French manicure help needed!

[LouPink]

Hi Ladies,

I am a Natural Nail specialist using Icon gel polish.

The majority of my bookings are for block colours and I have never had much call for french and it is not something I tend to do on myself so havent done a french polish for ages!

I have just got a booking for 2 ladies for french on both hands and feet and they have said they would like a bit of glitter on.

Just wondered if any of you lovely ladies had an tips/advice on a perfect french?

If I was to do glitter tips over the white or maybe just a line of glitter where the white starts would you completely finish the nail, including wiping the tacky layer and then apply a thin layer or line of white and pat in the glitter?

Any help would be great. Have a couple of weeks to practice my smile lines!

Thanks xx

 

[LouPink]

The lady has just said they would like some sparkle in the way of diamontes x

 

[sapphirebeauty]

Hi Lou,
I don't use Icon but I've done this with Shellac before so not sure if Icon is anything similar...?
I basically did my usual prep etc, then applied my base coat only to the tip of the nails and cured. Then add a white smile line, as neatly as you can but if you do make any mistakes, remove it with a clean and dry gel brush and then cure. Then I applied my base coat to the rest of the nail, cure, apply the pink/nude and cure.
Then I applied my diamantes to the tacky layer and then put my top coat over them. Fianlly remove the residue and add your oil and you should have great looking nails
Hope that helps, would love to see a picture when they're done! Kelly x

 

[LouPink]

Hi Lou,
I don't use Icon but I've done this with Shellac before so not sure if Icon is anything similar...?
I basically did my usual prep etc, then applied my base coat only to the tip of the nails and cured. Then add a white smile line, as neatly as you can but if you do make any mistakes, remove it with a clean and dry gel brush and then cure. Then I applied my base coat to the rest of the nail, cure, apply the pink/nude and cure.
Then I applied my diamantes to the tacky layer and then put my top coat over them. Fianlly remove the residue and add your oil and you should have great looking nails
Hope that helps, would love to see a picture when they're done! Kelly x

Aww thanks Kelly, thats great advise, will give it a go.

Do you normally do diamontes on all nails or just index finger?

Louise x

 

[SerenityNailz]

Hi Ladies,

I am a Natural Nail specialist using Icon gel polish.

The majority of my bookings are for block colours and I have never had much call for french and it is not something I tend to do on myself so havent done a french polish for ages!

I have just got a booking for 2 ladies for french on both hands and feet and they have said they would like a bit of glitter on.

Just wondered if any of you lovely ladies had an tips/advice on a perfect french?

If I was to do glitter tips over the white or maybe just a line of glitter where the white starts would you completely finish the nail, including wiping the tacky layer and then apply a thin layer or line of white and pat in the glitter?

Any help would be great. Have a couple of weeks to practice my smile lines!

Thanks xx

Hey

The way I do mine with shellac is:

Pep
Base coat ( whole nail) - cure
Sheer pink colour (whole nail) - cure
Do white tips - clean up smile lines if needed with a gel brush moistened with IPA (make sure the brush isn't too wet though) - cure
You can then add another layer of pink and cure if you want to tone down the white
Top coat and set in diamontes - cure
Another coat of top coat and cure (optional)

Some find that top coat over crystals dulls their shine but I find it enhances it and I like to know that the crystals will stay put!

Hth

x

 

[SerenityNailz]

Aww thanks Kelly, thats great advise, will give it a go.

Do you normally do diamontes on all nails or just index finger?

Louise x

If the client wants alot of diamontes per nail then I would try and sway them towards ring finger only. If its just one or two per nail then either or really. Ultimately go with what the client wants but use your knowledge to try and guide them

x

 

[sapphirebeauty]

Sorry for the late reply!
I agree with SerenityNailz, just whatever the customer wants then you sort of have to go with it. The great thing that i find is if you just lightly place them over (don't push them down) then you can see what it's going to look like and the client can then say yes/no.
Personally I think if you're doing a french, 3 diamontes in a triangular shape look really nice on the smile line to one side but it is totally up to the client and yourself.

 

[sapphirebeauty]

Hey

The way I do mine with shellac is:

Pep
Base coat ( whole nail) - cure
Sheer pink colour (whole nail) - cure
Do white tips - clean up smile lines if needed with a gel brush moistened with IPA (make sure the brush isn't too wet though) - cure
You can then add another layer of pink and cure if you want to tone down the white
Top coat and set in diamontes - cure
Another coat of top coat and cure (optional)

Some find that top coat over crystals dulls their shine but I find it enhances it and I like to know that the crystals will stay put!

Hth

x

Totally agree with the top coat over the diamontes, I don't feel as if they will last otherwise and I think it also helps to bring out the shine and enhance them!
Isn't it weird though how everybody has their own little way of doing the French! Amazing how we all pick up tips and tricks from others and adapt them to suit us. The wonderful world of nails!! X

 

[DONSLJ]

Would any of you ever glue the diamantés on the cured topcoat and then another topcoat over that? I'm keen to try using diamantés but worried about them coming off with heavy handed clients if just cured into the topcoat?

 

[SerenityNailz]

Would any of you ever glue the diamantés on the cured topcoat and then another topcoat over that? I'm keen to try using diamantés but worried about them coming off with heavy handed clients if just cured into the topcoat?

If you place them into your uncured top coat and then cure and then do another coat of top coat and cure you avoid the need for glue which can dull the shine if it gets on the top of the diamontes. Also as mentioned above by doing it this way you can move the diamontes around before you cure so if you want to rearrange them then you can

Hth

X

 

[SerenityNailz]

Would any of you ever glue the diamantés on the cured topcoat and then another topcoat over that? I'm keen to try using diamantés but worried about them coming off with heavy handed clients if just cured into the topcoat?

I would also say to clients that they need to be extra careful with their nails if they are having diamontes - it wouldn't be suitable for heavy handed clients IMO unless for a special occasion - to be honest most (not all) clients who want crystals etc added tend to have it only for special occasions anyway. Once they leave your salon it is up to them to look after their nails properly - make sure you retail them solar oil and emphasise the importance of using it - the rest is down to them! x

 

[DONSLJ]

Thanks ladies! Im going to get practising! Sorry to hijack your thread loupink.xx

 

[LouPink]

Sorry for the late reply. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who replied, will try out all your tips.

Thanks again

x