to water and it begins to degrade, I can the pull the entire silk off as if I'm taking off a clear coat of nail polish (you'd still be removing approximately two layers of cells), but its hardly noticeable to the naked eye.
I need some remedial manicure terminology help. I generally do my own nails (having regular manicures for special ocassions). However, I kind of want to ensure my nails look nice and even for my wedding so I'm thinking of getting something additional.
I've looked around online but haven't really been able to get a clear idea of the definitions of the various kinds of options. I asked at the nail place I got to on occassion and there was kind of a language barrier and neither side understood what the other was asking/saying.
Can anyone tell me the difference between gel, acrylic and silk wraps? Also, I don't want to keep these on forever and don't want to destroy my actual nails. Which of these is the easiest to remove without ruining your real nails?
Thanks so much!
posted by rosychicklet Helper bee: 417 posts 8 months agoMy mom has been doing nails for over 18 years now and I think I might be able to help you out:
Gel- This is basically like putting a think coat of laquer on your nails. If it is applied with just the gel, it's not very strong and can easily break. But it can also be used by applying acrylic first and then the gel on top of the gel. In order to set the gel on the nails, you would have to place your hands under a special light. Once it dries, it is super shiny like a clear coat. But if you dont want just a clear coat and want color, beware, because your nails will look really think when you add color to it
Acrylic- Powder that is very durable. It withstands a lot and looks very nice when left with just a clear coat or with color. It resists paint chipping too and you don't have to come back until 2-3 weeks again for a fill.
Silk wraps- this is exactly what is means. They wrap your nails in white silk fabric, put nail glue all over to hold it in place and then put a thin layer of acrylic on your nails before they file & paint your nails.
Honestly, none of these will destroy your nails. But once you remove the gel, acrylic or silk, it will leave your nails very thin and prone to breakage until it "heals" again.
Are your nails long or short? I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
posted by MsJadey Worker bee: 185 posts 8 months agoI should preface this with, I'm a licensed manicurist and I did nails through college.
Silks, by far are the least damaging on your nails. However, they're also most difficult to add length with. Ideally, you should use silk to strengthen your nails so that they are capable of growing out and simply continue using silks until your wedding. However, if that is not an option, have a reputable establishment apply tips and then silks. I say reputable because the application of the tip is crucial. They can either make it look natural or like a hunk of plastic. They also posess the least amount of strength out of the three. However, they're applied with super glue so they are technically water soluble. Post wedding, you should have a manicurist soak your nails in a bowl of pure acetone covered with a towel. The towel will help the heat from your hands heat the acetone. Warmer acetone is more effective. However, don't nuke it or boil it! If you want it warmer, put warm water into a bigger bowl and place the smaller bowl inside.
Gels (the UV cured kind from Creative Brisa or OPI) is more damaging than silks, but less damaging than acrylics. The reason is, it is pre-mixed, you won't get that, chemicals are soaking into my nail bed feeling. However, it has no solvent. The only way of removing them is by yanking them off with nippers which would make them more damaging than acrylics. However, gels are exceptionally clear and shiny, which makes it look like uber top coat. You can have them buff it down to a nice thin coat and then apply a thin coat of gels over it or clear polish and grow it out with your natural nails. Depending on your taste, Gels may not be the way to go, because like silks, they have little to no color. They have come out with colored gels, but they're not like the vibrant pinks you see with acrylics.
Acrylics are mixed and polymerized on your nail bed. They typically warm up as they cure. They're probably the most caustic, but you can remove them by soaking a very long time in acetone. Also, they are by far the strongest, so you can get away with them being the thinnest of the three. They also come in vibrant colors if thats your cup of tea. In fact, they come in shimmers and primary colors (if you go to a salon that carries Creative). I guess that's all...
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoI should preface this with, I'm a licensed manicurist and I did nails through college.
Silks, by far are the least damaging on your nails. However, they're also most difficult to add length with. Ideally, you should use silk to strengthen your nails so that they are capable of growing out and simply continue using silks until your wedding. However, if that is not an option, have a reputable establishment apply tips and then silks. I say reputable because the application of the tip is crucial. They can either make it look natural or like a hunk of plastic. They also posess the least amount of strength out of the three. However, they're applied with super glue so they are technically water soluble. Post wedding, you should have a manicurist soak your nails in a bowl of pure acetone covered with a towel. The towel will help the heat from your hands heat the acetone. Warmer acetone is more effective. However, don't nuke it or boil it! If you want it warmer, put warm water into a bigger bowl and place the smaller bowl inside.
