Need help with gel infills

[Miss Sylk]

Ive been a Beautician for years and have been doing nails for years also. Ive been having trouble with my prep work, but after perseveribg it seems to be getting better. However im rubbish at infills. Many of my clients dont return for infills so im not getting the practice. This is a new gel system i use, and i like it a lot.

I am struggling with a smooth infill, from where the lifting stops. I file down the lifted part to the point where its still on the nail and smooth it best i can, its seems to just end up going further and further as i am filing.
Sometimes i think i have smoothed it enough to infill, then after its sealed under the light i see a slight join, a tiny part of old "lifted" gel. Not good. Looks totally amateur.

I have to get my clients back in approx 1& 1/2 weeks for an infill, if they leave it longer there is too much lifting to cope with. As i say my prep. work needs improving and this would extend the time before infills need doing.

This makes my work sound horrific but its not, there just seems to be more lifting than i see with other beauticians nail work and i cant seem to get a smooth infill.

Another thing...sorry.... i use white tips, i dont sculp (i need to take a course for sculpting) so mny client who is back in for infills tommorow (dreading) she has flipped 2 off, so when i apply a new tip the tip will be further up the nail and look odd to the ones than have grown down.

This is exactly 1 & 1/2 weeks and theres going to be alot of work involved for that short amount of time.

I know a lotof you will say you need new training and i know this, but right now nails is my most opopular treatment and i cant afford the training at mo also its hard to find a trainer who can do "trouble shooting" i dont just need to learn Nail extensions in general.
:cry:

 

[*jo*]

hi
r you using a primer or bonder and what gel system are you using?

 

[Miss Sylk]

Acrygel. Using the pen primer that comes with it after using my cuticle tool.

 

[Bagpuss]

did you do your training with Acrygel....?

 

[mizzy_dizzy]

I don't use the same system as you, and you might not like this idea but could you not get an infill lesson from them? call them and ask it cant hurt?Maybe there is something your missing? Maybe you have picked up a bad habit and not noticed or maybe you just need a refresh on your training.....
I did after doing nails at collage we covered maintaince but not in much detail so after I finished collage and did some training with creative I then booked in just to do maintance even though I could do it it was my week spot theres nothing wrong with going back to basics and skill building

 

[angel fingers]

gosh poor you, you sound like you are really struggling.

if you are getting clients coming back with lifting then its a fair bet that something is going wrong with your application of the full set.

generally that will be either poor prep or getting product too near to the skin.
additionally incorrest structure and length could be contributing to the lifting.

you really do need to do a one to one class with a tutor to go over your problems. it could be so many things that are wrong, it would be much more helpful if your nails and process could be seen by your tutor and then you are taught in accordance with your problems.

nipping application problems in the bud will hugely simplify the infilling process. i would recomend that you recap on the application and go right through the infill procedure.

if you were my student i would book you in for a 1 day 1-1 session and get you to bring a model with you that had nails in need of maintenance. i would work with you on the infill from start to finish and go over the application stages too. additionally if you are using white tips, then it is crucial that you learn how to maintain them with white gel too to pevent the dilema you are in now with the missing tips.

it would really be worth your one day wages to learn what could prevent you a load of hassle and jeopardise your reputation too.

 

[LadyFinger7]

Go to starnail.com, click on demos and techniques and there's an acrygel pdf there with indepth instructions on overlays on tips, sculpting, and sculpting with the white. I had alot of issues with Acrygel when I first started using it. Email me at [email protected] if you want any tips . I should say though, that it works fabulously when applied properly. Btw - Did you know that it is technically soak off?? I haven't tried yet.

 

[LadyFinger7]

I should have added that I trained with Star Nail in school- my teacher who was a very successful nail tech used Acrygel on her clients and loved it so don't give up!! It definetely can be done and honestly, I was doing some pretty wrong things when I started and its a pretty darned forgiving system. After switching just a few things I've greatly improved my service in both quality and time.

 

[Miss Sylk]

Sorry for late reply guys.

I didnt do training with Acrygel and its a fair distance from where i am i believe and i want to do a set with the trainer and return with my model to the trainer to do infills so i need training close to home.

