Hi!

Here's my experiment with the clear tubes that have been discussed. I've only had time to try it but once, and haven't worked out the kinks yet, but I think the idea is sound. (I think my biggest problem is the quantity of gel I put in the popit... haven't gotten that 'down' yet).

This is a new set that was done. Of 10 fingers, only one did NOT have a bubble

But here's the pictures of the tubes for those that don't understand.

The tubing was purchased at the hardware store, in the plumbing department. They have yards and yards of it on giant spools, and you pay per foot. The price was according to the size of the tube/hose, from 0.17c to 0.30 per foot. I chose 5 sizes, trying them out on my own fingers and 'guessing' that for those with bigger than mine, I might need bigger hose and bought accordingly. My entire purchase after taxes was under $3.00.





I tried "sculpting" a french, without using tips

BUT it made a bit of a mess, for the excess that squeezed out and ended up under the nail, so to speak. Will have to work on this idea a bit.
The tubes were also cut lenghtwise, so they could be fit over the finger and not slid on, like a sleeve. The 'slit' is under the finger running the length of the tube. BUT you can see it here on the pinky.
You can also note that on the middle finger, I didn't place it right, and the poppit slid down the nail a bit.



As you can see, there's bubbles AND a bit of seepage at the side... I goofed on the quantity of gel that I needed.

But anyway, here's the experiment. Just thought I'd share. I hope it helps in some way. I'm still working on it. I think the idea is sound.. just need to sort out the kinks.

Victoriia, these are wonderful compared to my first set of gel trying popits! Mine had more peaks and troughs than the Himalaya's!

Hi Vicotria,

Thank you for sharing this. I have not tried popits very much, as I can't stand the "ridge" at the cuticle area, but when I tried them with gel, it seams like it was only luck which made them good. Sometimes it failed, sometimes I managed to do them without the bubbles you pointed out and without the gel "seaping" out. And in the end, I ended up finish-filing them all.... It took me longer than doing it the trad. way....


C.

Hiya Victoria I think you have tried really hard to make these popIts work with the gel ,
but for all the work and time and effort you have put in
I think that your own hand made gel nails are probably a lot easier for you to do and from what I have seen they are beautiful anyway ,
especially the bridal ones x what about just using the L&p with your popIts ?

Ps I shall keep my fingers crossed for you though ,
I really hope you find something that you wont get bubbles with x

.

Well done Victoria, that is a great idea to use the tubing to hold the popits in place and i am sure once you have had a bit more practice you will have it nailed so to speak

Well, apparently Geeg has had success with butterfly clips. Butterfly clips didn't work for me. Maybe they're bigger here? I dont know.
In any case, it CAN be done with gel.
I'm having growing pains, and am in the experimentation process. I am DETERMINED to figure this out and make it work for gels to save me time just as it does with L&P.

As for doing with L&P... not an option, I'm not trained in L&P and while I do intend to get my L&P diploma, my mainstay will be gels as I don't want 'stink' in my house (I work from home). My main reason for leaning L&P is to be able to offer an alternative for those whom gel doesn't work AND to add the 3D acrylic art to my services.

I know if I bang my head hard enough, I WILL figure this out.

Well done Victoria, you're really tried so hard with the popits, even from the first step of laying your hands on them!
I wonder if the tubing needs to be so long? Perhaps if it was shorter it might be easier to manage? But maybe you need that length to give even pressure where you need it?

What about using a shorter length, but going a size smaller in diameter to allow them to be easier to manage, but give a little more pressure to the popit to compensate for the decrease in pressure caused by using a shorter tube?

Hope you understand my ramblings! LOL
Marion x

Thanks Marion!

Yup, that was one of my thoughts too, shortening the tubes
Shall keep you posted



PS: smaller in diameter wouldn't work, because then the pressure would be too much and the comfort of the client would be questionable. We don't want to pinch their fingers, do we? lol

great to see your updates victoria.

no one could say youre not a tryer!
10/10 for effort, and i hope it comes good in the end.

Its great you've tried the idea out and I do think with some time it would work, I think shorter lengths would work better too, just in terms of them being easier to get on a clients finger. I saw Geeg demo a gel nail with the little clip and it worked a charm, was a very petit clip like you see in a childs hair. The end result was beautiful.

Your own nails look lovely in your pics!

I have been playing over the xmas break with my popits and gel I have tried holding them in place with clips, cellotape and even cable ties but everysingle one ends up with air bubbles. I have used them with l&p and had fab results but gel just isnt working with them for me.

i do not use gel but as yet but i was wondering if you could use clear rubber bands. I get these really small but streachy ones from a shop called claires accessories (those abroad will prob not know it, but you must have something similar) i get them for my little girls hair as they dont fall out or damage her hair....could you not put 2 on each nail...above and below the apex to hold the form in place while under the lamp, you could only use them once as once strached they dont go back.
if i am talking rubbish then ignore me, just trying to think of an easy way for you
xx
i will try and get a pic

Hi Victoria I know you will eventually figure something out x
and as I walk around the big stores and the hairdressing wholesalers I'm always keeping a beady eye out for something that may help you to solve this problem ,
I see now why this is important to you ,
as for some reason I thought you did L&P too (sorry) x

They say that necessity's is the mother of all inventions ,
and its usually the simple inventions that are the best .

I must admit L&P does stink the house out though LOL x
I think I must be the only one who actually loves the smell of monomer x

.

Hey yes I know the ones that you mean they sound like a good idea

.

I know the ones you mean.
The idea is interesting... but a couple of problems come to mind:
Clients who are sensitive and might not like the bands being tight IF they have chubby fingers...
And I have this vision of the rubber band 'rolling' down the poppit over the arch?
Something worth trying.
I do have regular/coloured children's rubber bands. Shall give them a whirl and see what happens.

The tubes were actually no more difficult than putting on a clip, at least I didn't find so. I think I might not have had them low enough down on the finger either....
I have about 6 different sizes of clips.. and none have worked either.. all too big OR too small.
IF/When I find the right size that works, I will buy DOZENS of the darn things
HAHAHAHAHA

Over the next week or so, things around here should slow down enough that I can experiment a bit more.
I'll post pics of my rebalance from the one who I did a full set on..
HOPEFULLY no bubbles this time

thanks for the encouragment ladies
xoxo