nail issues - WAY off topic!!

C

Carol_is_fit

Guest
Hi everyone! Believe it or not, I just returned from the first manicure I've ever had. LOL! I know ... hard to believe considering I'm 46 years old, but as a bedside nurse I never saw the need. I start my new job on Monday, and I'll be working in corporate America! I have a Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5:00 job with an insurance company, and needless to say no more scrubs or working nights! Anyway ... to go with my "normal" work clothes I want my nails to look nice. They did a nice job, but it was just your basic manicure. But I know there is so much more out there ...

I didn't want to appear silly and ask all sorts of questions, but I'm sure some of you can explain all this acrylic nail stuff to me. How long do they last? How often do you have to get them filled? What is that - filling them? What is airbrushing? Is that painting the acrylics or just your own nails? Anything else I'm missing?

Educate me ... please !!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!

Thanks in advance!! I really do appreciate it!!

Carol
:)
 
Hi Carol,

I get a fill every two weeks, but some people go three. My nails grow pretty fast. A fill is when they put on a new coat of acrylic because when your nails grow out you have that little section of nail showing without acrylic on it. Airbrush is when they "spray paint" on the French manicure or whatever design you might want. If you are just getting a regular nail polish on with no design, you aren't getting an airbrush.

Caren
 
Because I don't use color on my hands, I prefer something called "pink and white". They actually use two different color acrylics to get the french manicure effect. Pink and white is a little pricier but I find it well worth the extra $$ because it looks more natural.

I also go every two weeks because my nails grow fast. Every couple of months I have the old acrylic taken off and replaced with new. I've never had a problem with fungus. I went without for about eight months and was happy to have them put back on. :7
 
I actually get the pink and white too. I think they look much nicer than the airbrushed. In my opinion, it's definitely worth a few extra $.
 
As a women that had to have nice nails to show off rings and such, when I sodl jewelry I had manicures all the time! Ok Acryllic nails are nice if you want long nails that aren't going to brake all the time. They last as long as you want them to. But you do need to go get them filled every other week or so. Filling in is just the part that has grown out at the bottom near the cuticle, they taek this powder dip it in some solution and then put it over the part that has grown out. They then file it down so it's nice ans smooth and short the length a little on your nails, if you want, which you more than likely will, paint your nails as you would like and then send you on your way.
Nail places nowadays tend to use airbrushing to do the simplest things as a french manicure, to very complex designs. They have samples of everything they can do and you can choose which design you would like. In what ever color you would like as well.
As you have your acrylics and they grow they pretty much become your own nails with an acrilic overlay. They paint your acrylic overlay. I woudl totally have acrylic nails again, but I type all day long and am not in the public eye very much. So I don't feel the need.

I hope that this helped!

Kathy
 
Thanks for the all the input!! I really do appreciate it. I was worried about fungal infections with acrylics, but I didn't want to insult the nail tech doing my manicure this morning by asking about them, you know? So I really do appreciate hearing from those of you who have them and have not had problems. You really answered my questions!! Thanks again!!!

Carol
:) :) :) :) :)
 
Hi Carol, I have been a manicurist for 15 years. And trust me...there are many women who have never had a manicure or any type of artificial nails either. Good for you to try it! When I got into nails in 1989 acrylic had been getting a bad name where I live in Calif and people wanted to try something different. Although I only do about 3 acrylic clients it is still the most popular nail out there. What the other posters said about pink and white is true too and most people love it. Personally I prefer fiberglass (similiar to silk), not many people do them because of all the steps. I think you need to rough up the natural nail too much with acrylic and the drills can do nasty things to the nail bed if they are used. Fiberglass IMO is much easier on the nail bed and thinner and much more natural looking. It is also more flexible than acrylic so they never "pop" off. I do a pink and white polish for many of my clients. I have worn fiberglass for about 17 years without any problems. I have also tried all the other types of artificial nails on my nails and always went back to fiberglass. Applying acylic with my other hand didn't work very well I must admit. But hey...I need to try everything out there.

Like the others here said you need to get them filled evey 2 weeks. I do have some clients that go 3 weeks and one that goes 4. It really depends on the length and how fast your nails grow as to how often you need to get them filled. Sometimes it depends on how hard you are on your nails too. They take a bit of getting used to, so I wouldn't reccommend you getting them very long if you decide to jump in and try it. No questions are silly...:)...I'd be glad to answer any others...:)...Carole
 
Hi Carole, and thanks so much for the info! I have no idea if the salon I went to yesterday does fiberglass, but now that I know about it, it's something I can call around and ask about. We have a lot of salons around here.

My nails look great still this morning - LOL!! This is fun!! :)

Thanks again for all the info!!

Carol
:)
 
I used to do fake nails all the time, But I broke them on a daily basis and finally took them off and oh what PAIN!!!! I loved them and loved having them paint fancy stuff on my nails also. Now I just have my regular nails and they are just as much a pain in the you know what because they split and crack and break constantly and can't seem to grow them out decently and I get tough rugged edges on the sides of my nails and I hate that, I have tried lotion after lotion and nothing is helping them, I would love to know a cure for my problem nails without putting back on fake nails.
 
This is a common problem especially after wearing artificial nails. You could try a manicure every week or 2 to see if that helps. Or invest in a nail hardener like for example Sally Hansen "Hard as nails" but you do need to keep up with it and apply a coat every few days. Unfortunatley I don't think there is a real "cure" out there....just my opinion...:)...Carole
 
Question Carole..

Are Fiber glass more expensive then acrylic? They caught my interest now. I don't have long nails at all but it sure would be fun to get some one of these days again. Listening to Carol is fit and her excitement is getting me to want them back, ha, ha!
Thanks for the information.

Kathy
 
RE: Question Carole..

Hi Kathy...it might depend on where you live. I charge the same for both. If you have problems finding a manicurist to do Fiberglass, then ask for Silk as they are very similar....and you don't have to have them long either, most of my clients have a very average length. I only have a few that wear them longer than I think they should....:)...Carole
 
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