Acrylic Sculptures v Acrylic tip overlays

[kajay]

I am a month into my L & P course. We are being taught the reverse application way, both in french sculptures, and french acrylic tips.

I have always had my nails done the white tip, with an acrylic tip overlay, which to be honest I would love the stage where she would apply the white tip, because I loved the intense white of it, then she would overlay the complete nail and tip with acrylic, which took the brightness of the white away.

As we are being taught to apply pink on nailbed, and white acrylic over natural tips, or pink and white sculptures, I have found it difficult to perfect the smile lines. I have applied over 30 sets of sculpts and tips, and find that everyone is extremely happy with the stunning white applied acrylic, however, it does take me between 1 3/4 and up to two hours to apply. I use an electric file to finish, which helps. But, I am wondering if it is worth it, as the overlay with acrylic to a white false tip, seems an alternative easy, and quick way to do extensions, but they are not as stunning as acrylic white tips.

My practice clients have all said they prefer the white acrylic application than the white tip overlays, and say they are happy with the smile lines, but I am not, and sometimes get dark shadows on the whites, so I feel until I am happy with a full set being perfect I wont charge anyone. My assessment is due in a few weeks, and my tutor will advise me on how much to charge based on my work, but its the time thing I am concerned with. Maybe I could charge more for sculptures, and pink and whites, and offer tip overlays as a cheaper option! But, I feel that the tip overlays look neater, but not as stunning.

 

[hello_kitty]

hi

i had sort of the same problem! i had always used white tips at home then i got a job in a salon and they wanted white acrylic tips which i had done but always didnt like the smile line n got a dark shadow under the line! they shoed me the best way of doing the white tips buy doing all your whites frist the hole set then apply the pink! i just practist my smile lines on old tip cut offs brought sum cheap tips n just sat there every day doing smile lines now i can do them with out looking! x

 

[loreli1981]

I think for being a month into your course and getting the P&W under two hours is actually something to be proud off.
Smile lines seem to be the bain of everyones life but like with everything it takes practice, i'm practicing mine like mad because think it is definatley something to set me apart from other techs.

I'm down to about an hour but only on the nail trainer and thats just 5 fingers! If your clients are happy with the effect then i would take the compliment and keep at it.

Yes the white tips can look good- but i find only on a certain kind of nail bed. They can look horrendous on a nail biter. If you get the p&w acrylic down to a fine art, you can add custom blend to elongate the nail bed and your customers will love it.

x

x

 

[hello_kitty]

Laura i think ur right i hate seeing white tips on nail bitters my sister in law had her nails done not long a go with white tips she is a big nail bitter ther was not pink on her nail all white! i did them with w & p power n it looks like she has a really long nail plate so much better x

 

[ajshard]

I am also learning pink and whites. both tip and overlay and sculpts, both are taking me 2 1/2 hours altho on the whole I am happy with my smile lines.

We are being taught with tips with a full well area so lots of blending too lol. Our teacher says this way we will have learnt the hard way so we can go away and do anything. No blend and white tips will be easy in comparison, I cant wait to see how well I can do a set using either, but for now I'm sticking with what I'm being taught.

Another thing she pointed out is that you cant do a rebalance with a white tip if you dont know how to apply the white acrylic.

All my models are loving the pink and white, suppose i should be pleased but am desperate to do a natural set now...

 

[Vaughny29]

Hi Kajay, can you tell me, are you doing the Signature5 Foundation Course? I am thinking of doing this course in the next few weeks and I hadn't realised that you covered sculptured as well as overlays. If this is the case, you have just made my day, cause ultimately that is what I wanted to do!!! xxx

 

[kate08]

I am a month into my L & P course. We are being taught the reverse application way, both in french sculptures, and french acrylic tips.

I have always had my nails done the white tip, with an acrylic tip overlay, which to be honest I would love the stage where she would apply the white tip, because I loved the intense white of it, then she would overlay the complete nail and tip with acrylic, which took the brightness of the white away.

As we are being taught to apply pink on nailbed, and white acrylic over natural tips, or pink and white sculptures, I have found it difficult to perfect the smile lines. I have applied over 30 sets of sculpts and tips, and find that everyone is extremely happy with the stunning white applied acrylic, however, it does take me between 1 3/4 and up to two hours to apply. I use an electric file to finish, which helps. But, I am wondering if it is worth it, as the overlay with acrylic to a white false tip, seems an alternative easy, and quick way to do extensions, but they are not as stunning as acrylic white tips.

My practice clients have all said they prefer the white acrylic application than the white tip overlays, and say they are happy with the smile lines, but I am not, and sometimes get dark shadows on the whites, so I feel until I am happy with a full set being perfect I wont charge anyone. My assessment is due in a few weeks, and my tutor will advise me on how much to charge based on my work, but its the time thing I am concerned with. Maybe I could charge more for sculptures, and pink and whites, and offer tip overlays as a cheaper option! But, I feel that the tip overlays look neater, but not as stunning.

I think Kajay is learning with Young Nails in North Wales (am I right?). Kajay - Just ask yourself, you are being taught p&w acrylic application for a reason... It is the professional way to apply a set of p&w whether it is t/o, or nno. White tips might save you time and possibly money but imo they are an inferior finish! (Sorry to those who disagree!)

Just think once you are happy with the p&w application you can switch the white for colour, glitter etc. Thats where the real fun starts. Don't give up on the p&w or you're smile lines, it will come and you're time is fine for how far along you're course you are! You will be so glad in the long run that you learnt this way, it will make progressing in the future so much easier!

 

[kajay]

Yes, I'm doing my course with Young Nails in North Wales, and we are being taught the hard way. I am still practicing for free on people everyday, and also in the evenings. At the moment, I am practicing backfills and infills.

We missed the full day training on this subject, due to our tutor being ill, it was postponed for two weeks, and is scheduled for this coming sunday, but I did go into the salon to watch her carry out a backfill, infill, which turned into a complete removal with efile, as the client had left it too long, and wanted glitter applied to tips, she didn't have sculpts or tips applied as her natural nails were long enough.

I took most of it in, but find I need to watch over and over again to get it into my head. I find the dvd Flawless French helpful, and watch it over and over. I had a client for a backfill today, where I had previously applied pink and white to natural tips, which needed infill too. I decided to use my efile to take product completely off, as I am still not sure how to infill. The whole procedure took me 2 and half hours from filing product off, and applying reverse pink and white to the previous tips which were all still on. The time factor is concerning me a little, and really hope I can get it down. My tutor, efiled off, and applied glitter tips, and pink bodies to clients nails in an hour and a half.

I have also found that the Young Nails optical brightener top coat, which I have used until I got my uv lamp, is very popular with my clients,they love how it makes the whites look extra white, and the pinks look almost lilac in bright daylight! Now, that I have my lamp, and use the gel top coat, and cure it under the lamp, they were not getting the optical white with this, so I have been applying the extra topcoat ontop of the gel topcoat to keep them happy. This is going to cost me more, and may offer either gel, or optical top coat, and if they ask for both maybe charge extra for the optical brightener?!

I have got a night off tonight, and although, I am chilling with my husband, I'm getting withdrawal symptoms!! LOL. I absolutely love doing nails, and get pleasure out of doing nice sets for people. I find it very therapeutic!

 

[Cathie!]

I would just use the top coat if that's what your clients prefer. No point in applying both.