Hi everyone. I've been doing acrylic nails since Christmas and they've always gone really well. They look natural and go a good amount of time before a rebalance is necessary. No problems at all. However, the last set I did – the lady lost three in a week while on holiday. Now she wants the rest taking off. She’s not angry or anything but I feel really disappointed as now my reputation is a little tarnished. I use creative products. What could I have done wrong or is this just a one off – did her nails reject the acrylic????

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks

If this isn't something that happens alot then what makes you think its you....? she probably just broke them...maybe she had them a bit long....her nails have not rejected anything otherwise all 10 would be off...clients do break nails and often don't like to admit it.

I think that we are often too ready to blame ourselves at times. The thing is, we have no control over what a client does after they leave the salon.

I am sure this will not tarnish your reputation.

You'll get plenty of clients who do things like this .... better toughen up and take it on the chin, it's part of the job.

The clever thing would be to 'talk her 'round' and convince her that with 3 broken nails they must've been too long and why not have a go at a shorter more practical length and then decide if she wants to keep her nails or not?

The thing I am impressed with is that she is coming back to you to get them taken off.. Nothing worse when they decide they don't want them and "pull" them off themself, then go on to blame you when their nails look rubbish..

perfect time to do as gigi said and talk her round, while you are taking them off.. perhaps even talk her out of removal and into a more suitable shape and length as already suggested...

good luck!

Holiday???.....Hmm packing, ovehead plane lockers, sun cream..... I really dont think you are to blame.....

Did she have them longer especially for the holiday?

Dont be made to feel guilty....You know that your other sets are fine....xx

Its amazing that some people think the nails will stay there forever, whatever they do. My mum broke a nail and another started to lift, this was only 2 weeks after me doing them but she is one for not wearing washing up gloves, not using oil or handcream. I said what did she expect? It appears she expected them to be indestructible. Bless her, I patched her up and off she went. Probably to use the bleach without her rubber gloves on .

oh my god! it sounds like you are describing my mother, lol, she is (was she got a talking too) exactly the same, came to me after scrubbing things with white king for a few hours and said i dont know why but my nails arent going too well, hehehe!
Perhaps we should feel special that they think our enhancements can withstand anything!

I do not think that this has anything to do with your service - you said yourself "she is not angry or anything". Perhaps she just wanted them for the holiday? I had a lady who had bio for her holiday - she said they lasted well considering all the activities she did - like rock climbing!!! I would just accept that this happens sometimes and does not sound like a reflection on your work. Like Gigi says maybe they were to long for her?

It's all about aftercare!! Some do it and some don't. Those that take a little time to look after their INVESTMENT reap the rewards. Those that don't ... have problems.

My nail enhancements never lift and I NEVER wear gloves. Hate the smelly things. I can't work in them. BUT I do SolarOil my nails every day and more often than once if I'm exposing my hands to allot of work. I do the same for my skin using the Almond soothing Lotion. It's logical. But some women never think and don't look after themselves never mind their nails.

I have Solar Oil all over the house and my car has both the CND Almond Lotion and Solar oil. I use these things when I am watching the TV or at the traffic lights or getting into bed. You need to tell clients to buy not one but 2 or 3 and place them where they will have the time to use them.

Like most good technicians I can tell in an instant if a client has not been doing any aftercare. I tell my clients to look at my nails that work all day and compare them to theirs!! I ask them why they think mine look so different? The answer Aftercare with Solar Oil. They learn eventually that it costs them less money to use it.

Me thinks she only wanted them on for her holiday and now she back she wants them off - fair enough. I have alot of clients like that and do a service where they pay for a temporary set and removal. Its great for nurses and they usually get it again at Christmas. I do poppits/white tip n overlay and charge €10 for removal = €65
Its all down to consultation and aftercare. You need to know what clients expect and they need to know what you expect them to do.

So true.. I never wear gloves.. I garden, cook clean even redecorate and very rarely have a problem.. ( i say rarely because the odd time here and there i have broken a nail.. but thats bad application on my part)I have a massive bottle of solar oil that i use religiously, and before bed every night i use solar oil and almond lotion.. then wake up and do it again..

In the early days its all too easy to blame yourself. But as has already been said, if your other sets have all been fine, it's obviously not something you're doing in your application. And anyway, you apply all ten the same way - why would 3 come off? If it was down to application they would all come off!

I was one of the worst at thinking it must be me, and worrying about stuff used to keep me awake at nights sometimes. I can remember taking stick from a few clients about nails that had "pinged off on their own" etc etc . . . its hard when you're starting out to know how to handle it. Six years on I don't have any of their nonsense lol It is mostly down to aftercare and that good old oil - PMSL Geeg about not wearing smelly gloves - sounds like me

If it were me, I would talk her into having them shorter and replacing those three . . . this will do several things:-

a) it will show her that there's nowt wrong with your nails and that you know what you're talking about

b) it will give her the chance to wear them for another 2/3 weeks and hopefully get hooked on them

c) it will show YOU that you need to have more confidence in your abilities!

Good luck hun xxx