I had a nightmare today refiill/rebalance

[jospurs]

Hi

I had my first client today and she told me she needed refills but when I looked at her nails she needed a rebalance instead. She said she only had her nails done 2 1/2 weeks ago but they looked pretty grown out to me. I only gave myself 1 1/2 hours to do infills.

1) Should i of charged her more for a rebalance?
2) Some of the nails didnt fit correctly, so should I charge more to redo someone else work?

Also I used the technique in GiGi tutorial, with a new file 100/100 but it took ages to get the line to disappear.

Has anyone got any advice please.

 

[Bagpuss]

Hiya ... yes you should charge more for a rebalance...(to be honest i never infill...its always a rebalance) you need to be charging for any extra work/time spent on the nails.

I wouldn't use a 100 grit for removing lifting...its a bit harsh and can rattle the product around making it worse, its also to harsh for working close to the natural nail.

I would use a 240 and file behind the lift...this way you are filing on adhered product and will be blending it in smooth to the natural nail....creating a new seal if you like...then the lifted part will simply come away leaving no line. HTH x

 

[jospurs]

There wasn't any lifting but the old acrylic was quite thick and seem to take ages to file down smooth.
I just can't seem to get it right!

I also don't think my training was very good so maybe thats the problem too

 

[blossom]

I agree with Angie, I never infill, always rebalance. However, the price I charge depends on whether there is one colour used, ie natural, or whether it's a French rebalance where you re-align the white. (I charge £20 for a natural rebalance, £29 for a French rebalance)

An infill is simply filling in by the cuticle where the nail has grown up, and if you are reducing length as well (which we normally are) then a rebalance is needed for beauty and balance of the whole nail.

If you had to take off other nails because they were a bad fit, and you replaced them with new ones, then yes definitely you should be charging for those too hun.

 

[jospurs]

I found it impossible to re do the white tip do you use white acrylic or white varnish?

 

[blossom]

I use white acrylic. It's common practice, but I didn't learn it on my first course and I remember when I first had a client who was expecting a French rebalance, I was totally confused!

If you are not familiar with the French rebalance then you could offer a French polish, using nail varnish - it will still last a good while although it loses its bright whiteness after a week or so.

 

[Wandawump]

What is the difference between a refill and a rebalance?

 

[blossom]

I refill (or infill) simply fills in the growth area.

A rebalance involves much more than this, ie shortening the nail, thinning out the free edge so they don't look thick end-on, moving the apex area back to where it needs to be, and filling the growth area. And of course, in the case of a French rebalance, it involves re-aligning the white tip area after it has become grown out. hth

 

[jospurs]

so a french repolish is just re painting the tip white?

My course never covered any of this. I have learnt more here.

 

[blossom]

I know, this site is fab!!

Yes, exactly that, when I do a French polish I do the white first then a misty French pink over the top, then a top coat, but there are lots of ways, it depends how you like to work. I'll find you a link ....hang on

 

[Wandawump]

ahhh ok, i've always called it a refill lol i just automatically do all of that anyway.
I've never actually had a client that wants the natural look.

 

[blossom]

http://www.salongeek.com/nail-geek/...french-polish.html?highlight=else+uses+french


This might be of interest, but in time, you would be well advised to try and master the white acrylic. You can start off by using a white tip and using white acrylic over this, to help you achieve the right shape . . . instead of putting clear acrylic over the top. Then when you feel more confident you can use a natural blended tip and use a pink and a white acrylic together to give the French look (which is stronger than white tips anyway). It's daunting at first, I know. . . and a complete pig to master really but once acheived you will never look back. x

 

[blossom]

http://www.salongeek.com/nail-finishing-maintenance/14905-forever-french-rebalance.html


Don't get too bogged down right now, one thing at a time lol, but this is Geeg's fab tutorial on how you would do a Forever French rebalance for a permanent French manicure look using pink and white acrylic. x

 

[jospurs]

Ok Many thanks for all your help.

Just one more question about white tips. Why do some techs spray on a white line instead of just using a white tip?

J x

 

[blossom]

I think you must mean airbrushing, which is a way of getting a precision and even shape on all ten nails; it is very neat, but will still wear off at the edges which is of course why the permanent french done with l&p is so popular, hth x

 

[jospurs]

Yes but why dont they just put white tips on in the first place?

Sorry for all the questions, youu can tell im a "Newbie"

Jo x

 

[Bagpuss]

Yes but why don't they just put white tips on in the first place?

Sorry for all the questions, youu can tell I'm a "Newbie"

Jo x

If you use white tips in the first place then after a while and the nail has grown the white tips you applied will have moved up the nail...showing the clients natural smile line....so your only other choice is to use white powder/gel or soak off and re do.

White tips need a certain type of nail bed to look good...nice long nail bed...i don't often find clients come with nail beds like that so thats why i use a natural tip and then use pink and white gel/powder.