Baggybear
Well-Known Member
I use Cuccio pronto clear (a soak off gel) or Eco clear soak off gel. Both of these products are advertised as being able to be used as a base and a builder gel and a seperate base product is not required.
I buy my SS5, flat back, NON hotfix, swarovski crystals from Scatter crystals, there are many other sites you can buy them from too.
Factory Pack Swarovski Flat Back Crystals, Non-Hotfix, Style 2058, SS5 (1.8mm)
I wipe the feet clean with wet wipes & then sanitise (I am mobile).
Apply Cuticle Away and remove all cuticle. Clean cuticle away off with a lint free wipe & mild soapy water. Remove the shine from nail plate. Shape the free edge if needed. *If doing Crystal pedicure with Minx I apply Minx to the 4 small toes then move onto the crystal big toes last*. I apply Dehydrator. Then I put a very thin base layer of gel on the nail and cure. I apply a thicker layer of gel and place the crystals on the nail from eponicium to the free edge, I apply as many crystals as I can and I cram them onto the nails to minimise any gaps. Apply more gel and crystals as needed until the whole nail is covered with crystals. I do NOT line them up or try to keep them uniform.
The only time I worry about crystal placement over gaps is if I'm doing a french tip look and even then I try to pack on as many crystals as possible to the main area of the nail and then apply the acent colour along the tip and move the main colour crystals as little as possible to fill any gaps created along the join so that the main colour and accent colour meet nicely but I leave gaps as small as possible between all the crystals.
When I have put as many crystals as I can on the toe I clean the skin around the nail and cure. If any crystals are overhanging the free edge I file them back and then I apply Eco Universal Soak Off Top Coat and cure (the top coat is VERY thin and runny so I prefer to do 2 thin applications to ensure all the crystals are embedded but not flooded with top coat) on the second application of top coat I ensure the free edge is capped, cure and wipe with cleanse. Apply a little solar oil to the cuticle area and massage in ***retail solar oil at this point if possible***
Sets I do last for weeks and weeks and weeks. You must still advise clients to take care with their toes (not to wear tight fitting shoes & walk miles etc..). I use Eco Universal Soak Off Top Coat because it does NOT dull the crystals and it helps to keep the crystals in place while still being super shiney.
FAQ:
How many crystals will I need?
Approx 120 crystals for the 2 big toes, 4 small toes approx 200 crystals per foot.
So a full set of toes approx 300 + 200 + 200 = 700.
You should get 2 full sets from a factory pack BUT there are the obvious variables to take into account, nail length, width and crystal size and how close you pack the crystals onto the nails.
What size crystals do you use?
I prefer SS5 so only use that size. Any size crystals can be used though and sets using different sizes look nice too.
How much to charge?
I charge between £45 & £55 for the 2 big toes.
£45 other wraps & silver crystals
£50 Minx & silver crystals
£50 other wraps & coloured crystals
£55 Minx & coloured crystals
£60 full set of silver swarovski toes
£65 full set of coloured swarovksi toes
Do you use a coloured gel under the crystal?
Personally I don't, I just use the clear gel and allow the coloured crystals to provide any colour required. If you want to use a coloured gel then you can. If you want to use glitter (rockstar nails) then you can. I don't but you can if you want to.
How do you pick up the crystals?
I use a little bit of gel on the back of my hoof stick.
You can also use a orange stick with a blob of blu-tac on the end or orange stick dipped in water.
How do you store your crystals?
I have all my different swarovski crystals in small clear screw top pots.
Do I need a qualification to do these?
You do need a certificate for insurance, if you have either a gel or a fibreglass qualification then you SHOULD be ok to apply crystals using that product (gel with a gel qualification or resin with a fiberglass qualification) but the only way to know if this is requried by your insurance is to ring them and ask. There are crystal pedicure courses out there you can do if you want or need a certificate.
What colours do you use?
I use crystal (the silver ones), crystal AB, hyacinth (red), sapphire, emerald, sunflower, amethyst, rose & Jet (black).
How to remove them?
I use the foil wrap method with acetone on the cotton pad to remove them and they remove fine in the normal time (approx 10 minutes wrapped).
