Really getting me down

[Beau-T]

Long story short...

I did a full set of gel extensions on a friend, she broke 3, not all together, but on seperate days.

Invited her round and fixed them. I checked the others for lifting etc, and i was really chuffed because there wasn't any.

Now she's text me today to say she's broke another 1!! I didn't charge for the other 3 becaus i thought it might be my fault (being newly qualified), but i looked at her nails only yesterday and they were all still lovely.

I'm feeling really frustrated, don't know what to say to her about charging her as she's a friend, but i can't keep infinately repairing her 'broken' extensions for free.

Any advice?

T x

 

[catsaremad]

Did you charge her to start off with ???? Have you ever said/ shown her your price list to say that repairs are chargeable ????

 

[Beau-T]

i charged her for the original set. She broke the 1st one within 24hrs, so felt that i couldn't really expect her to pay for it and didn't really mention that it would be a 1 off.

I've dug myself a bit of a hole i think!

 

[catsaremad]

mmmmm repair the nail, and you could say 'here you go 'Bob' , just to let you know I usually charge for any breakages after 24hours. I don't think I mentioned this to you previously,so I won't charge you this time but it is somethink to be mindful of.????????

She may then be a bit more mindful of how careful she is with her extensions !!! But also bear in mond that She may not be suited to gel, or they could be to long ??????

Good luck !

 

[Maneater]

Hi Ive been there done that and leart the hard way, sometimes you have to trust in yourself and your work you have already said you checked them over and they were fine you did the favour the frist time and fixed them at no charge so now you charge for the repair beleve me once you start charging people tend to be more carful with there nails also. Just because your starting out does not mean you have done a bad job. And if it is a friend they will understand you are trying to make a living. Just my opinion hope it helps

 

[Beau-T]

when i replied to her msg i did ask if she thought they were too long.

I think i'll slip her a price list after the repair, and maybe then she'll realise that actually she's getting rather a lot for nothing IYKWM.

I'm not sure gel was a great decision on my part to be honest, i liked the appearance and that's why i trained in gel. Maybe it's not that practical. Time to convert to a stronger system i think, at least then i'll have more options.

Forgot to mention they are white tips i used, the natural sets i usually do don't have this problem.

Thank you again x

 

[Tonianne]

gel is a strong enough system, its just that it doesnt agree with everyone. im new to both gel and l&p and i think there both great. i think it depends on the client and their nails more than on the system if that makes sense x

 

[Maneater]

Hi just wondering the nails that broke did they break for the tip of the nail ?

 

[Bev Rose]

when i replied to her msg i did ask if she thought they were too long.

I think i'll slip her a price list after the repair, and maybe then she'll realise that actually she's getting rather a lot for nothing IYKWM.

I'm not sure gel was a great decision on my part to be honest, i liked the appearance and that's why i trained in gel. Maybe it's not that practical. Time to convert to a stronger system i think, at least then i'll have more options.

Forgot to mention they are white tips i used, the natural sets i usually do don't have this problem.

Thank you again x

There is a possibility that the gel has not cured properly, as the light cannot get through the white tips from all angles as it does with using natural tips. So this could be the problem.
If you cannot sculpt using the sculpting white gel, then use a paint on white gel having created the nail from pink, buffed etc.

 

[Maneater]

think Bev has made a great point thats why I had asked my question. I also think thats were your problem maybe.

 

[Beau-T]

its more like the tip is breaking not so much the gel, as it's much nearer the free edge, and one even had the gel still intact.

Nowhere near the stress area, where i would expect it to break... it's really strange, and it's knocking my confidence, even though i know they are a good set! The gel was definately cured properly.

 

[catsaremad]

Are you buffing the shine off the white tips before applying the gel ?

 

[dellaznailz]

its more like the tip is breaking not so much the gel, as it's much nearer the free edge, and one even had the gel still intact.

Nowhere near the stress area, where i would expect it to break... it's really strange, and it's knocking my confidence, even though i know they are a good set! The gel was definately cured properly.

Don't stress hun.There's a big difference between gel being 'set' and fully cured. In other words once you have removed the inhibition layer it may look and feel cured but the UV light may not have fully penetrated the white tips for total cure.

You could try turning the clients hand upside down and re curing, this sometimes helps:hug:

 

[Susie H]

Some clients are just rough on there nails, they use them as letter openers etc I would take a little of the length when you see her and see how she gets on and remind her they are jewels not tools:lol: And make sure she has that price list:hug:

 

[Beau-T]

thank you so much for all your advice and support, I have spoken to her again and we are going to take the length down a bit.

I explained to her that when you are used to having long nails you don't 'catch' your tips, because they're like a natural extension of your finger. So i am going to make them shorter and hopefully as they grow, she will have time to get used to them and will have fewer 'accidents'.

Thank you again xx

 

[angel fingers]

i would first try reducing the length and adding to the apex.
sometimes different clients have different requirements as to what will make the nails work for them.