Need gel help.. and help in general!

[bimbogeri]

I know this post will probably sound very stupid to a lot of people who have read any of my other posts with me crowing about my new business, my products blah blah blah, but I'm asking for help anyway

I have been sitting here today, doing the books, cash-flow projections, going over my past purchases and my future plans... It has had my head fairly spinning, I can tell you. Not only that, it points out to me how naive and reckless I have been at times.
Without digressing too much, what it boils down to is this:
I have decided that in order for me to get on better with the business and provide a better service to my clients (should they ever come), as well as survive financially, I need to streamline a bit.
I have been quite reckless with some purchases in the past, and I put my hands up to that. Even recently, when I thought I was being organised, I have made some decisions that probably weren't too clever. I have got my priorities wrong often and put products, purchases and fancy marketing ahead of skills and sense. I should have remembered the old adage 'less is more'.
Now I have decided that what I really want to do is to concentrate on gel. I want to do more training courses to take on sculpting (to avoid tip and overlay if at all possible) and improve my set times.
I am happy with my sets right now but I feel I am spreading myself a bit thin and maybe buying products too cheap, and I really want to specialise and be A KICK-ASS TECH. It turns out my best laid plans maybe weren't laid too well, so now I am going back to the beginning and I am determined to build my business into being a great one, and that starts with specialising in ONE SYSTEM. But really to do this I also need to find myself a kick-ass product.

I have read all the threads on 'which gel', weighed up pros and cons, prices and ranges, but I still don't know where to turn. I know there have been threads like this before but I still can't find an answer. What I am looking for in a gel is this:

The ability to sculpt above all - some of the gels I have tried are too runny for this - make lovely smooth overlays but won't stay in the right place to sculpt.
A coverage gel is A MUST. I have unevenly coloured nail plates and a free edge that starts quite a way down my nail plate, and the only way I can get a decent set on myself if with a coverage gel. My nails are my advert, so they gotta be good!
Back-up training is a must. I travelled far and wide for my training so far but I have no back-up if I want one-to-ones or troubleshooting. It may be a problem if I have to train with a company to be able to use their products though, simply because of current cash-flow. I would train with them as soon as able and hope to get some money from New Deal but I won't know on that one just yet.
Coloured and special effects gels - desirable just so I have a choice, but I won't be buying any just yet!

So far I have narrowed my choice down to: NSI, Gel It! and LCN although I would like to know if people have information on Nail Solutions gels. Although I trained with and like Pronails gels it is too far for me to travel to Bushey Heath if I need training - both NSI and LCN have local trainers for me. I have temporarily ruled out Brisa for the simple reason that I don't want to be mixing up gels to get a coverage colour (please nobody take offence!).

I would appreciate it if people could give some opinions on which gel they would go for, but more importantly WHY (filing times, easy to work with, good company customer service, good colour, no lifting, good training etc etc).

So, what it basically comes down to is the girl who thought she was starting to know it all coming down to earth with a bump!! Consider the humble pie eaten, my fellow geeks' help sought!

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Hi Lol, adding to our recent emails I can add some more about LCN that will help others too.

I have been an avid fan of theirs for some time now But admit that just recently I have been a bit at odds with them. I think this is mainly down to them going through quite a few staff changes which is always unsettling for a Company, and also that they cancelled their competition workshop at short notice. I have also found that although their training is good it doesn't quite have the full potential that Creative offers and this is my biggest bug bear. They do do troubleshooting courses, but as far as I am aware they don't do one to ones.

However their products offer a tech so much choice, but they are expensive. They have a good sculpting gel - Rhea Mumford won a sculpting competition using gel. They have a pastel range which is great for disguising blemishes etc but still giving a natural look. Lifting however really comes down to your skill, as they don't lift if applied properly. The self levelling gels are easy to apply but their premier gel -Sculpture - takes a while to master, but it is VERY strong.

Their customer service has always been excellent, you feel like a person not a number and they always get back to you.

HTH

 

[MINKUS]

HI YA


Boy your thread makes me think i am having a deja vu!!!!!!

I am such a product junkie! I switch from one to the other!

The gels i have knowledge of are

A) BIO-SULPTURE.....good points nice and easy to apply...lots of colours...soak off.
Bad points (that i have found other teks pls dont yell at me!!) are its rubbery trying to rebalance, it yellows on some clients....its very expensive...not strong at all for tip and overlay unless you start fiddling about adding silk etc..back up is NIL/NADA/NOT HELPFUL. IMAO.