Lady finger - Ill have a look at the Star Nail link. I really do like Acrygel, the only 2 probs are lifting and i want a soak off. I need training in infills, white tips and sculpting, so ill do that anyway soon. Did you say it was a soak off?? wow, looks like you know Acrygel well i could do with any advice you have on this brand before i go and change.

Thanks everyone. x

 

[VikkiNails]

Sounds like you have had some great advice already and i def agree that if your clients are all suffering from lifting then it appears it would be the application.

In response to the lifting further whilst buffing down for infill, you must start your buffing at free edge and work back to cuticle area (lifted area). If you crack on and start buffing the lifted area first, the free edge will still be heavy with gel and the lifting will just travel to the tip.

Also, be sparing with your bonder, use a very small amount and almost 'scrub' it onto nail. (sorry, hard to explain!) Too much bonder can cause lifting.

Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[Prionace]

If i were you i'd book a refresh class, if you think about it it can't hurt. What better way to clear all your doubts, and have your work looked at by a professional that can really point out anything you might be doing wrong.
Usually these classes are very unexpensive, and if you think about it it's like investing on your profession. Sounds to me you're loosing money not doing it...

 

[jodie_glo]

Sorry for late reply guys.

I didnt do training with Acrygel and its a fair distance from where i am i believe and i want to do a set with the trainer and return with my model to the trainer to do infills so i need training close to home.

Lady finger - Ill have a look at the Star Nail link. I really do like Acrygel, the only 2 probs are lifting and i want a soak off. I need training in infills, white tips and sculpting, so ill do that anyway soon. Did you say it was a soak off?? wow, looks like you know Acrygel well i could do with any advice you have on this brand before i go and change.

Thanks everyone. x

hi hun,

why dont you call michelle porters company direct and discuss the problems you are having. they might have some suggestion to help you and i am sure they could offer you training to help you solve the problems you having with lifting!

i have spoken to michelle porter herself in the past and she is a lovely woman! and i am sure she will be happy to help you sort out your problems with acrygel. All the people ive spoken to from her company have been more than helpful and very friendly - i bet they will put you at ease.


hth,

Jodie x x

 

[Pooh8bear]

. I really do like Acrygel, the only 2 probs are lifting and i want a soak off

Hi, Michelle Porter has just bought out a soak off which I am trying at the moment. I have glitter red, although its better with three coats it did go on nicely. Haven't soaked it off yet, i'll let you know how it goes.
Had it on for 3 weeks so time to change soon.

 

[Miss Sylk]

. I really do like Acrygel, the only 2 probs are lifting and i want a soak off

Hi, Michelle Porter has just bought out a soak off which I am trying at the moment. I have glitter red, although its better with three coats it did go on nicely. Haven't soaked it off yet, i'll let you know how it goes.
Had it on for 3 weeks so time to change soon.

What range is that? 3 weeks any infills in that time? x

 

[Miss Sylk]

Good idea, they could have some tips, ill do that now x

hi hun,

why dont you call michelle porters company direct and discuss the problems you are having. they might have some suggestion to help you and i am sure they could offer you training to help you solve the problems you having with lifting!

i have spoken to michelle porter herself in the past and she is a lovely woman! and i am sure she will be happy to help you sort out your problems with acrygel. All the people ive spoken to from her company have been more than helpful and very friendly - i bet they will put you at ease.


hth,

Jodie x x

 

[Pooh8bear]

What range is that? 3 weeks any infills in that time? x

Funnily enough it is called Flexygel, Not to be confused with Bio Sculptures new one Flexigel.
I only had the colour so had to put it over my Bio Sculpture base, and yes they have stayed on fine, no lifting, but without trying the whole range it is hard to say how good it would have been with Michelle Porters base gel first.

Nsi have just bought out Illusion which is a soak off, now those are nice colours especially when you get mixing.
My favs so far with Nsi colour mixing are:-
2xVelvet Curtain 1x Copperfield or
2xHocus Pinkus 1x Copperfield or
2x Velvet Curtain 1x Dove or
2x Magic Carpet 1x Dove
As you can see it gets addictive.