Anxious about using acrylic

[mrsnails]

Hiya Everyone,

This is probably going to come across as ridiculous to many of you, but please bear with me!

I completed & passed my manicure training last week, this week I am starting my nail extension training in acrylics.

I am getting myself in a tis about using the acrylics, Im worried that the smell/dust is going to give me headaches and make me feel ill.

(Bit of backgorund, I suffer from panic & anxiety attacks generally over being/getting ill, It has taken a lot of therapy to get me where I am today and I dont want to give up before I even get started)

Has anyone got any tips/suggestions that would help someone like me overcome this hurdle?

Any help would be so gratefully receivied:hug:

 

[angel fingers]

that must be very difficult for you.

i think once you get down to actually using the products, the process of application is going to enough for your mind to focus on and there wont be room for your panic thoughts to creep in and take over. its a process that will require all your concentration.

as with all these situations, the dread of the problem is much greater than the likelyhood of it actually happening. try to remeber that there are thousands of nail technicians working each day who encounter absolutely no problems with their health.

it is pointless telling you not to worry, that is the nature of your condition. however you know that you need to get the risk into proportion. it is very unlikely indeed that you would have such a response to the products/process and any feelings are probably due to panic alone.

 

[mrsnails]

Angel Fingers, Thank you so much for your reply, you seem to completly understand where I am coming from!

I know that atleast 90% of it is all in my head, just wish my head would take a day off and let me get on with it!

My first day is tomorrow (11-5).

I know your right, there are thousands of people using acrylic daily who are fine with it, hopefully I will be like them

Have you got any tips in reducing the smell/dust ??

Thank you again:hug:

 

[angel fingers]

Angel Fingers, Thank you so much for your reply, you seem to completly understand where I am coming from!

I know that atleast 90% of it is all in my head, just wish my head would take a day off and let me get on with it!

My first day is tomorrow (11-5).

I know your right, there are thousands of people using acrylic daily who are fine with it, hopefully I will be like them

Have you got any tips in reducing the smell/dust ??

Thank you again:hug:

yes, i do completely understand because i am very close with someone who has had very similar problems.

if you have a go on the search function you will find lots of help on the odour issue.

i bet you will be o.k. have a great day and really enjoy your training.

 

[Missy G]

Angel Fingers, Thank you so much for your reply, you seem to completly understand where I am coming from!

I know that atleast 90% of it is all in my head, just wish my head would take a day off and let me get on with it!

My first day is tomorrow (11-5).

I know your right, there are thousands of people using acrylic daily who are fine with it, hopefully I will be like them

Have you got any tips in reducing the smell/dust ??

Thank you again:hug:

TBH you ll eventually become amune to the smell, I tend to smell it in the car as Im mobile ,but apart from that ,dont really get a waft of it must say. :Grope:

 

[Seraphine]

TBH you ll eventually become amune to the smell, I tend to smell it in the car as Im mobile ,but apart from that ,dont really get a waft of it must say. :Grope:

Hi Missy - just wondering, why are you smelling it in your car? I'm mobile too, and I don't have any issues with my car smelling like monomer.

Is your lid tight on the bottle? The smell might be coming from your work rubbish, or your towels - I'd throw the rubbish away before it gets into your car (ask to throw it in your client's outside bin) For your towels, maybe find a solid bin to put them in for transport to keep odours down (metal preferably, but a heavy plastic would probably work for short periods, providing you took the towels out as soon as you got home to wash them)

My husband would have the biggest tantrum imaginable if my car started to smell like chemicals!

 

[Seraphine]

Angel Fingers, Thank you so much for your reply, you seem to completly understand where I am coming from!

I know that atleast 90% of it is all in my head, just wish my head would take a day off and let me get on with it!

My first day is tomorrow (11-5).

I know your right, there are thousands of people using acrylic daily who are fine with it, hopefully I will be like them

Have you got any tips in reducing the smell/dust ??

Thank you again:hug:

MrsNails - I just wanted to wish you luck on your new endeavor! It's a very exciting process, and although I know worry is an issue for you, just know people here at Salon Geek are pulling for you and will help any way we can. AngelFingers is right - there's lots of info here on dust and odour prevention, and your instructors should show you how to work safely with your products.

Good luck and have fun with it as best you can!

 

[wendy malley]

I'm close to someone who suffers from anxiety too so well done for trying thats the first step. As angel fingers said there is a lot of help on here, the more facts you have the less you will have "maybes and what ifs" and less to worry about. Go for it and enjoy X

 

[Nickie]

I am someone who also suffers with anxiety and its nasty. I understand completely where you are coming from. I have done my L+P training. I loved it! And once I get up and back in business properly cant wait to get back to CND and learn more. Only time I did suffer any headaches was the intensity of the course! (they taught us soo much at CND, my 'lil brain almost burst). If you are using a good product then you propably wont have any issues. Try and look at it as a fun thing or maybe you will worry yourself into a headache. We are all here to support you at the end of the day. Try to relax and go with it (easier said than done I know) TBH I now love the smell of retention + cos to me it means the thing I love...nails. Let us all know how you get on. xx

 

[mrsnails]

Thank you so much everyone:hug:

My tummy is doing somersaults at the mo ! Sure it'll all be fine once I get there, its just getting there!

