Help with Ink rock top coat please

[*Carly*]

Carly is there a support you can wear on your hand whilst working? I snapped my right wrist 6 years ago and had to have a plate, I wear a wrist support whilst working and it really helps stop it aching x

Ooh I've never thought of this. Would I speak to gp or would it be fracture clinic? If I could find something it would help so much. It was one of the bones near my left thumb. So frustrating as that's exactly which gets worked the most! And now I feel dumb because I can't remember the correct name for the bone! Been a while since I studied that! X

 

[user 114723]

Ooh I've never thought of this. Would I speak to gp or would it be fracture clinic? If I could find something it would help so much. It was one of the bones near my left thumb. So frustrating as that's exactly which gets worked the most! And now I feel dumb because I can't remember the correct name for the bone! Been a while since I studied that! X

I asked my GP and he told me which one to try, I had to pay for it myself but it has really helped loads, I no longer worry about having too many clients in on the same day. Mine is very stiff with metal supports running through it and is secured around my wrist and between my thumb and forefinger with Velcro straps that I can adjust the tightness xx

 

[*Carly*]

I asked my GP and he told me which one to try, I had to pay for it myself but it has really helped loads, I no longer worry about having too many clients in on the same day. Mine is very stiff with metal supports running through it and is secured around my wrist and between my thumb and forefinger with Velcro straps that I can adjust the tightness xx

Thanks, I'll def try and see my GP, though have a feeling she'll refer me, don't think she really specialises in fractures. Hopefully there's something I can use. It's ok with some clients, but it really hurts with those ones that you have to really hold their fingers straight. I can keep asking them to hold their hand straight but after saying it multiple times I just give up lol. xx

 

[attitude]

Every time I have a client that won't cooperate and hold their hand the way I need them to, I stop, look them in the eye, and jiggle their hand. Remind them not to "help" and to just relax the hand. After the 3rd jiggle, they usually get it. Hth.

 

[*Carly*]

thanks @attitude that is really helpful. Tbh I think it's because they're sitting slightly sideways so bringing their hands in at an angle. At home I've been using the beauty bed to work across as the width is good, but the tension ropes are obviously slightly in the way of their legs. I just sort of sit with my legs open (clearly I'm not in a skirt!) so it doesn't bother me, but I think some of the clients are sitting sideways. I will get a portable table at some point, but I love the couch as I can adjust the height so don't need to buy extra chairs- I'd have nowhere to put them!

Saying all that though, I've had some funny clients in the salon that sit sideways too, I had one lady that basically curled herself completely into the chair sideways. She's friends with the owner so clearly felt happy making herself at home lol!

 

[attitude]

You're very welcome @*Carly*

 

[LeilaM]

View attachment 196260 View attachment 196260 View attachment 196261 Here's yesterdays set. Getting a nice line at the eponychium area was tricky on some of them as my brush was a bit too big and flat. I should have nipped a bit more too but I try to avoid it as much as possible and found her not the easiest to work on. Not my best sadly but she was happy and it was as a model so a freebie. X

Carly these look lovely, it's always a bit fiddly when they have small nails. I find it a bit easier if I turn my brush sideways around the cuticle area myself, just find it gives me a neater finish. But again like I said they look beautiful. Xx

 

[*Carly*]

Carly these look lovely, it's always a bit fiddly when they have small nails. I find it a bit easier if I turn my brush sideways around the cuticle area myself, just find it gives me a neater finish. But again like I said they look beautiful. Xx

Thanks Leila. That's exactly what I did on the trickier nails and it worked a treat. I was trained to do it that way but only do it if I have to.

Hugs all round! Dunno what I'd do without you all. Last week I was literally crying and feeling like a failure. I put so much pressure on myself! It's a good job I don't enhance, can you imagine how much I'd torture myself!? Xx

 

[user 114723]

Thanks Leila. That's exactly what I did on the trickier nails and it worked a treat. I was trained to do it that way but only do it if I have to.

Hugs all round! Dunno what I'd do without you all. Last week I was literally crying and feeling like a failure. I put so much pressure on myself! It's a good job I don't enhance, can you imagine how much I'd torture myself!? Xx

Aww, I've had lots of moments like that, I'm sure most techs have. The main thing is you've not given up, you're picture's really are very good and I think you're being too hard on yourself, but then again, I know I am my own worst critic! xx

 

[LeilaM]

Thanks Leila. That's exactly what I did on the trickier nails and it worked a treat. I was trained to do it that way but only do it if I have to.

Hugs all round! Dunno what I'd do without you all. Last week I was literally crying and feeling like a failure. I put so much pressure on myself! It's a good job I don't enhance, can you imagine how much I'd torture myself!? Xx

LOL Carly I did my sisters boss on Sunday, she's qualified in gel Polish too. Well anyway she wanted blue and white stripes with a pink anchor design on top,just on the one finger, well the colour pop came out lovely but on her actual nail it was bloody crap I was really disappointed and was kinda hoping it had lifted or chipped by now but nope lol still intact, Typical. She was lovely about it though and understands I've not been doing it long xx

 

[*Carly*]

Thanks @Swifty84, I know you're right. We are all our own worst critics.

