Damn I wrote a huge answer and then pressed the back button before submitting my reply.
Okay this is an answer coming from a gel user who uses a high end product and I'm afriad Gotnail? that your answers are based on products and knowledge that are way out of date. Sorry don;t mean to offend but I get tired of hearing that gel can't do this that and the other and l&p is best ... no doubt the same as l&p users get tired of hearing that gels are far better for your nails than l&p which apparently some people are still scaremongering people with, saying L&p is so terribly damaging.
So Rachel Mary in answer to your question, firstly may I say that your trainers need to get out of the Dark Ages and come into the 21st Century. Gels have developed so much recently, even in the 4 years that I have been using them. I now use Creative's Brisa which is their rentention+ in a gel form and trust me it is strong.
So the truth about gel is...
1. totally odourless
2. No guess work with mix ratios, it's all done for you
3. You can build a natural looking nail with a perfect apex and completely flush at the cuticle end - take a look in my gallery and you will see this is true (although mine aren't perfect!)
4. Great for nail biters - I specialise in them and most of my clients are biters in varying degrees of cannabalism!
5. They are strong if applied correctly and you use an up to date, high end brand
6. There are gels available in colours to disguise flaws on the nail plate and give the appearance of an elongated nail, and if your brand doesn't make them then you can mix your own - Ruth (nailsinlondon1) has a great recipe for this
7. The strength issue comes from people applying it like polish. This is not how it is done, you build an apex just as you would with your l&p. A lot of places teach the brush on method which is so out of date and should only be used for natural nail overlays.
8. It doesn't cure until you place it under an uv light, so you have time to play with it, or remove and start again which is great in the early days as you don;t have the Himalayan mountains to file down as often happens with newbies!
9. It's more flexible and so more comfortable on the nail (that is just a personal opinion though)
10. They are less prone to lifting and so clients can go longer between infils, most of mine are 3-4 weeks and could go to 6 weeks if they wanted to.
11. It is harder to get a crisp smile line with gels, but not impossible
12. Clients can experience a heat spike as the gel starts to cure (do a search on heat spike and you'll find out more)
13. You can sculpt with gel no problems I often do it.
14. I have never lost a client because I only do gel.
Come on those of you who STILL think gel, wraps and l&p are so different. If you use the latest products and techniques then you will know they are not. If your clients are that heavy handed should they be having long nails anyway? And if so then it is up to you as their technician to re educate them on how to use their hands.
So please can we stop this "gel is so weak" stuff cos frankly I get tired of it? Sorry hun you hit a raw nerve!! (Or the other one I hear is don;t have wraps because they shatter - well that's down to poor technique not the product.)