B) NSI - good points cheap as chips... strong nice p&w (if you get the extreme white) bad points...............erm.......not come across any yet only that they overcharged me carraige on my last order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DO HAVE BRISA ON AT THE MOMENT WHICH I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE ABSOLUTELY FALLEN IN LOVE WITH - ITS SO STRONG AND I HAVE BASHED MY FINGERS LOADS...TYPING...HORSE...CLEANING...ETC ETC AND ITS ALL STILL THERE!!

Good Luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMB xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[MINKUS]

forgot to say most importantly, if i do go for BRISA creative backup and support is 2nd to none. Loads of fellow geeks can vouch for that!!

HTH

ambxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Bagpuss]

soooo glad to hear your nails are still on xxxx

I know what you mean about the lack of colours and shades with Brisa, it is the only reason why other gels sometimes turn my head (at the min i cant get Ezflows Gel it outta my head) but to be honest i cant be bothered trying them all out and then all the extra training with another company. I made my decision with Creative and i am going to stick with....and just wait for the colours and shades and i hear even a soak off Brisa to come....cos i know when it does it will be the kick ass gel that you've been looking for. It shouldn't be much longer I'm sure, i know what you mean about mixing, i did a Brisa mix and it was lovely but i dint want to be doing this all the time , i want to be able to buy it already done for me.

I dint know what to advise you but you have worked out want you want and dint want, and how you want to run your business which shows that you are taking it all very seriously and because of that i think you will be the kick ass nail tech that you want to be.

best of luck xxx

 

[RedAdmiral]

I had wondered about your products! although I havent used acrylic dip or acrylgel and I was waiting to see when you would change to another product line. Your so smart and passionate about nails that I didnt think you had made the best choice with product. I agree that maybe 3 lines is too much at first and that you should concentrate on gel. I dont want to sound harsh as I think your fab being so dedicated and professional, Your website is amazing, you will be so successful but for a professional like yourself you should get the best product available cos if you dont you will never be satisfied that you have produced the best nails that you can.

I trained with NSI and the training and backup is excellent. They have a great product line. The Balance gel is the business very workable and strong, it is very easy to buff off and you can sculpt with it. They do great show offers and everyone at the demo table know's his/her stuff. I defo recommend that you try them out - ask for Amanda Rainsford-Jones, shes the head of training.

Lol dont be so hard on yourself reg. the money and training you've spent, unfortunetly most of us have parted with our spondoolie and received crap training or a product that didnt agree with them. Its all part of the learning curve!

Hope this helps honey!

 

[bimbogeri]

Thanks for everyone's advice and also your kind words

I'm feeling less fed up about it now.. although I still haven't worked out where all the money's gonna come from (can see lots of personal belongings going on to ebay ) I am determined to get better product and training. I deserve to be the best tech I can be!
I've drawn myself up a day planner and have ensured my currently empty hours are going to be full of practising, from sculpting right down to the perfectly polished nail.

Waiting on some info about LCN and NSI then I'm gonna sort out how much money I need and how to break it to dad that I'm not 'done' yet! :lol:

 

[Mani-fique!]

I know what you mean about the lack of colours and shades with Brisa, it is the only reason why other gels sometimes turn my head (at the min i cant get Ezflows Gel it outta my head) but to be honest i cant be bothered trying them all out and then all the extra training with another company. I made my decision with Creative and i am going to stick with....and just wait for the colours and shades and i hear even a soak off Brisa to come....cos i know when it does it will be the kick ass gel that you've been looking for. It shouldn't be much longer I'm sure, i know what you mean about mixing, i did a Brisa mix and it was lovely but i dint want to be doing this all the time , i want to be able to buy it already done for me.

This exactly what I've decided to do, particularly as with gel you really have to make sure you have the correct lamp and can work out really costly jumping from one company to another. It really is so tempting when you see other gels offering more options isn't it!! But like you I'm sticking with Creative. I figured that I would be far better becoming competant before messing about with other gels. Besides by the time I become a top notch Brisa girl who knows.... the rest of the range will be out by then and I won't need to look else where. LOL!

 

[VickyB]

Hi

Have tried several gels ... am quite fussy and like them perfect.

I've used NSI Balance for some time - but agree with you on
(a) - No coverage gel .... definately a must. I've tried a few coverage pinks and am currently suprised at a very reasonably priced one that I got from Beauty Express (website and catalogue available). It is their own range and is called Jean Marin ... it is the french pink with excellent coverage (don't get it mixed with the normal pink) - it's 6.95 & vat for 15g - shocking eh

(b) - Now - only this week I received Light Elegance Builder gel clear ... my goodness, out of this world ... beautiful to work with - does NOT run down the sidewalls - stays exactly put, but so easy to use - finds it's own shape on the nail but does NOT run at all .... I love it - hence me trying to get rid of some of my NSI Builder gels on geekbay (as I have far too many ... lol).

