Are white tips cheating?

[noodles]

Hi, I'm quite new to being a nail tech and have trained with NSI in their gel system. My trainer taught me to use clear tips and then paint the white part on with white gel. This seems such a long winded way though and it takes me ages to do a full set of french. My trainer said not to use white tips, but what does everyone else think? I reckon I could just cut my time by loads. How do you know when to use white tips instead of sculpting? And also, I have seen a few sites which sell coloured tips, are these any good? I ask because a couple of weeks ago I experimented on my sister with some white tips which I admit, were cheap (ebay!). And after a day, small shadowy patches were appearing on the white part as though the gel was starting to lift away. Obviously I don't want this to happen with a client! Was it because they were cheap tips? Or does the gel not stick very well because the white tips are shiny?
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[del3]

Using white tips are fine if they are suitable for the nail bed (nice long nail beds prefarably)
you need to buff the shine off gently so that the product can adere to the tip.
I 've usd the coloured tips as well just as 'fun nails'.
be carefull if you are buying the cheap ones as I've made this mistake and bought some that were not buffable,some pearly ones are like this (the colour came right off) and wasted my money.
xxx

 

[Nailsinlondon1]

Well it depends what you want to offer. White tips have their place, but they will need re balancing and having to remove them to put another set on is time consuming in the end....how are you going to relocate the smile line once they have grown out????? You need to know how to do it in the first place xxxx and that means doing it your tutors way..
You might as well well start as you mean to go on. My clients love the fact that they only ever needed one new set and then go on to eventually having their own nails, but with a fab french overlay.
Product lifting occurs when the seal is broken and adhesion is missing.
You need to remove the shine from the tips prior to product application and cap the free edge and not file it anymore. Capping provides a seal so the product stays firmly on the tip and doesn't lift off the free edge.

A wise woman (Geeg) told me many moons ago, short cuts make long delays......
Listen to your trainer huni, learning how to do it her way takes time, but with time and practise, you will have your timing down in no time.....

Coloured tips are fun, but I use coloured gels and then rebalancing or colour change is easy peasy xxxx
Just take your time and enjoy the education ride to success xxxx

 

[noodles]

Thanks for the advice, might just use coloured tips for doing my own nails then. I tried using NSI colours gels but I just couldn't get to grips with them, I followed the instructions but the colour kept coming off, it was a nightmare. Even my tutor had problems! what range colour gels do you use? Can I use another brand for that whilst also using NSI gels?

 

[oey]

Thanks for the advice, might just use coloured tips for doing my own nails then. I tried using NSI colours gels but I just couldn't get to grips with them, I followed the instructions but the colour kept coming off, it was a nightmare. Even my tutor had problems! what range colour gels do you use? Can I use another brand for that whilst also using NSI gels?

When you say the colour kept coming off at what stage was this?

I currently use Bio sculpture gel for colours and dont use the NSI ones but I believe there was some confusion on the application procedure for the NSI colours.

 

[rebeccaj]

A wise woman (Geeg) told me many moons ago, short cuts make long delays......
Listen to your trainer huni, learning how to do it her way takes time, but with time and practise, you will have your timing down in no time.....

Coloured tips are fun, but I use coloured gels and then rebalancing or colour change is easy peasy xxxx
Just take your time and enjoy the education ride to success xxxx

Great Advice Nailsinlondon, I have been tempted many times to take short cuts in an attempt to improve my times, so far I have resisted. I know I am not attracting many clients because of it (time P&W 2-2.30 hrs) but I have faith that you are right and it will eventually come.

 

[angel fingers]

one of the reasons your tutor may have told you that white tips are not good, is the fact that gel often has a very difficult time curing on a white tip.

the dense white colour reflects away and prevents curing in the tip area.
this will lead to the gel peeling off the tip.
white tips also need very thourough removal of the shine because the gel can not grip on the surface properly.

 

[noodles]

When you say the colour kept coming off at what stage was this?

I currently use Bio sculpture gel for colours and dont use the NSI ones but I believe there was some confusion on the application procedure for the NSI colours.

I put the colour gel on, cured, left the residue on (as stated on instructions), then applied a second coat, left residue on and put finish clear on. But the finish clear was picking up bits of colour from the residue. So I tried it again but removed residue before putting finish clear on, and then loads of colour just wiped off when I cleansed it! Made a complete mess of my brush as well. Can I use biosculpture gels or do I have to do their proper training first?

 

[oey]

You do have to do the Bio training to be able to purchase their products.

To me it sounds like perhaps the coloured gels werent cured for long enough. Dont apply each layer too thick and yes I never remove the sticky layer between the two colour gel and finish gel layers. YOu may get a tad amount of pigment onto your finish gel brush but it shouldnt affect the final outlook.

How long were you curing for?

 

[noodles]

You do have to do the Bio training to be able to purchase their products.

To me it sounds like perhaps the coloured gels werent cured for long enough. Dont apply each layer too thick and yes I never remove the sticky layer between the two colour gel and finish gel layers. YOu may get a tad amount of pigment onto your finish gel brush but it shouldnt affect the final outlook.

How long were you curing for?

I was curing each time for 2 mins. My lamp has a setting for 3 mins, maybe I should have done it for that instead?

 

[oey]

I was curing each time for 2 mins. My lamp has a setting for 3 mins, maybe I should have done it for that instead?

Well its certainly worth a try and apply each colour layer quite thinly too.

 

[VillageNails]

hi karen
i'm not a gel gal but new like you too.
white tips DO have their place - particulary for those holiday/party clients who might only have a full set or one infill. YES you will save loads of time and it ISNT wrong to use them for this. (hey we're all tempted to use popits to save us our most expensive commodity - TIME)Try using the well- less tips (i use proimpressions) as these slightly improve the look.
i've moved several of my clients to a cbm and they love it - but some gals - hey they wouldn't give up their white tips for anyone!!
you're lucky your trainer taught you like this as you will be able to offer a full rebalance service - but take all the gel advice from the gel geeks - but hey give yourself a break - do what is right for you and your clients

 

[stoney]

Are you applying a layer of clear gel, like a base coat, really working it into the nail with firm strokes?

This will give you a base on which to work.

You need 2 thin coats of colour gel, curing each time for 3 mins.

I then remove the tacky layer and buff very slighty, and i mean just enough to give a key, then apply finish clear.

Works like a charm.