Gel and MMA.............

[catsaremad]

Hi Guys

I have had a potential client ask for a soak off and a french overlay in gel. However she wants it done know and I don't have the soak off product and have a couple of questions about procedure.... so this is for future reference.

I think she has MMA acrylics..........whats the best product to use to soak off ?

My gel is a dry prep, if I soaked off the old product would the Gel adhere properly after the soak off????

Would I/Could I do a rebalance instead using the gel over the existing product ????????????

As I'm still training and everything I do is covered under my insurancee as case studys should I charge ????? I feel really 'funny' about charging in case I do a bad job.

 

[naturalnails]

Firstly what makes you think she has MMA on her nails?

Soaking is done using acetone and it could take up to an hour depending on how thick the product is. If there has been a gel overlay then you will need to remove this before soaking.

What do you mean your gel is a dry prep?

Yes you could do a rebalance over the existing product provided it was adhered to the nail properly with no lifting.

Yes you should charge - if you dont value your service then neither will the customer.

Hope that helps.

 

[catsaremad]

Hi I only think it may be MMA because she does not know what product they use, they use a drill and wear masks and she has said they are indestructable !!!

I was going to phone the shop and ask what products they use!!!

I use Ezflow and 'dry prep' I was worried that all the soaking with acetone would effect the way that the product would adhere.

 

[Vetty]

I use Ezflow and 'dry prep' I was worried that all the soaking with acetone would effect the way that the product would adhere.

Acetone dehydates nails not hydrates so wont affect the adhesion at all.

Tbh, you need to get some product remover asap - you never know when a client will need a nail soaking off, it's not just for removing a complete set. I encounter clients at rebalances who have bad lifting on one nail and it is easier to soak that nail off and replace it than to try and file all the lifting out and rebalance it.

hth's

 

[catsaremad]

Hi Yvette, my gel is a buff off as opposed to a soak off and I have not done any training in L&P yet.

Could you recommend a good product to use for soak off please.

 

[Vetty]

Hi Yvette, my gel is a buff off as opposed to a soak off and I have not done any training in L&P yet.

Could you recommend a good product to use for soak off please.

I use Mundo's Product remover (www.mundoproducts.co.uk), it's great and not expensive. It's worth having some because of clients who have either a soak off gel or L+P on their nails when they come to see you.....

 

[franjess]

Hi I only think it may be MMA because she does not know what product they use, they use a drill and wear masks and she has said they are indestructable !!!

I was going to phone the shop and ask what products they use!!!

I use Ezflow and 'dry prep' I was worried that all the soaking with acetone would effect the way that the product would adhere.

You can found out if its MMA by trying to soak off and by filing the enhancement. MMA Products don't soak off you have to file and when you file some say it smells fishy. Its very hard to file thats why they use drills or it would take much much longer to file off. The places that us MMA usally end up prying the nails off causing great damage to the natural nail.
Try searching on the web (Removing MMA acrylics to get more info).

 

[NSINAILS]

Acetone will remove any acrylic (MMA or otherwise). The difference is that if your client has MMA product, it could take an hour or longer to soak-off! That is why some techs resort to filing off the MMA acrylic. You'll probably have to do a combination of both. Soaking and then filing off the residual. If you call, the shop may not tell you the truth, because MMA has a bad reputation. In the US, it is illegal to use it. Is it also in the UK?

 

[Zingara]

In the US, it is illegal to use it. Is it also in the UK?

No, Jessie, it's not illegal here in the UK.

Opinion on whether it should be is also divided. Not because anyone supports the use of it, I may add, but for a number of other reasons, not least of all because the idea of banning it, could raise the bad side of our industry sufficiently enough to damage it.

I see very much both sides fo the argument!

 

[franjess]

I had a MMA remover once, it took me almost Two hours to get off. I tryed using pure acetone too, it didn't help and I did soak for 30 min. It was pure MMA through and through, some customers get their nails done where ever they can get in without an appointment. With all the lower priced shops around, customers are use to just walking in and getting them done in their convenience and some of the places they go to don't use MMA so they have a mix of different types of acrylics. In that case you may be able to soak some of it off.

 

[franjess]

I had a MMA remover once it took me almost Two hours to get off. I tryed using pure acetone too, it didn't help and I did soak for 30 min. It was pure MMA through and through, some customers get their nails done where ever they can get in without an appointment, with all the lower priced shops around they are use to just walking in and getting them done in their convenience and some of the places they go to don't use MMA so they have a mix of different types of acrylics. In that case you may be able to soak some of it off.

Also if any one does encounter MMA removal, Please do a Web search MMA ACRYLIC TOXIC lots of information there too on safety. You and your client should wear a good mask meant for dust, not the surgical mask you see those nail techs wearing in the cheaper shops. Also I would charge more, its a lot more work and your exposed to that chemical, this well make the cleint set up and take notice a little more of what she puts on her hands next time, seeing how dangerouse it is that you take percaution for her health and yours.

 

[franjess]

When you do take off MMA enhancements their natural nails are going to be very weak so make sure you explain to your client that they need to wear their new enhancements (your putting on them) very short so the natural nail doesn't seperate from her nail bed, Which keeps receding back from the free edge if not keep short til her damaged natural nails grow out. Remember MMA products have to be put on a roughly perpared natural nail and the tech prys the enhanchment off when replacing or fixing lifting, so its already very damaged. Probably better to leave nails off for a while and have manicure treatments, but if you keep nails short to keep them from putting pressure on the free edge they can still wear enhancements. I would also give her a sheet of information on MMA so she understands and then you'll have a loyal customer who trust you are looking out for her best interst and knows you are a Professional. Tell her she must be careful not to cause stress on the nails for a while and keep an eye out for lifting. If she hasn't been wearing MMA long the damage may not be as bad, But it is damage to some extent. This is just my observation and experiance with MMA clients and you'll found more who say the same on the web.

 

[angel fingers]

the best way to tackle this would be to not soak off if possible.

if it is mma, the nails beneath will be fragile because it needs a very rough surface for good adhesion.
soaking off and re prepping will only make matters worse.

file them to thin down the old acrylic as much as possible and prep the area of regrowth. then proceed with your gel products as normal.

this way the old product will grow off pretty soon and will be replaced with your own product gradually.

 

[franjess]

the best way to tackle this would be to not soak off if possible.

if it is mma, the nails beneath will be fragile because it needs a very rough surface for good adhesion.
soaking off and re prepping will only make matters worse.

file them to thin down the old acrylic as much as possible and prep the area of regrowth. then proceed with your gel products as normal.

this way the old product will grow off pretty soon and will be replaced with your own product gradually.

Thats what I do I tell them it would be better to just thin it out and go over it with a good product (in my case CND L&P or Brisa Gel) just did that for a new client last week. Much better that way all the way around, less time, safer, less cost. But some clients just want it all off and start over.

 

[sknight]

I agree, thin down and rebalance

 

[franjess]

Sorry guys for all the bad spelling on my earlier posts. It was before I had my coffie this morning. I hope I corrected them all. Not very professional was I?