I really don't think you'll be disappointed with the Builder and if the pink is the right colour for you - well you've cracked it.

Also - Light elegance do training (very reasonably priced conversion and workshop courses). They also do a coverage pink which I have yet to try.

Hope this helps ... sure do love my gel and I'm TOTALLY satisfied with it.

All the best, Vicky x

I know this post will probably sound very stupid to a lot of people who have read any of my other posts with me crowing about my new business, my products blah blah blah, but I'm asking for help anyway

I have been sitting here today, doing the books, cash-flow projections, going over my past purchases and my future plans... It has had my head fairly spinning, I can tell you. Not only that, it points out to me how naive and reckless I have been at times.
Without digressing too much, what it boils down to is this:
I have decided that in order for me to get on better with the business and provide a better service to my clients (should they ever come), as well as survive financially, I need to streamline a bit.
I have been quite reckless with some purchases in the past, and I put my hands up to that. Even recently, when I thought I was being organised, I have made some decisions that probably weren't too clever. I have got my priorities wrong often and put products, purchases and fancy marketing ahead of skills and sense. I should have remembered the old adage 'less is more'.
Now I have decided that what I really want to do is to concentrate on gel. I want to do more training courses to take on sculpting (to avoid tip and overlay if at all possible) and improve my set times.
I am happy with my sets right now but I feel I am spreading myself a bit thin and maybe buying products too cheap, and I really want to specialise and be A KICK-ASS TECH. It turns out my best laid plans maybe weren't laid too well, so now I am going back to the beginning and I am determined to build my business into being a great one, and that starts with specialising in ONE SYSTEM. But really to do this I also need to find myself a kick-ass product.

I have read all the threads on 'which gel', weighed up pros and cons, prices and ranges, but I still don't know where to turn. I know there have been threads like this before but I still can't find an answer. What I am looking for in a gel is this:

The ability to sculpt above all - some of the gels I have tried are too runny for this - make lovely smooth overlays but won't stay in the right place to sculpt.
A coverage gel is A MUST. I have unevenly coloured nail plates and a free edge that starts quite a way down my nail plate, and the only way I can get a decent set on myself if with a coverage gel. My nails are my advert, so they gotta be good!
Back-up training is a must. I travelled far and wide for my training so far but I have no back-up if I want one-to-ones or troubleshooting. It may be a problem if I have to train with a company to be able to use their products though, simply because of current cash-flow. I would train with them as soon as able and hope to get some money from New Deal but I won't know on that one just yet.
Coloured and special effects gels - desirable just so I have a choice, but I won't be buying any just yet!

So far I have narrowed my choice down to: NSI, Gel It! and LCN although I would like to know if people have information on Nail Solutions gels. Although I trained with and like Pronails gels it is too far for me to travel to Bushey Heath if I need training - both NSI and LCN have local trainers for me. I have temporarily ruled out Brisa for the simple reason that I don't want to be mixing up gels to get a coverage colour (please nobody take offence!).

I would appreciate it if people could give some opinions on which gel they would go for, but more importantly WHY (filing times, easy to work with, good company customer service, good colour, no lifting, good training etc etc).

So, what it basically comes down to is the girl who thought she was starting to know it all coming down to earth with a bump!! Consider the humble pie eaten, my fellow geeks' help sought!

 

[Lady_of_Pain]

I have some comments and also a question.

This is not what you want to hear, but I would personally recommend Brisa gel. I have used several different gels including Gel-It and I don't understand why anyone would use anything but Brisa. I find it perfect to sculpt with - definitely not runny like a lot of gels I have tried, it is the strongest gel by far and just when you use it you can just tell it is of superior quality. Plus there are so many other reasons - check the Brisa Q & A by Geeg.

I am wondering why you need a gel that covers so much? I can understand maybe every now and then needing something with a bit more coverage for a problem spot or 2 but surely if you mixed up some in an extra empty gel pot that should last forever you would think...... but maybe I am missing something???

 

[Oceana]

Hi guys just thought I'd add my two penneth worth.......

You all know I am going to recommend LCN - it ticks all your boxes Lol and the customer service is fantastic and you cannot get a better sculpting gel.

Lady of Pain a coverage gel is an absolute MUST HAVE, not only for damaged/marked nail beds but also for illusion sculpting on biters so you can cover up the natural (short) smile line and put the smile line where you want it to be. I simply could not live without my Sculpture Pastel!

And, just for the record if I wasnt such an LCN devotee......it would have to be ez flow gel it! Excellent range of colours and lovely to work with.

Clare