Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Gel Nails vs Acrylic, HELP! Any recommendations for nail technicians near SW17?

I'm really confused!! I got my nails done for the very first time at Christmas. I asked for gel but I'm not sure that's what I got after reading up about them. It was applied as a powder %26amp; liquid but I did then have to put my hands under a uv light to finish it off, but all in all it only took about 1/2 hour. How can I find a qualified nail technician near SW17 to go to as I want to get them taken off, would they be able to tell the difference of what is on my nails? Any help would be greatly appreciated!Gel Nails vs Acrylic, HELP! Any recommendations for nail technicians near SW17?
If you asked for gel nails, and got charged for gel nails, then they got the best of you - and your money if the gel nails were more costly than acrylic nails. Its unfortunate but this happens a lot to unsuspecting women who want gel nails, but end up just getting acrylic nails with a UV gel topcoat. It's not your fault though. You now know what to look for, I assume. I'll just give you a a few pointers about gel nails, and what to look for when getting them.


First of all, about the appearance of nail gels. As you probably could already figure out yourself, UV gel has the look and consistency of a hair gel. It comes in a wide variety of colors, and there are various viscosities of gel which are used for different areas of the nail - but that last part isn't something that you need to be concerned about. Here is what top quality UV gels look like:


http://www.cnd.com/Home/homelink-consume鈥?/a>


UV gels are never a powder. If the tech uses ANY liquid and powder, you are getting acrylic nails, not gel nails.


The rule of thumb for gel nail application is that they are easy to do, but difficult to master. You would be best off by going to a tech who has a good deal of experience doing UV gel nails, and is highly skilled at it.


BTW, a highly skilled tech will usually take about an hour and a half to apply a full set of UV gel nails. A tech who takes a half hour to do either UV gels, or acrylics is skipping steps and taking many shortcuts to do it in such a short time. Avoid this type of tech, and salons who have these tachs working for them. They are notorious for ruining your nails, and usually do a poor quality job on your nails.


The gels are applied in several thin layers which need to be individually cured under a UV lamp for about two minutes each layer. The final layer is usually either a UV gel topcoat, or a UV gel sealer which is also cured for about two minutes. Either one will provide a high gloss finish on your nails which will last for a week or two at least. Don't file or buff UV gel nails because that will ruin the shine of the gels, and if you file the tips, it will destroy the 'seal' that the gel has formed between your natural nails, and the gel itself. This could lead to seperation of the gel from the nailplate, and that is not what you want!


UV gels are non-porous. What this means in terms of removal is that they cannot be soaked off the same way that acrylics can be because the acetone will not penetrate the surface of the gel. UV gels nails must be filed off by a tech who is highly skilled, and has removed UV gels quite a bit already. Going to an unskilled tech could easily turn out to be a disaster for your nails because it it difficult to tell exactly where the gel ends, and your natural nails begin. Only a very experienced tech can do this without ruining your nails. Don't ever let a tech pry them off, tear them off, or force them off in any way. This will cause you not only a lot of unnecessary pain or discomfort, but it WILL also damage your nails- sometimes severely.


I'm sorry, but I do not know where SW17 is. But, I can give you a link to a site which has a salon locator. This page is on Creative Nail Design's website. CND is a leading provider of professional acrylic and gel products, and has been in business longer than any other nail company in existence. ALL of the techs/salons on this page have been company trained, and company certified PRIOR to their being placed on this list so you can rest assured that you will be in the hands of a well qualified technician. BTW, I have nothing to gain, nor will I profit in any way by posting this link. I am doing so strictly for informational purposes only. I am not affiliated with the company in any way other than the fact that I have been trained, and certified by them as a Master Technician:


http://www.cnd.com/Locate/Find-A-Salon.a鈥?/a>


Best of luck to you. I hope this helps!Gel Nails vs Acrylic, HELP! Any recommendations for nail technicians near SW17?
Dear RachelN,


Please do a little research about Gel Nail before you write a comment! This link may help you! And they have the trade name for powder gel!





http://www.lechatnails.com/systems.htm





good luck Rachel!

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Gel nails look more natural, but cost a little more. i get acrylic and go back every 2-3 wks for a fill-in. try 2 designs on each hand and the other three half polish.u can go to any nail salon to get gel taken off.
What you go was gel wherever you got them done then just go back there to get them taken off the take it off for only around a tenner I don't know nail salons around sw17 but there are amazing ones all around golders green but that is nw xxx acrylics is when they put fake nails on and then the gel on top that is really bad for nails I got it done and then I took it off myself its painful and completely ruins your nails it takes off layers of your nails and make the nails look crapppppppp so do gel same effect but just doesnt make ur nails long x hope this helps if you really need nail salons round sw17 search it on yahooo x

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