Will have all your messags in my head to keep me going and will let you all know how I get on :hug:

 

[geeg]

You've had great and supportive replies to your post.

I thought also that from a chemistry point of view, you might like to know the facts as well.

Firstly odour does not determine whether or not a chemical is safe. For instance, there are many perfumes that people find overpowering and that they believe give them headaches. As Doug Schoon points out in his book ... it is our noses that are receptive to pleasant smelling odours or repelled by not so pleasant odours ... our other body organs such as liver or kidneys couldn't care less!!! So whether or not an odour is sweet or sour is no indication that something is non hazardous or hazardous.

There is no evidence ( durring the 30+ years that nail technicians have been doing their jobs) that in the small concentration we use in our job, there is any physical danger or hazard.

It is good though to make sure that the working environment is a pleasant one for all, s here are a few vital tips for ensuring that it is.

It is so easy to minimise the odour to practically nothing.

1. Do not wipe the monomer out of your brush onto dry paper! Instead, wipe your brush on a pad that has been dampened with Scrub Fresh instead and there will be virtually no odour. Wiping your brush on dry paper is the biggest factor that causes odour in the salon.

2. Always cover your dappen dish immediately after use.

3. Put all used paper and wipes in a lined metal container and empty frequently.

4. Transfer all monomer to the dappen dish with a pipette to avoid any spillage.

5. Follow manufacturers' guidelines and install an extraction ventilation system for dust extraction.

Just doing these simple things will virtually eliminate odour in your working area.

FUMES you do not need to worry about as we do not make any fumes working with nail products.

VAPOURS are what we need to eliminate as much as possible as the smell of monomer can be detected by the human nose with as little as 5 parts per million in the air.

HTH and good luck.

 

[Missy G]

Hi Missy - just wondering, why are you smelling it in your car? I'm mobile too, and I don't have any issues with my car smelling like monomer.

Is your lid tight on the bottle? The smell might be coming from your work rubbish, or your towels - I'd throw the rubbish away before it gets into your car (ask to throw it in your client's outside bin) For your towels, maybe find a solid bin to put them in for transport to keep odours down (metal preferably, but a heavy plastic would probably work for short periods, providing you took the towels out as soon as you got home to wash them)

My husband would have the biggest tantrum imaginable if my car started to smell like chemicals!

Hi there, I always take my rubbish home with me , something I was told to do in my training ,the smell is more than likely comin off the lint free pads , when I wipe the brush.
Think I might actually invest in a small tin to put my rubbish in when I leave a clients,see if that helps .

 

[mrsnails]

Hi everyone

Just to let you know that .........


I really enjoyed the first day of my course today!


My tutor was pleased with the progrss I made, and Im half a day ahead of what I should be :green:


I didnt find the acrylic smell too bad-i noticed it more walking into a room with it rather than using it close up!


I struggled with blending, it took me ages, anyone got any tips as to how can improve my technique or will it just come with practise?


Thanks again for all your support :hug:

 

[Missy G]

Hi everyone

Just to let you know that .........


I really enjoyed the first day of my course today!


My tutor was pleased with the progrss I made, and Im half a day ahead of what I should be :green:


I didnt find the acrylic smell too bad-i noticed it more walking into a room with it rather than using it close up!


I struggled with blending, it took me ages, anyone got any tips as to how can improve my technique or will it just come with practise?


Thanks again for all your support :hug:

Glad everything went well for you today hun.

Blending can be made easier by simply using a better brand of tips, most geeks you ll find will recommend CND and Pro impressions tips ,much easier to blend or you can go for well less ones (no blending),if the client has some free edge.

 

[angel fingers]

Hi everyone

Just to let you know that .........


I really enjoyed the first day of my course today!


My tutor was pleased with the progrss I made, and Im half a day ahead of what I should be :green:


I didnt find the acrylic smell too bad-i noticed it more walking into a room with it rather than using it close up!


I struggled with blending, it took me ages, anyone got any tips as to how can improve my technique or will it just come with practise?


Thanks again for all your support :hug:

HOORAY, knew you'd be o.k :hug:

well done.

you'll need to follow the procedures for blending that your tutor sets for you.

i personally teach my students to trim out part of the well on the tip and pre blend tham by thinning the tip with the file before its applied. i know that this technique works well for me and for them.

do what you are told to do for your assessment and then if you are still finding it difficult, try this technique.

 

[geeg]

Do a search on here for 'nailclass' the book by gigi rouse. All the techniques in that book are to help you do beautiful efficient work at every stage of creating enhancements. It will be the teacher by your side while you are working. :hug:

Available from Sweet Squared 08452106060

 

[Violet Star]

I am the same ive always taken a wide berth to Acrylics due to the smell as ive had acrylics on before and whilst the therapist was doing them i had terrible headaches.
Thats why i chose to go with gel which is a shame as some of my clients will only have acrylic and not gel.
I also used to suffer from terrible anxiety and panic attacks. Not so much anymore.
Hths x

 

[Nickie]

Its great to hear your getting on ok