Frequently Asked Questions

March quick tips

"Polish Tips" - Keep the neck of your polish bottle clean with Acetone, so it seals properly and you don't get any evaporation. - Never thin with Polish Remover ! This contains oils and your polish won't harden properly. - Darker shades take a little longer to dry. - Suntan lotion can cause nail polish to peel.
"Edge" the nail when you paint, this prevents chipping. To "Edge" you add a horzontal brush stroke across the free edge which acts as a sealant.
Polish brushes do not need to be disinfected because infection causing organisms need food and water to survive and grow. Nail Polish does not contain these,s so "germs" die quickly.

Gel Nails are a comparable alternative to an Acrylic Nail Enhancement.
Gel Systems are odourless which appeals to a lot of clients. Gels offer a durable, flexible chemically impervious enhancement that resists chipping and lifting - this is the answer for those that work with their hands in water, such as hairdressers & nurses.
Acrylic Nails are stronger and more rigid. They can withstand 'rougher treatment' and can support a longer length nail. (You can have the best of both worlds with acrylic nails and a gel top coat!)

Program and Calcium Gel are both Nail Strengtheners.
Program strengthens weak nails by hardening them with a protective layer. It shields, seals and reinforces the nail so it can grow long, strong and healthy. Use on nails that are thin and peeling.
Calcium Gel, on the other hand, strengthens weak nails by thickening them with a natural gel coat and fortifying them with nutrients, leaving them flexible and resilient. It provides a protective shield that adheres to the nail plate without peeling, while bonding the nail layers together to promote healthy nail growth.
Use on nails that split, break and bend.
Ideal to use after acrylic nails have been removed.

Spa Treatment Scrub contains granular pumice to exfoliate dead skin on the foot and callus areas only. It works best with a foot file.
Sluff Me & Scrub Me is a gentle exfoliant that can be used over the entire body. It contains paraffin wax & jojoba wax beads, and sluffs & scrubs in one application.

Lifting is the No. 1 problem with acrylic nails. There are 3 places to look for the cause.
1. Application Technique - is the main reason for lifting. Check you are not applying your product too close to the cuticle area or too thick at the cuticle area. Make sure you are not overpriming and that you are not applying the nail enhancement too long for the nail bed (that causes stress). Pay attention to your nail preparation.
  (Improper preparation is responsible for 80% of lifting!)
  Check you are etching properly, removing the pterygium and have no oily residue on the nail.
2. Product Problems - are rarely the reson for lifting other than contamination.
  Check your primer is not cloudy and your product has not exceeded its shelf life.
3. Client Lifestyle - is well worth investigating, be sure to do a thorough client history and record medications, hobbies and job duties.
Preventing lifting requires knowledge and practice. Continue working well and soon your problems will be behind you. Good technique and experience are the answer.

Primer has a high freezing point i.e. it does not take extremely cold temperatures to make it freeze. If this happens simply hold it n your hand until it returns to its liquid state. This does not alter the effectiveness of the product.

Primers are a form of an organice acid called Methacrylic acid. This performs two important functions.
Firstly it sterilizes the nail bed. Living organisms need an environment where the pH level is approximately 7.0 (neutral between acid and alkali). If the pH level drops below 6.5 bacteria cannot survive. The pH level of most primers is as low as 4.0.
Secondly, a primer's main function is to enhance the adhesion between the nail surface and the enhancement, it does this by pitting the natural nail and creating pockets in the nail plate for the acrylic to adhere to.

Remove dust with a brush and then soak in acetone.
Next rinse with soap & water and submerge in your disinfecting solution for the recommended time.

This varies depending on your circumstances, e.g. location of your salon. The average mark up ranges from 65% to 100% and don't forget GST.
So 85% on your wholesale price inclusive of GST, or a 65% mark up on wholesales, plus GST at the retail level.

For example, Hawley Polish

(or -$6.50 x 65% + GST = $12.05)

Non-acetone nail polish remover should be used on a naturall nail and is recommended for retail to all of your clients.
Acetone can slightly melt the acrylic. However, it is faster and is recommended in your salon as you are usually removing nail polish to perform a back fill anyway.

IN YOUR THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE, BE SURE NOT TO DROWN IN ALL THE INFORMATION