I have been reading some unbelievable posts in the last few days advocating some very unsafe and unsound ideas!! Where is all this crappola coming from all of a sudden?

Using a 100 grit on the natural nail to prepare it!!!

Using acetone to 'remove a layer' when rebalancing!!!

Using neat monomer and a metal tool to make smile lines!!!

Using tips to lever/prise/pull off old product!!!

These are just a few

Are there any professionals out there who would do these things?

Or is our profession being invaded with a bunch of cowboys at the moment?

I'm worried at how these 'ideas' will influence the new ones here on the site.

So please keep your eyes open professional geeks and lets knock these ideas out of the way before some think they are serious options!

Any more 'wonderful' ideas to add to the above??

There are "professionals" that'll do all sorts of things. Some people just drive me nuts.

Well lets get it quite clear from the start ... If they are doing these things, they can hardly be referred to as a professional.

i agree... a true professional would know not to try any of the above and risk the health of the clients nails.

It looks like the beauty business has its own form of cowboys.
Short cuts, missing out on essential proceedures, not much interest in doing a great job just the thought of a quick buck.
What happened to the term ''Beauty Professional''

What worries me is that some people may read these "ideas" and try it anyway, especially if they are new to the industry and think that it will cut down on timings etc., which we as "professionals" know all it will lead to is the detriment of the client's nails and inevitably health.

When I worked in a salon before, the owner was constantly cutting corners and that told on her client's nails, I left because that was not the way I was trained, and she expected me to do the same. She did not care about the nails just the number of people he could get in her salon in a day.

There is nothing to beat good reputable training and following the great advice and tutorials that are available here on the site.

I think this is why the rep system is important, because it gives you an idea of whos advice you can trust!

I see what you mean Geeg! I've just had a quick flick through. Really rather frightening!

One of posts says that a 100 grit file is provided with a course that can provide the demo but not the feedback! So, a person totally new to the skill can pick up a 100 grit, use it on a real nail and no one there to say "don't do that"! Amazing!

Fortunately the poster doesn't use that side. I wonder how many do? No amount of demos can persuade the student "who knows best" because they've mistakenly believed that the 100 must be quicker than the 180!

Some of these things just go completely over my head, as i can not get my head around some of these techniques. I have to read over & over again to imagine them.

I know we all want to do things quicker but isn't the health & safety of the clients natural nails the most important things here & the finished result the second. I have a woman who`s natural thumb nail has turned completely black with a tinge of green due to improper prep by a nail bar, but she has not gone back because they don't provide a consultation form at the start.

So i think, let these cowboys get on with it, but in the end, word will spread of their slackness, then they will lose, may be taken to court for damage & i will be the winner as my PROFESSIONAL services will out do them in the end as word will spread around.

But you can only tell clients the right thing if they want to listen. When it comes to advice, i sometimes feel i am constantly slagging the bars off, but then i think, if they have a problem, i am only telling them the truth that they should know. So i am trying my hardest not to comment. But if a client wants to know, i will truthfully inform them.

I had a client the other day who said that a technician finished a full set of silks in 45 mins. I am so jealous. Why can`t i finish a full set in 45 mins. But she then said they fell apart within the week!! I am still jealous though. But never mind. Maybe i should try some of the techniques geeg was on about eh. (no...only kidding).
Laura.x.

I am interested to know who would follow some of this advice. I think this site is fantastic but sometimes worry that some people who have no training and have no intention at all of getting any training will think that they can gather infomation and learn to 'do?' nails.

Would anyone who has had good training be tempted at all to resort to some of these ideas? I would hope not but you never know. I am no expert and the practical side of my nails need soooo much more work but I can't forget the theory side that was drummed into me by my CND educator. I trusted what she was telling me implicitly and have NEVER deviated from it from reading articles on here or any where else for that matter.

Once again it just shows how important good training is. I think if you have an ounce of common sense and some good training you would probably know while reading it that it is complete cobblers!!

Don't be the least bit jealous!

I remember going to see a lady in the USA who had become quite famous at shows for her 20 minute full set!!

Well she did it but they looked absolutely terrible. Thick, square, out-of- balance, sculpted nails and she only did them in 20 minutes because all the prep had been done first and all the forms were already applied before she started. Again it is rubbish and marketing hype and bears no resemblance to reality. She also used a 100 grit file all over the nail plate as well as acid primer. A very bad example to all.

is there a way that the professionals on this site could be made to stand out, depending on their qualifications and experience, maybe they could be rated with stars or something and then new geeks would know whos advice to take seriously and whos advice to chuckle at ? not sure how this could be done but it would be nice to see at a glance who actually knows what they are talking about, call on mr geek to come up with something xxxx

i actually think thats a good idea!

To me, I see those type of posts as great opportunities to educate why their suggestions may not be a great idea. Let's face it - they are not being purposely ignorant - they just don't know a better way. The only problem with posting in ignorance is if we all miss the opportunity to educate a better way.

It was in fact one of the driving forces behind the key "why" I set these forums up, and look what we have done so far! I just wish I had more time to exploit these opportunities as of late

Don't criticise it - change it!

Everyone and Keeley, there are allot of great professional techs on this site and I think they all stand out a mile because of how and what they post and the quality of information in those posts. I think looking at a persons reputation also tells a story. I think the cowboys standout like a sore thumb.

Believe me as a moderator of this site ... the dodgy ones can be spotted within a few posts. The people with an 'agenda' can be spotted almost immediately. They nearly always hang themselves pretty quickly.