My first nail biter!

[sazzler]

Hiya,

I've just done a set of l&p on a chronic nail biter, my first attempt and I'm not happy with the result at all! It took me about two hours to get them decent!

I used clear tips but the nail bed was so wee that the tip covered most of the natural nail plate, even after trimming it down, so that was a bad start, I then found it hard to get into the nail in order to blend the tips so the end result means the seam is still visible!

Now she's told me one pinged off so I'm going to have to try fix tomorrow! Any tips guys? Scared!!

I know I have to keep practising but I feel bad charging anyhting for disasters like that!!

 

[katiebbaby]

Firstly hun dont panick its not the end of the world. What system are you educated with? Is there a reason why you used a clear tip? also what type tip did you use? I would try maybe using an opaque powder to mask your ghost line if you having trouble blending tips on nail biters, although can be bit tricky if you not used to them, or can you sculpt on a form??? try ext nail bed slightly. xxx

Its hard to say unless know what you can do hun or what you are trained in xxxx:hug:

 

[Scottish_girl]

i totally hate nail biters! haha

i remember my first one, the client had about 4mm of nial on each finger, i wanted the ground to swallow me whole!

I just informed the client that they may not last quite aslong as a normal nail bed!!

i used a form, extending the nail bed and having a very short free edge, she was pleased enough with the end result and she did in the end get 10 days of wear out of them!

Ive also used clear tips and find that there hard to blend, thats why id advise forms and just butt it up to there the free edge should be

 

[kirsty]

Quick question, how do you fit the sculpting form on a nail biter? If they have that bulbous bit of skin, how do you get the form to sit under the nail, not to mention no free edge for the form to go under? Sorry if I'm sounding really thick but I've not done any sculpting yet.

 

[bubbles132]

If the nailbed is to bitten i never put on a french manicure nail. I overlay the natural nail so the nailbed can grow. After a week they come back to see if there is lifting and repare what is broken. When de natural nail is grown big enough to make a nice nail i put on a little free edge. I always work with forms and love them. Hate tips :lol:

 

[geeg]

Well I do not hate tips and always use them for bad biters like this one the poster desribes. I am an excellent sculptor and I still do not sculpt on nails like the ones described.

First of all don't blame yourself for the problems she WILL have because she is a biter!! Come on .. itr's not your fault if her nails are so badly bitten.

I always tell a chronic nail biter that she WILL have the odd breakage, that she WILL return to the salon weekly for a check and that we WILL help but that to start out with such a small ragged nail plate WILL be the cause of her problems and that constantly putting her nails in her mouth WILL be another problem.

I will not guarantee the lasting ability of enhancements on any nail biter until their nails have been given the chance to grow out sufficiently to give a good base for the enhancement. Teething problems should be expected until that happens and I do not do any free repair work for them as the problem is the same one thay came into the salon with ... their habit.

TOP TIP ... A very good aid to growing out the nails is to paint them. I find that with colour, nail biters put their fingers in their mouth LESS often and they are less inclined to pick at them.

 

[Lovelylokz]

I don't offer tips at all, I only sculpt. For nail biters, I extend the nailbed using a coverage pink (for P&W's) and then fit the form. The form doesn't have to be under the f/e, just flush against it. There's a tutorial at www.TammyTaylorNails.com She has an entire section dedicated to nail biters. HTH:hug:

 

[sazzler]

Personally, i much prefer to sculp tips, as i think it makes a much better fit to the individuals nail shape and size, tips are never a perfect fit, and what im striving for is perfect nails!

however like geeg, i agree, why bother with the extra work to scuplt when the client is likely to break, bite or pick the nails off in the next day or so!

In this case, i went back to repair yesterday and she had only lost 2 pinkies, I think that it was mainly due to the tips being too large for her nail beds. I'm glad to hear everyones support, so im not too fussed about not turning out a great set of nails, as it was doomed before i started!

Im looking forward to trying popIts with this client though as ive talked about them and i think they will work well with her!

I do want to try extending the nail bed though, but this is new to me and i assume its tricky to get forms on nail biters! how did u all find it the first time you tried it? was it worth it compared with sticking on tips and covering the wee nails beds up?

 

[geeg]

Personally, i much prefer to sculp tips, as i think it makes a much better fit to the individuals nail shape and size, tips are never a perfect fit, and what im striving for is perfect nails!

however like geeg, i agree, why bother with the extra work to scuplt when the client is likely to break, bite or pick the nails off in the next day or so!

In this case, i went back to repair yesterday and she had only lost 2 pinkies, I think that it was mainly due to the tips being too large for her nail beds. I'm glad to hear everyones support, so im not too fussed about not turning out a great set of nails, as it was doomed before i started!

Im looking forward to trying popIts with this client though as ive talked about them and i think they will work well with her!

I do want to try extending the nail bed though, but this is new to me and i assume its tricky to get forms on nail biters! how did u all find it the first time you tried it? was it worth it compared with sticking on tips and covering the wee nails beds up?

Of course nail tips can be a perfect fit If they are not, the job has not been done right.

You say you strive for perfect nails and then in the next sentence say,... "so im not too fussed about not turning out a great set of nails, as it was doomed before i started!"

Well I'm always fussed about doing a great set of nails as far as they can be done on a bad nail biter and it is surprising what a great transformation you CAN make.

Personally I extend the nail bed on top of the tip. The tip gives a great canvas to work on and as you are going to hide it all beneath opaque powders, blending can be minimal or use well-less tips ... it is all going to be hidden no matter where you place it on the nail plate. AND there are no overexposure issues to worry about.

 

[Annebet]

Hi I am glad you got the nails sorted, but if you go out with the attitude of not doing a perfect set from the off, be it sculpts, tips, gel or acrylic then this puts you in a negative mindset before you even start and makes you nervous about making mistakes ect, think positive and you will feel you can tackle any set of nails

 

[sazzler]

Thanks guys,

on re reading my post, it does sound like i went in assuming i could do no good, but what i meant really was that i did try my best but didnt do as well as i hoped..

Its a learning experience! so i know now what to do better next time.

What i was trying to say before is that i usually worry too much, in this case with a less than perfect result, i would go home and worry for ages about it, but im now realising that these things happen and im just going to learn from it!

hope that makes sense.. sometimes its hard to get ur thought across when ur typing it!

thanks everyone for ur feedback though, im still new to this game and appreciate everyones thoughts!

 

[geeg]

Gotcha!!:hug: