Acrylic or Gel??!

[suzynsoph]

Hi there - just using my trainer hand to refresh my application skills from 30 years ago> Back then it was all acrylic, sculptured nails and no tips were used. Obviously over the years since leaving this full time I have done the odd client - tips and acrylic overlay. Now refreshing skills - I used to be really good - so that I can, hopefully, open a salon with my daughter who is doing make up, tanning etc and learning nails at a home course - right beside me now.

Are gel nails as popular - more popular, less popular etc than acrylic? Would it be helpful to be able to offer it all? If so how do I know which gel products to buy, and precisely what I need? Every site I go into has so so many options I am confused!!! I have done gel in the past - 10 years ago - but there were not so many options back then. Help!!
Also my husband and three sons are moaning like mad a bout the smell of the monomer every time Sophie and I are practicing. Any ideas?

 

[Bagpuss]

I think the best advise would be to go on a training course...things have changed so much and even just a refresher course would help loads.

 

[loubylou]

I agree with Angie, you need to go on some training,
your skills may be very good but they are also quite outdated, you don't want your clients to know more about the up to date methods than you when you are in a salon :hug:

 

[priory]

Both acrylic and gel are popular, it's better to know both systems then to focus on one.
Good luck !
Hugs

 

[suzynsoph]

Thanks for the advice. Am taking a course from home online via young nails. Will that do? Have continued to do my nails and my daughters friends from time to time all the time?

xx

 

[Marlise]

I agree, as a tech I think it's essential to be able to offer your clients both systems.

There are a lot of techs that offer one or the other, but I think it gives you a real advantage if you can offer your clients both.

A refresher course will do you the world of good, or maybe even do a 5 day intro course again. As mentioned before, things have changed so much that it might be better to "start over" again.

Do you perhaps have any pics of your nails that you could share ? We would be able to give you some honest critique on them if you feel that might help ?


M.

 

[Bagpuss]

sorry pet hate of mine...Its L&P or Gel...not acrylic or gel...they are both acrylic.

 

[Marlise]

sorry pet hate of mine...Its L&P or Gel...not acrylic or gel...they are both acrylic.

:lol: :lol: :lol: I agree.

Just clarify for Suzy, L&P stands for Liquid and Powder.


M

 

[suzynsoph]

Thanks to you all for the advice. I agree that I need a refresher course. Unfortunately my 20 year old son is quite seriously ill with not one but 2 serious illnesses - in and out of hospital non stop at moment so need to do home based or online course to fit in with all my running around! And I simply NEED to do it for my sanity too!!

Is nail academy on line a good course? How do I know which gel products to use etc.
S

 

[lilly]

i have just tried acrygel, a mix of gel and l&p, its looking really good, strength of acrylic but shine of gel

 

[Bebeautiful]

Hi suzynsoph,
Welcome back after so long, I am not surprised that you are confused, but my advise would be to enjoy and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the "bling bling". I agree that you should do a refresher course and I know that you will go far. Getting back to gel or acrylic, gels are really doing well because they have introdued coloured gel making this system more popular than acrylic. Acrylic is also popular particularly because of the artistic part however the only let down is the smell of the monomer, fortunately people have become use to the strong smell, some are even addicted to the smell lol. Goodluck here's giving you a big hug :hug::hug:

 

[Marlise]

Is nail academy on line a good course? How do I know which gel products to use etc.
S

Hi Suzy,

Have a read of this very handy Gel guide that Amber wrote.

http://www.salongeek.com/general-articles/35483-choosing-correct-gel.html

I'm not familiar with the Nail Academy... can you give us some more details on them.

The only home learn course I know about is EN.


Marlise

 

[suzynsoph]

Hi i FOUND THE NAIL ACADEMY AS A LINK THROUGH YOUNG NAILS SITE, FOLLOW ONTO TRAINING. THEY CHARGE £39 FOR THEIR ONLINE COURSE.