Gels (the UV cured kind from Creative Brisa or OPI) is more damaging than silks, but less damaging than acrylics. The reason is, it is pre-mixed, you won't get that, chemicals are soaking into my nail bed feeling. However, it has no solvent. The only way of removing them is by yanking them off with nippers which would make them more damaging than acrylics. However, gels are exceptionally clear and shiny, which makes it look like uber top coat. You can have them buff it down to a nice thin coat and then apply a thin coat of gels over it or clear polish and grow it out with your natural nails. Depending on your taste, Gels may not be the way to go, because like silks, they have little to no color. They have come out with colored gels, but they're not like the vibrant pinks you see with acrylics.
Acrylics are mixed and polymerized on your nail bed. They typically warm up as they cure. They're probably the most caustic, but you can remove them by soaking a very long time in acetone. Also, they are by far the strongest, so you can get away with them being the thinnest of the three. They also come in vibrant colors if thats your cup of tea. In fact, they come in shimmers and primary colors (if you go to a salon that carries Creative). I guess that's all...
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoArgh, first it wouldn't post any of it, now it has posted it twice!
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoWhat a great question-- I've been wondering about this but didn't think to ask the hive! Thanks for the really thorough, informative responses, you guys are great. One question, though, if I were to go the silks route (my nails naturally grow pretty long, but may break/snag as I finish up the wedding DIY stuff) do I need to get them done a while before the wedding and then redone the day of? How durable are they/how long do they last?
Thanks for the expertise!
posted by jlsween Worker bee: 91 posts 8 months agoHey jlsween,
You should have them done regularly every 1-2 weeks depending on how much you beat up your nails. Then, have them touched up the day before the wedding. They'll be significantly stronger than your natural nails alone, but don't beat them up the way you would beat up acrylics.
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoAwesome responses!! Thanks so much! My nails are naturally a good length- I just want to prevent the 'every nail breaks in the week before the wedding' debacle. And I'll probably not want to keep up with it (can't afford it) for long after the wedding. So I think I'll go with the silk wraps so they don't do mucho damage to my nails.
With silks can you just wear a clear coat or will it look weird?
posted by rosychicklet Helper bee: 417 posts 8 months agoHere's another nail question - what is the difference between solar pink & whites and regular acrylics?
posted by prettykatie Worker bee: 179 posts 8 months agorosychicklet,
you can just wear a clear coat of polish over silks if they are done well. like all skilled labor, it depends on who is doing it. I've seen atrocious cloudy messes to silks that would only show if you were looking at them closely from just the right angle with just the right lighting, you might see a bit of the grain of the fabric. I have a friend who uses 100% pure silk (a lot of people now use microfiber, which is what they make casts for broken bones out of). The silk is so smooth and so transparent that the only difference is that the color of your nails is slightly lighter, but you don't even know that its fabric underneath. The microfiber has much more of a moire or a grain to it.
prettykatie,
I'm guessing you're asking about pink and whites (forever frenchs, french acrylics, solar pinks, etc). The name varies by the salon. Pink and whites are different from regular acrylics in that they are done with two colors of powdered acrylic. Regulars are just done in pink or clear (depending on your preference). Its like putting a really thick topcoat on. Its shiny, and can be tinted, but you still see your nail underneath. Pink and whites, think Britney Spears. You see the white tip at the front and the pink towards the back. Its like a french manicure, but done with acrylics.
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoSoCalBride you are so great to answer all these questions!
With silks, do they just fill the space at the base of the nail as it grows or do I have to have them entirely redone every few weeks as they grow out?
posted by rosychicklet Helper bee: 417 posts 8 months agorosychicklet
No problem :-). I knew my time doing nails had to pay off at some ponit. I'm glad I can answer your questions. Now to your question, it depends on the manicurist. Most will take a soft buffer and take a layer or two off of the old silks. Then they'll put down one or two layers of silk. The thing is, you don't need the strength near your lunula. You need the strength at the area where the white meets the pink on your nail. they simply added the layers to blend in the new growth. By the time that part of the silk gets to the pink/white meeting area, it will be several layers thick.
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoWow, thanks so much for all the info, SoCalBride!
posted by jlsween Worker bee: 91 posts 8 months agoSo informative SoCalBride! I've never done gel or acrylics but I had silk done before. I use to go to a place right by my house but every time I ask for silk I feel like it's such a bother for them to do it. Just like the other stuff you put on your nails it depends on who you go to to get a good job. I've tried silk from all the ladies that work there but there's only one lady that makes it look really natural. Also when it comes time to pick those suckers out it wasn't too bad. I don't know what my co-worker gets but she's always picking at the same nail for a day trying to take it off.
