Hooks and Curves Advice

[Deena]

I have a couple of people who act as nail practise models for me. One has very pronounced hooked nails and the other looks as though her natural nails are tubes cut in half ie extremely curved. Between the pair of them, they're causing me problems once their tips have grown off and I'm down to applying the l&p to what amounts to their own natural nails.

I find it very difficult to keep their free edges thin enough, especially the hooked nails. I think I've read that the only real solution is to chop them down and resculpt <I'm not confident enough with that yet> or resort to soaking off, retipping and starting again from scratch. I also have similar problems with the extremely curved nails and they never look as good once the tips have grown off, especially <in both cases> if they're having a French. Is there some particular technique for dealing with these issues, or is the answer to simply chop/file them off and keep starting again? :irked:

I suspect I know the answer, but would appreciate some opinions, please.

 

[fifitrix]

When your clients nails curve like that, I am afraid that you have no other choice than to cut them then re-sculpt or re-tip, when they have grown so much that they start to curve. If you didn't they would end up looking like claws.

hth, but I think you knew that anyway.

 

[loubylou]

My nails are very curvy and a few grow downwards in a claw style,
i only get around 6 wks out of my enhancements before i have to remove and start from scratch,
sorry hun, they have to come off every so often :hug:

 

[Deena]

Thank you both, it's the answer I expected. :hug: I think I'm going to have to hone my sculpting skills, as I should think it would be quicker than having to soak them all off about every third rebalance. They become impossible once the tips have grown off and always end up so thick, not attractive at all.

I wonder how clients react when you tell them they're going to have to pay for a soak off and new set every so often, as the shape of their natural nails are 'Unworkable?' :irked:

 

[sian1979]

do they like to wear them long??
i have a lady the same whos nails curve quiet badly.....a preveous tech had used white tips and clear powder. when she came to me as her nails had grown her natural nail had started to separate away from the tip. She really didnt like the tips at all and didnt want them to be too long so we soaked off and she has them kept fairly short (before the extreme curve starts ) but just had french overlays.
this has solved the problem for me...may be it might for you.
xx

 

[Deena]

It's hard to explain without photos, but her hooks create quite an impressive apex all of their own as soon as they reach the free edge area and make the whole thing so bulky before I've even got going with the thinnest overlay I can muster. The other one <my daughter> has nails like tubes cut in half, really dramatic curves, which also look bulky and tend to chip at the sides of the free edge. They both also part company with any product as they grow out.

They do both wear them short, but they still don't look good once the tips are outgrown, especially when you view them down the barrel. :irked:

 

[ValencianNails]

I wonder how clients react when you tell them they're going to have to pay for a soak off and new set every so often, as the shape of their natural nails are 'Unworkable?' :irked:

Explain to them that you're not a miracle worker and can only 'enhance' what they have to start off with :wink2:

Removing (or taking back) the free edge (without a soak off) is the best way (IMO) for their nails to always be looking their best, they know it makes sense to take your advice, but they might not always want to hear it lol
:hug:

 

[Deena]

Explain to them that you're not a miracle worker and can only 'enhance' what they have to start off with :wink2:

Removing (or taking back) the free edge (without a soak off) is the best way (IMO) for their nails to always be looking their best, they know it makes sense to take your advice, but they might not always want to hear it lol
:hug:

Thanks, I have one of these sets to do tomorrow and it's high time I got rid of them somehow, without constantly soaking the little perishers off. I'm not very confident with this type of sculpting yet, but I might try filing a couple of nails right back, thinning them out and sculpting a small free edge. I can feel a 121 coming on here, as I seem to be surrounded by hooks and curves! :lol:

 

[spn01]

Explain to them that you're not a miracle worker and can only 'enhance' what they have to start off with :wink2:

Removing (or taking back) the free edge (without a soak off) is the best way (IMO) for their nails to always be looking their best, they know it makes sense to take your advice, but they might not always want to hear it lol
:hug:

What!!! we are not miracle workers :lol:

I use the same technique as ValencianNails, soaking off and redoing is not a viable option for my clients or the salon time/financially. I explain to my client the type of nail plate she has and how it grows during the consultation. I do mostly traditional rebalances, however when required I clip off the free edge, file the smile line and then sculpt a new free edge, quick, simple and done in the same time as a rebalance. All parties are happy, client especially as she knows that down the road at xxxx tech, she will have to pay for a soak off and full set - that is not only costly but also takes up a lot of time for a busy woman.

 

[Deena]

What!!! we are not miracle workers :lol:

I use the same technique as ValencianNails, soaking off and redoing is not a viable option for my clients or the salon time/financially. I explain to my client the type of nail plate she has and how it grows during the consultation. I do mostly traditional rebalances, however when required I clip off the free edge, file the smile line and then sculpt a new free edge, quick, simple and done in the same time as a rebalance. All parties are happy, client especially as she knows that down the road at xxxx tech, she will have to pay for a soak off and full set - that is not only costly but also takes up a lot of time for a busy woman.

Thanks, that's what I thought. It would be very offputting, both in terms of time and cost. I will have a go tomorrow because, one way or another, I can't keep rebalancing those 'Beaks!' :lol:

 

[ValencianNails]

I will have a go tomorrow because, one way or another, I can't keep rebalancing those 'Beaks!' :lol:

Let us know how you get on :green:

 

[femmefan]

What!!! we are not miracle workers :lol:

I use the same technique as ValencianNails, soaking off and redoing is not a viable option for my clients or the salon time/financially. I explain to my client the type of nail plate she has and how it grows during the consultation. I do mostly traditional rebalances, however when required I clip off the free edge, file the smile line and then sculpt a new free edge, quick, simple and done in the same time as a rebalance. All parties are happy, client especially as she knows that down the road at xxxx tech, she will have to pay for a soak off and full set - that is not only costly but also takes up a lot of time for a busy woman.

can I just ask what you use to clip off the extra length with? I use this method of re-sculpting a tip but have always filed down the extra length for fear of 'splintering' the acrylic when clipping.
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[Deena]

can I just ask what you use to clip off the extra length with? I use this method of re-sculpting a tip but have always filed down the extra length for fear of 'splintering' the acrylic when clipping.
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This is what I've found has happened in the past on occasions, so I've become a bit wary about it. You can end up losing more than their flippin' hooks! :irked:

Anyway, this particular set has now been rescheduled for Monday morning, so watch this space! :o If anyone could provide a blow by blow resume of how to tackle this procedure, please do.

 

[spn01]

can I just ask what you use to clip off the extra length with? I use this method of re-sculpting a tip but have always filed down the extra length for fear of 'splintering' the acrylic when clipping.
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Absolutely, I use "toe nail clippers" (that's what we call them here), not the one cuts or side cuts, the one you press the lever down on top iykwim. It is important to put the edge of the clipper to the outer edge of the enhancement say left of clipper to right edge of enhancement and make just a little clip, the go to the other side, right of clipper to left edge of enhancement and make a little clip, then work on the middle. The only time I have experienced shattering is when I have tried to do the whole free edge in one clip. I clip within a mill of where I want to file so that I leave enough product for shaping my desired smile line. HTH, I found it hard to word this one