Let me know what ou think.
Suzy

 

['chelle]

Hi

Can I be honest with you? And by no means do I mean this in a negative way so please dont think I'm trying to be abrupt, but - if you havent got the time to do what I would call a proper course, I would seriously re-think your plans. Firstly, I've never done a home learning course, but I think that for salon purposes you will need something a bit more hands on, with a tutor who can show you how to do things rather than trying to pick bits up from videos or books.

Also, if you havent got time for the course, you most certainly wont have time for the ins and outs of opening a salon, building up your client base etc.

As I said, please dont think I'm trying to be negative, I wish you every bit of luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[suzynsoph]

I dont think you are negative but I assure you that I have successfully run a home salon a few years ago wich I managed to fit in very well around my son (now he is older and less dependent). I have done full and proper training courses in the past, and I very often do the odd friend of mine or my daughter - albeit not as perfectly as I would like. I will be doing plenty of practicing on the nail trainer, and I am also booking a 1-2-1 full day refresher and assessment with a qualified tutor at my home after I have had plenty of practice. Especially as I want to learn about the application of the new gels and l&p.

I was, at one time, extremely good, and listed many well known people amongst my clients in Hampstead.
I can only hope, with my lack of use, plus the fact that I am much older now that I can become as good as I used to be. I suspect that I will be a bit slower but I wont be doing any clients at all until I am really proficient. Luckily my husband is very much behind me and has told me tonight to book whatever courses I want to do at home and he will pay if it makes me happy! Awww love him to bits xx

 

[suzynsoph]

Forgot to mention that it is not my intention to work for anyone else. I already work in my husbands business 3 days per week - my choice which days, hours so very flexible. I used to love doing the nails and as my daughter is doing a media make up NVQ and wants to do the courses for nails too she has inspired me to refresh old skills. If, after Sophie completes her course in 2 years, she wants to open a salon with her mum - I will be right there beside her.

So please dont think you are being negative - I take all advice on board - getting clients would be the icing on the cake for me but restoring my skills is more important to me - I have felt so terribly depressed facing the awful news of my sons illnesses and his shaky future that I really want to do this for me and my sanity.

So please feel free to say what ever you believe will help me. Honestly

 

[Marlise]

Hi i FOUND THE NAIL ACADEMY AS A LINK THROUGH YOUNG NAILS SITE, FOLLOW ONTO TRAINING. THEY CHARGE £39 FOR THEIR ONLINE COURSE.

Let me know what ou think.
Suzy

Hi Suzy,

I've been to the Young Nails web site and can't find any information on The Nail Academy. Was it one of those random ads that you clicked on ?

I have to be honest, £39 for an online course does ring alarm bells with me.

As I can't find any information on them and don't know exactly what they are charging the £39 for, but my gut is telling me that something isn't right. £39 is REALLY cheap for any form of training and I would have reservations about this ....


Marlise

 

['chelle]

Forgot to mention that it is not my intention to work for anyone else. I already work in my husbands business 3 days per week - my choice which days, hours so very flexible. I used to love doing the nails and as my daughter is doing a media make up NVQ and wants to do the courses for nails too she has inspired me to refresh old skills. If, after Sophie completes her course in 2 years, she wants to open a salon with her mum - I will be right there beside her.

So please dont think you are being negative - I take all advice on board - getting clients would be the icing on the cake for me but restoring my skills is more important to me - I have felt so terribly depressed facing the awful news of my sons illnesses and his shaky future that I really want to do this for me and my sanity.

So please feel free to say what ever you believe will help me. Honestly

Wel from what you've said, I would say go for it! If you are wanting to do this for yourself just as much as you want to do it for work then there's never a wrong answer. Do what feels right for you, and if you have had all those years of experience and you just need refreshing, I would imagine it will all come tumbliing back to you anyway.

I can recommend the CND courses, have you thought about doing a conversion day with them? I still do my training with them as I like the way that I can go over and do one day every now and again in between work when it suits me, and I can vouch for the quality of the training too, they are very good.

 

[suzynsoph]

Yes sorry about that you go to young nails.co.uk thento prom9o and training aids and online course leads to nail academy.

Let me know what you think

Suzy