One of my clients had "pink and whites" done. They look so beautiful that I went to "The Nail Shop" and asked for it. They looked at my nails like I'm crazy and said "why would you get them done for? It'll make your nails weak." WTH?! A nail shop that's talking me out of getting what I want and suggesting something cheaper??? (mani and pedi combo) It wasn't busy nor was it close to closing so it's not like they were trying to kick me out. I'm kind of confused on why they did that. AnyWHO I guess I didn't help much did I?
posted by NorCalBride Helper bee: 313 posts 8 months agoI get solar nails. They are very similar to the acrylics in terms of how they look, but they last longer. I can get fill after fill without having to get a new set. They take longer to do during the first and follow-up visits (which is why the nail tech probably didn't want to do them-especially if you didn't make your appointment specifying them over acrylics) and they cost more, but I think they are much more durable. When I had acrylics I broke them sometimes, but haven't broken a single one with the solars.
Also, when getting the solars they might ask you if you want the pinker powder or the more natural looking one-pick the more natural one if you tan, spend a lot of time in the sun, or if it is summer-they tend to turn yellow in UV light.
posted by Niki Helper bee: 446 posts 8 months agoHey NorCalBride,
Take it as a compliment that they discouraged you from getting acrylics done. They're perfectly fine for people who can't grow nails, but honestly, if you have fairly strong nails, all you need is polish. I was a manicurist and the only time I had ever worn these nails was when I was taking a class or competing. I'm such a dork, no matter what I do, I have to go to competitions.
Hi Niki,
Solar nails are a fancy term for uv cured gels (hence the solar). And yes, typically, they last longer. Honestly, if you go to truly skilled and educated manicurist, you shouldn't ever have to have new sets put on (outside of you waiting too long to have a fill). I worked in the industry for several years and rarely had to put a brand new set on a person. It actually takes us longer to file and fill than it does to start from scratch. The solars are also more flexible and give more. Thus, if you need your nails to bend, yes they will hold up longer. However, acrylics have always been stronger as far as hardness goes.
As far as things turning yellow, I should warn all the brides out there, avoid applying strong sun block on your own near the wedding. Some of the sunblocks out there turn acrylic and gel nails yellow very quickly. I've even seen bullfrog sunblock cause major lifting. Try to find a sunblock with mexoryl (ecamsule), which blocks sun, but I've yet to see it cause problems with lifting acrylic nails. It was recently approve by the FDA for sale in the US (it's been available around the world for years). You'll probably find it through L'oreal, but I believe many others now produce it as well.
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoi had the same issue for my wedding. i am a surgeon and can't keep long nails and needed something i could remove easily right away. i did virtual nails at dashing divas. check out their website: www.dashingdiva.com for locations. the nails melt off in a solvent you can buy for them and leave your nails in their original condition. i have tried silks and acrylics and they look great but are more difficult to remove and leave your nails looking beat up afterwards.
posted by ghkim9 Worker bee: 64 posts 8 months agoI think I should also note that it is only when I have fake nails on that I stop biting my nails. No other solution has worked.
And there is no reason for your nails to look beat up after getting fake nails removed. Have your tech do some filing and buffing and throw a clear coat on the top. *Almost* as good as new.
Oh, and that thing about suncreens-watch out! "Lifting" wasn't the word for when I tried a new sunscreen. My nails actually started to melt! I could not figure out why it was happening, then someone pointed out the sunscreen. What n expensive mess!
posted by Niki Helper bee: 446 posts 8 months agoAlthough they can buff and file your nails down, you'll rarely find a manicurist ethical enough to do so. They'll usually just rip them off. Why? Because few salons charge you money to remove acrylics. Its a simple matter of economics. In a high end full service salon with five manicurists, I was the only one willing to spend the 30-45 minutes to soak, buff and file them off to their original condition. The damage is usually done when they prime your nails for the acrylics as well. Many manicurists seem to think they need to take a thick file and leave grooves in your nails. In actuality, they only need to remove the first 2 layers to cells and a smooth dull finish is fine.
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months agoThe same is true with silks everyone. There are manicurists out there that think they need to file the top of your nail before they apply it. They do not, they only need to softly buff it. In fact. when I repair my own nails, I don't even bother buffing it. I just lay the silk on top and put a coat of super glue on it. Then, as the nail grows out and its exposed to water and it begins to degrade, I can the pull the entire silk off as if I'm taking off a clear coat of nail polish (you'd still be removing approximately two layers of cells), but its hardly noticeable to the naked eye.
posted by SoCalBride Worker bee: 95 posts 8 months ago