I agree with all the 'anti' tip blending posts here. But also, there is far more to applying a tip than blending! The 'blended' tip in the video is so obviously going to result in a horribly shaped nail!

The foundation of a tip and overlay is the tip and this needs to be perfectly shaped. It cannot be successfully corrected with the overlay.

I disagree with always being able to see the tip!!! Virtually all of the close up images of my nails where they have been extended is just a tip blended and shaped and with thin layer of resin. They cannot be seen

I just watched the video out of curiosity and am pretty appalled at the scratches on the natural nail which is another problem when using tip blenders in that you file right through the softened well of the tip and it is easy to cause damage. A properly blended tip will still leave a thin layer of plastic protecting the nail plate from file damage.

I could blend a CND tip faster with a 240 grit file than using a tip blender. If I can ... others can.

Another thought to ponder....

IF this product is breaking down the ABS Plastic/Acrylic............ WHAT on earth is it doing the natural nail????

On the same sort of subject.... are line blender and tip blender the same thing??? I was advised to use line blender during infills after filing to remove any white line in the old acrylic before applying new acrylic. I've never used this as i'm still training and battling on with trying to get my filing correct. Is this just another acetone based shortcut???

No ...line out or line blender is adhesive nothing more nothing less. Line blender should also be avoided at all costs. It also yellows and is a crutch. You need to concentrate on no lifting rather than trying to hide it with products such as this.

Thank you for your reply geeg. I think in future i'll asume that anything to avoid filing or save time is a bad idea!! I'm getting very confused by the advice of lots of different internet sites and friends who are qualified techs. This site is a life saver!! If i followed the advice i'm getting i would just end up as another money grabbing, half job, run of mill tech. Hopefully i'll eventually ammount to more.

Guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I've never had a problem in using a tip blender, it has never interferred with the products I use, it has never yellowed the nails and it does save me time which is a win win for me and my clients.

In watching the video myself, they didn't not file into the natural nail, the file was carefully placed on the tip to roll off the product that comes off the tip which is the same method that is used in blending the tip w/o the tip blender.

I didn't make the statement that something was backed by someone's expertise. I would think that if you are going to make a statement like that then you should have something in writing to back it up with. It is interesting that whenever I have asked for information in the past and now to be posted to confirm what is being stated it is never provided.

Sorry this has gotten out of hand, as stated before hope we can just agree to disagree. Who would have thought that something so insignificant as a tip blender could cause such a stir...........

lol, i know!
i only asked a question and i think i caused a bit of a disagreement.

I beg to differ. The nail file most definately touched the nailplate and etched it.

The tech on the video DID indeed file the natural nail with their abrasive.

The technique used on the video isn't the way I was taught and I certainly don't file the natural nail when blending tips, there is no need to if you're doing it correctly.

I've used tip blender in the past and wished that I hadn't bothered, it clogged up my abrasive and made a mess, took longer to finish blending the tip than if I'd not used the tip blender in the first place... I learnt my lesson and never used it again.

Not using tip blender is (in my personal opinion) more professional as it shows that I know how to file correctly and proves (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that I don't need to use short cuts to get the desired effect, ie a fully blended tip that doesn't compromise the health of the natural nail nor the longevity of my enhancements.

I thought so too V, the reason you can easily tell, apart from it being obvious , is that there seemed to be a lot of adhesive overspill on the natural nail and when she has finished "blending" it is gone.

Each to their own I suppose, I personally think it is a bit of a faff.

Never mind tip blender, judging by the thickness of those tips a Black and Decker wouldn't have come amiss to shave that lot off!!

Seriously, though, it's tough when you first start to learn blending but with enough practise and carefully selected good quality <thin> tips, you're better off with a quick swipe of a file and nothing else.

Quick swipe of a file i wish! lol.

No matter how much time i spend blending tips i can always see what i'm trying to blend all i want is a natural smile line with the tip and not be able to see bit's left over that havn't pi**ed off whilst blending..lol.

When I started learning, tip blending was my first big stumbling block. I could easily file the whole thing right off my trainer hand.

It still isn't my favourite job, but it's become a lot easier now that I know the best <thin> tips to use, types of file etc. If you play smart, invest in the right tips, good files and keep practising you will get there. Promise!

The two following tutorials will help you immensely:

File Control!! Part 1 - Getting a Grip

File Control!! Part 2 - Thinning and Blending Tips.

By following Gigi's techniques and help YOU WILL be able to blend tips successfully without shadowing and faster than you ever thought possible.