@LeilaM aw man, it's so much worse when they're trained! You feel scrutinised! The hairdresser I did the other day told me she'd done a bit of nail training but couldn't handle it, whereas I did hair and hated it lol- how funny! She appreciated my attention to detail and I think it made her more understanding. She said it looked a ton better then the previous set she'd had done, which looked absolutely wrecked after just 2 weeks!

I can freehand ish but I avoid it at all costs! Always looks better on a nice roomy pop! I have a million water decals and stickers I've bought lately, in case anyone asks for something. I also have a mountain of stamping plates. I'd have done blue or white nails, stamped the stripes and stamped the anchor or used a water decal. I think I got some pink anchor decals recently actually. I'd rather have gone that route than risked the agony of free handing! You were brave! Aw glad she understood. Id be absolutely lost if I didn't stamp!

I need to check in with people and see how they're all lasting. Fingers crossed!

Xx

 

[*Carly*]

Gah just rang my mum as I'd done an iLac set on her on the 2nd, so two weeks ago from Saturday. I know she did some spring cleaning and caused a teeny chip after 4/5 days. She said the rest were fine but she caught on of Thursday and it peeled. By Friday two were peeling and she soaked them off. At least it's iLac so she can easily get it off herself.

So it lasted 13 days, not including the teeny chip. Tbh she uses her hands quite a bit, types all day long, cooks, cleans and washes up etc and idk how frequently she wears gloves. Idk if that wear time is acceptable or not? My Gelicure applications generally last 3 weeks I think, but it's a struggle to remove. Really want to switch as completely as I can to iLac but was hoping it'd last longer than 13 days. Xx

 

[Cindy2021]

I git the iLac trial kit and love the colour I chose but find it takes 3 coats for even coverage and I've still to be very careful or the colour seems to change where I've done the brush strokes.
I'm loving the rock top coat though. Lovely and glossy like the brand I currently use but cheaper.

my client commented on how shiny her nails were

 

[Lisa32]

Hope it's okay to follow on from this post and ask...I'm only practising on friends/family but struggle to get my ilac to last more than a week on one particular friend. What am I doing wrong? Maybe too thick do you think? Also I've ordered fortify, do you think this may help at all? Xx

 

[LeilaM]

Hope it's okay to follow on from this post and ask...I'm only practising on friends/family but struggle to get my ilac to last more than a week on one particular friend. What am I doing wrong? Maybe too thick do you think? Also I've ordered fortify, do you think this may help at all? Xx

Lisa, I use fortify when some people struggle to keep gel Polish on. I use ink products add fortify over Base very thinly for weak nails for added strength or on top of Polish to prevent chips. I've found with ink that you have to play around a little. But always keep the layers thin, and use 3 coats on the majority of colours. Some say to only cap Base coat, 1st colour coat and top-rock coat. Also keep the Base very thin too. They have a new product bonder coming soon to use under Base coat, to help with longevity that's meant to be brill

 

[Lisa32]

Lisa, I use fortify when some people struggle to keep gel Polish on. I use ink products add fortify over Base very thinly for weak nails for added strength or on top of Polish to prevent chips. I've found with ink that you have to play around a little. But always keep the layers thin, and use 3 coats on the majority of colours. Some say to only cap Base coat, 1st colour coat and top-rock coat. Also keep the Base very thin too. They have a new product bonder coming soon to use under Base coat, to help with longevity that's meant to be brill

Thanks hun, oh I wonder if they'll have the binder at the beauty show xx

 

[*Carly*]

I git the iLac trial kit and love the colour I chose but find it takes 3 coats for even coverage and I've still to be very careful or the colour seems to change where I've done the brush strokes.
I'm loving the rock top coat though. Lovely and glossy like the brand I currently use but cheaper. View attachment 196949my client commented on how shiny her nails were

Ooh what colour is that!? Gorgeous! Mega shiny too. I know you use Cuccio so you're used to stirring, but did you stir and shake the life out of it? I find all the colours need this before application and it makes the world of difference. I spoke to Angie (head educator) and she said you generally want to be doing a quick third coat for most colours, sort of more like a half coat if you know what I mean. Out of the 4 shades I bought, 3 are 2 coaters. The other one is bloodhound which seemed super sheer at first but I used it on myself today and it was almost perfect in 2, would have done a third but I was adding glitter anyway.

I'm still struggling slightly with the top coat but I'm improving. I struggle more when I try to do a floaty coat over glitter. On my own nails it's a blimmin nightmare though because I move them so much at funny angles and don't want the top to run or pool so I have to flash cure. Took me literally hours today! They look fab though. Still loving ink. I'm saving up for the lamp and just bought 20 colours from another tech last night! All new as she's stopping doing nails and was selling her kit. Xx

 

[*Carly*]

2 coats of bloodhound with a custom glitter mix, sort of dabbed/slightly burnished.

 

[LeilaM]

Thanks hun, oh I wonder if they'll have the binder at the beauty show xx

Let's hope so, I think everyone's waiting for it on the ink group lol xx

 

[LeilaM]

2 coats of bloodhound with a custom glitter mix, sort of dabbed/slightly burnished.
View attachment 196992

Carly these are beautiful hun