New Starter- Gel or Acrylic?

[Murnettie]

Hi Guys,

Im starting a four day nail course soon. I already do mobile spray tanning , in the Dublin, Ireland area but im looking to add nails to my business. Hopefully next year i'll be able to start college part time and study to become a Beauty specialist and add at lot more on but until such time, id like to get a start on the nails. Can you tell me which ones i should go for, the college that is doing the course offers both but im not exactly sure what the difference is. I have asked around particularly the girls in the office where i work and quite a few of them have said that they prefer the acrylic ones. Also i hear that you can pay to do a conversion and learn both but i havent asked the college about this yet.

What would be your experience on this, any advice?

Thanks

 

[akaza]

Hi,

A four day nail course really isnt sufficient to learn how to do nails! There is alot to know on nails, and learning how to do them in four days is not enough!

I would suggest to you that you look for a longer course that will teach you everything that you need to know, and that will leave you knowledgeble and confident that you will be sucessful in what you have learnt.

I would start with Acrylic system. I did, and I found it much easier to learn gel after that, as I knew how to build a nail with L+P, and where to place product etc.

A conversion course, as far as I know, is to go from one system to another. eg, say you have been trainned with IBD gel, and you want to change over to CND brisa gel....you pay to learn how to use thier system. They will not teach you how to do gel nails, as you should already know how to do them.

hth x x

 

[sknight]

What course is it a lot of companies do a 5 day course over so many weeks. Is that what you are doing?

 

[Murnettie]

Im looking a Lenaghs College in swords,its where i did my spray tanning course, as fair as i know it is just four days i.e. every saturday for a while. Maybe i should look into it further though and see if i can find a longer course, i dont want to have spent the money on the course and not be confident that i'll do a good job

 

[spn01]

Hi Guys,

Im starting a four day nail course soon. IMO this sounds a little short, I would ask for a course outline and check what it is covering. Do you know anyone who has done this course - ask them their opinion. I personally prefer private education unless the educator at the school has been placed by the distributor. Your choice in education is so important and will really set you up for the long term. I already do mobile spray tanning , in the Dublin, Ireland area but im looking to add nails to my business. Hopefully next year i'll be able to start college part time and study to become a Beauty specialist and add at lot more on but until such time, id like to get a start on the nails. Can you tell me which ones i should go for, the college that is doing the course offers both but im not exactly sure what the difference is. I have asked around particularly the girls in the office where i work and quite a few of them have said that they prefer the acrylic ones. Both Gel and l&p are from the "acrylic" family. Gel is a premix which is cured under a uv lamp and the liquid and powder is goes through a process of polymerization when combined. You will find some technicians have a very passionate voice as to what system they prefer. I believe a good nail technician should be able to work/be skilled with both systems. My personal recommendation would be to learn l&p first then gel. Also i hear that you can pay to do a conversion and learn both but i havent asked the college about this yet. Sorry can't help you on this one - other geeks please help!!!!!!

What would be your experience on this, any advice?

Thanks

HTH and wish you all the very best in learning nails

 

[geeg]

I'm sure that the course you will be taking is a starter course or Foundation course and by no means should be considered the beginning and the end of your education in nails. In this case, 4 days is perfectly long enough to get a start in nails and to learn how to practise safely ... it will certainly not send you out the door as a working nail technician. Everyone needs to make a start somewhere ... but don't have any misconceptions that you will be able to enter the industry after 4 days.

Shame so many think and treat doing nail enhancements as a sideline when in actual fact, doing nail enhancements is a profession that can stand alone without any other beauty services offered IF you are a really good technician.

As far as starting off with gel or Liquid & Powder, maybe you should look around for what is the most asked for service in your area and start with that one. Also you need to remember there are gels and then there are gels!!

The paint on gels that soak off are a piece of cake to do frankly and do not require great skill to perform, and they limit you in the number of clients that can wear them well as they are more a 'wrap' than an overlay.

The stronger gels that you need to build strength into the enhancement require more skill and different techniques to apply and much more practise to get a beautiful result; the same is true of Liquid & Powder.