Hope I have covered everything, if what you want to know isn't here ask away below & I will add the answers.
XxX
I buy my SS5, flat back, NON hotfix, swarovski crystals from Scatter crystals, there are many other sites you can buy them from too.
Factory Pack Swarovski Flat Back Crystals, Non-Hotfix, Style 2058, SS5 (1.8mm)
I wipe the feet clean with wet wipes & then sanitise (I am mobile).
Apply Cuticle Away and remove all cuticle. Clean cuticle away off with a lint free wipe & mild soapy water. Remove the shine from nail plate. Shape the free edge if needed. *If doing Crystal pedicure with Minx I apply Minx to the 4 small toes then move onto the crystal big toes last*. I apply Dehydrator. Then I put a very thin base layer of gel on the nail and cure. I apply a thicker layer of gel and place the crystals on the nail from eponicium to the free edge, I apply as many crystals as I can and I cram them onto the nails to minimise any gaps. Apply more gel and crystals as needed until the whole nail is covered with crystals. I do NOT line them up or try to keep them uniform.
The only time I worry about crystal placement over gaps is if I'm doing a french tip look and even then I try to pack on as many crystals as possible to the main area of the nail and then apply the acent colour along the tip and move the main colour crystals as little as possible to fill any gaps created along the join so that the main colour and accent colour meet nicely but I leave gaps as small as possible between all the crystals.
When I have put as many crystals as I can on the toe I clean the skin around the nail and cure. If any crystals are overhanging the free edge I file them back and then I apply Eco Universal Soak Off Top Coat and cure (the top coat is VERY thin and runny so I prefer to do 2 thin applications to ensure all the crystals are embedded but not flooded with top coat) on the second application of top coat I ensure the free edge is capped, cure and wipe with cleanse. Apply a little solar oil to the cuticle area and massage in ***retail solar oil at this point if possible***
Sets I do last for weeks and weeks and weeks. You must still advise clients to take care with their toes (not to wear tight fitting shoes & walk miles etc..). I use Eco Universal Soak Off Top Coat because it does NOT dull the crystals and it helps to keep the crystals in place while still being super shiney.
FAQ:
How many crystals will I need?
Approx 120 crystals for the 2 big toes, 4 small toes approx 200 crystals per foot.
So a full set of toes approx 300 + 200 + 200 = 700.
You should get 2 full sets from a factory pack BUT there are the obvious variables to take into account, nail length, width and crystal size and how close you pack the crystals onto the nails.
What size crystals do you use?
I prefer SS5 so only use that size. Any size crystals can be used though and sets using different sizes look nice too.
How much to charge?
I charge between £45 & £55 for the 2 big toes.
£45 other wraps & silver crystals
£50 Minx & silver crystals
£50 other wraps & coloured crystals
£55 Minx & coloured crystals
£60 full set of silver swarovski toes
£65 full set of coloured swarovksi toes
Do you use a coloured gel under the crystal?
Personally I don't, I just use the clear gel and allow the coloured crystals to provide any colour required. If you want to use a coloured gel then you can. If you want to use glitter (rockstar nails) then you can. I don't but you can if you want to.
How do you pick up the crystals?
I use a little bit of gel on the back of my hoof stick.
You can also use a orange stick with a blob of blu-tac on the end or orange stick dipped in water.
How do you store your crystals?
I have all my different swarovski crystals in small clear screw top pots.
Do I need a qualification to do these?
You do need a certificate for insurance, if you have either a gel or a fibreglass qualification then you SHOULD be ok to apply crystals using that product (gel with a gel qualification or resin with a fiberglass qualification) but the only way to know if this is requried by your insurance is to ring them and ask. There are crystal pedicure courses out there you can do if you want or need a certificate.
What colours do you use?
I use crystal (the silver ones), crystal AB, hyacinth (red), sapphire, emerald, sunflower, amethyst, rose & Jet (black).
How to remove them?
I use the foil wrap method with acetone on the cotton pad to remove them and they remove fine in the normal time (approx 10 minutes wrapped).
Hope I have covered everything, if what you want to know isn't here ask away below & I will add the answers.
XxX
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