Ezflow,Calgel and bio sculpture are dry prep i didn't really this was old technology am i doing harm to peoples nails.

Hi

I just started a nail class on Saturday using NSI Balance gel. The tutor told us to use a 150 file to take the shine off the nail and for blending. Then a 180 file to finish blending.
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I said DRY prep AND etching of the plate with a coarse grit file. BOTH

There is nothing wrong with a dry prep if it is done sensitively keeping a keen eye on the health of the natural nail.

Oh good and i do.

Sorry, that's what I meant "less" than 240.. I got it backwards in my head. LOL

Yup! We do. Funnily though, in my course, they taught to etch the nail with a 180 (as per the instrux from the distributor) She called it removing shine... but ummm I saw dust..... and etch marks... plus done with a 180...so to me, that's ETCH.

That's what brought on my questioning, and I was wondering what the general consensus was.

Many colleges rely on etching the nail plate to solve any lifting problems (which it does) and do not bother to teach gentle prep techniques preferring not to have the hassle of any problems.

These are the same one that tell you that enhancements ruin nails!!!

Until you reach the nail bed! However the lovely redness does give a "Je ne seis quoi" to the enhancement!

I learnt to wet prep and use 240grit to remove shine as was CND trained. During my nail journey I have tried other products (as we all do - lol, how else do we find out what is the best, we love spending money on experiences just to come back to the beginning - not). When using other products still used a 240grit to remove shine and the health of the natural nail plate has alway been my priority. I found that as long as the nail plate was free of oil and surface contaminants and dry I did not experience any lifting.

Often I do a dry prep and wet prep only when I feel is required.

I use a 120 grit on old acrylic, then the closer I get to the natural nail, the finer the grit (down to 240), then I don't buff the natural nail at all.

Great question V - when I was using a hand file to remove the shine I used a 240 as well. I did, on occasion, use a 180 grit when I had a client that had cuticle halfway down her nail plate - but that was rare. The prepper barrel I use now is a diamond bit and it is a medium grit (approx 180) but I use absolutely no pressure and I have no problem just removing shine (1-3 layers as per Doug Schoon).

I won't use an enhancement system that required more than that to make sure the product adheres. I also think that many people confuse etching with taking the shine off as etching used to be what you had to do (way back when the wheels were square) to get the old enhancements to adhere.

There are so many misused terms in this industry! I get people in the store all the time that think that a c-curve is the apex of the nail. Talk about confusion! LOL!

Have a great day!

Not at all? Not even to blend it in? A file must touch the natural nail at some point?
I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to be sure I understand what you're saying


(ps: also waiting on tenterhooks for vid regards 'flikking' when filing??)

Yeah great post V.

I use Le Chat (acrylic) & Natural Elegance (gel) [+ fiberglass application]... and I was taught to use my white block to buff the shine off the nail (no etching) and to remove the cuticle.