Hi,

I am going to be doing acrylic toes soon so I thought I'd practice on myself, I started with just doing a french polish with clear acrylic overlay just so I had practiced doing the pink and white acrylic and the polish and overlay.

Once I had applied the polish I applied the clear acrylic and once the acrylic had set I started to file a little to finish.

The acrylic started coming off the toenail and the french polish went all gloopy and started coming off.

Any ideas where I might have gone wrong?? Got soemone book in on the weekend!!!

as far as i know the polish underneath causes the acrylic to crack / lift as it is not a "prepped" surface. i use gels for hollywood toes. NSI do a balance hollywood toes kit

How much training have you had? Your profile doesn't say......

You can't apply L+P over polish - the polish can't set and the L+P can't adhere to polish...... If you want to use clear L+P an dpolish you will need to do it the other way around - apply your product, buff it smooth and then use polish to make your french.

You really need to know your technique before you start working on the paying public......

hth's

this is what I thought, the surface isn't prepped so how would the acrylic set??!!

I know of people having their natural nails applied with a nail polish and then having a clear acrylic overlay applied.

How would this work though??

I did this on myself, I would never "have a go" on someone I would always make sure I was 100% first. I only tried it this way as this was how my teacher told me to go about it which I have obviously learnt now is incorrect.

I have had friends say they have had this done in salons themselves though so I am really confused now!!

You haven't stated what training you have had and what system you are using. Could you fill in the gaps for us please so that we can help you.

Regarding your friends, they could actually have had Gel toes done, and it could have been a paint on white gel used and not a polish. Customers aren't always the best ones to ask, as they don't really know or even watch what the technician is doing or using!!!

With acrylic, you need to do a proper prep of the nail, and either apply pink and white acrylic for the french look. Or as Vetty has said, apply your clear acrylic overlay do all you finishing and then apply a french manicure polish. The polish will of course last for ages on the acrylic product.

Good luck.

Trained in NSI acrylics and sculptured- 1 years experience.

Ih that case I agree with Izzidoll. Most people have toes done with gel rather than l&p, and to the untrained eye it might look like they have a french polish which is covered with "acrylic", when in fact its a base coat of gel onto a thoroughly prepped nail, white paint on gel, then a topcoat of gloss gel.

L&P can never be applied to anything other than the surface of a throughly prepped nail, it just wont adhere (as you've seen!). If you are going to apply l&p to the toes you will need to apply your product and paint your french polish on over the top once you've filed & buffed the product.

One of the other ladies said that the polish will last longer on acrylic- why is this?

I though it would make no difference?? Its still as much at risk from wear and tear.

Professionally applied polish (basecoat, 2 thin coats polish, topcoat) should last 5-7 days on a natural nail without flaking or chipping.

On an enhancement though, because it is less flexible, polish adheres so much better and does not chip or flake at all. Clients can come back for their maintenance appointments 2-3 weeks later and all you will see is the regrowth area without polish. Sometimes about the 3 week mark the polish could fade away from the tip, but it still won't chip!!
This is why a lot of clients like an clear acrylic overlay on their own nails, as polish lasts much longer.
HTH

Make sure the surface is prepped for the application of the product of choice.

Using L/P , I highly recommend an OPI heat eq.
It's a monomer warmer that keeps your liquid @ the perfect temperature. You will have better controlof your product. For myself, (this is a personal observation) the adhesion is much better.

As for gel toe application, I have switched most of my clients over to this. It's easier, faster, thinner and the results, (my personal observation) are outstanding.