What do you do if gel doesn't work for clients?

[Gemrule]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to being a self employed technician and have had a client come back saying the nails only lasted a few days. I redone them last night and she's telling me again today they are peeling. She has weak brittle bitten nails and I was careful to cap the free edge etc but it didn't last again. I had done her fingers and toes for £20 which was an offer I was doing to use up 12 polishes. Her toes lasted just fine. I'm not sure what to do about compensation as I have done her nails twice already (and toes) for £20. Would you keep spending your time doing them for free, refund money or say you've done your best but gel is maybe not for her? Look forward to your comments and thanking you in advance

 

[sarahrose1994]

Maybe try using a builder gel to make her nails stronger?
If her nails are thin and weak maybe the gel is creasing and then causing lift
I have had this issue before and I either applied builder gel or a thin layer of acrylic

 

[perfect10kb]

Hi all, I'm fairly new to being a self employed technician and have had a client come back saying the nails only lasted a few days. I redone them last night and she's telling me again today they are peeling. She has weak brittle bitten nails and I was careful to cap the free edge etc but it didn't last again. I had done her fingers and toes for £20 which was an offer I was doing to use up 12 polishes. Her toes lasted just fine. I'm not sure what to do about compensation as I have done her nails twice already (and toes) for £20. Would you keep spending your time doing them for free, refund money or say you've done your best but gel is maybe not for her? Look forward to your comments and thanking you in advance

Without knowing exactly what you did on her nails it is almost impossible to say .

Was this just a gel polish over her natural nail ?

If that is the case then as the previous poster said you will need to apply a 'strengthening gel ' such as a builder gel.

Gel Polish IS only suitable for clients with strong natural nails and this has always been the case

What gel do you work with . Are you able to offer a builder gel for her ?

I would certainly not do them again for free but give us a little more information on the client such as is she new , what does she do for work ect and will be able to help you further
x

 

[Gemrule]

Without knowing exactly what you did on her nails it is almost impossible to say .

Was this just a gel polish over her natural nail ?

If that is the case then as the previous poster said you will need to apply a 'strengthening gel ' such as a builder gel.

Gel Polish IS only suitable for clients with strong natural nails and this has always been the case

What gel do you work with . Are you able to offer a builder gel for her ?

I would certainly not do them again for free but give us a little more information on the client such as is she new , what does she do for work ect and will be able to help you further
x

She suffers with anxiety so bites her nails without even knowing it. Her nails are very soft and bendy with very little free edge. I use Ink London with a 48 watt lamp. I dehydrated her nails thoroughly and buffed ridges. Some of the nails there is no free edge as such, I painted along and wiped off her fingers to cap the free edge and cured well. All my products are ink London so should be compatible and is working fine for other clients. My question really is should I be doing them again for free? First time I thought maybe it could have been me, a 2nd time I was especially careful, spent more time and followed advice of brand owner. She's asking what I'm going to do about it as though she is expecting more free nails. The first lot was a special introductory offer of £20 for fingers and toes which is more than generous and her toes were fine which I would normally charge £15-£20 depending on what other treatments they book. Problem is for her, the nail biting isn't going to subside as its a mental health issue so I just don't think gel is going to work out for her x

 

[tiggerlady]

Maybe gently remind the client that you cannot guarantee how this treatment is going to work out for her and you did them originally as a special offer, and as she had issues, you then re-did them free as a gesture of goodwill, but it seems that clearly this is not the correct way forward for her nails, as not all things suit all people, but you would be more than happy (if you offer the treatment , of course.. ) to do her a normal manicure with normal polish, for which your price is XX or perhaps if you don't do acrylics, point her in the direction of someone who does, before it gets too far down the line of you permanently redoing them for free!
Its a bit like..take a deep breath, but if you are nice but firm, and make it clear there will be no more freebees, as the second was goodwill, stick to your guns..good luck..x Hope this helps..

 

[perfect10kb]

Ok well from what you have said she is NOT suitable for just a gel polish overlay . SHE is at fault fro biting her nails but ( and sorry to say this ) you are also at fault really

I assume you carry out client consultation and it should have been at that point you advise her that she would not be suitable for this treatment and suggest one that is - As suggested a builder gel underneath the polish . She would have much more trouble trying to bite a hard gel off lol

Also at the consultation with a nail biter you should always stress that the responsibility for how they last rests equally with her and she needs to return WEEKLY until you can get her nails into good condition

Whether you do them again is up to you to make that judgement call . Do you think she will become a regular , is she someone that WANTS to get her nail biting habit licked and is she willing to work with you in order to achieve that ? have that conversation with her and see what you think

If she is not willing to work with you or is not interested in breaking the habit then I probably would be inclined to be honest with her and just refund say £5 as a gesture of goodwill . It was after all an offer and she had her toes done as well which are still fine

x

 

[NailtechJoe]

She suffers with anxiety so bites her nails without even knowing it. Her nails are very soft and bendy with very little free edge. I use Ink London with a 48 watt lamp. I dehydrated her nails thoroughly and buffed ridges. Some of the nails there is no free edge as such, I painted along and wiped off her fingers to cap the free edge and cured well. All my products are ink London so should be compatible and is working fine for other clients. My question really is should I be doing them again for free? First time I thought maybe it could have been me, a 2nd time I was especially careful, spent more time and followed advice of brand owner. She's asking what I'm going to do about it as though she is expecting more free nails. The first lot was a special introductory offer of £20 for fingers and toes which is more than generous and her toes were fine which I would normally charge £15-£20 depending on what other treatments they book. Problem is for her, the nail biting isn't going to subside as its a mental health issue so I just don't think gel is going to work out for her x

Sorry for being off topic.

£20 for fingers and toes, you are way too generous! But then it's dependent on area. I'm doing fingers and toes for £30.

Now going back on topic...

I did have a client who was a nail biter and I suggested to him clear gel; base and top coat and his nails were really short. He has thick nails so adherence wasn't a problem. The problem was he also ate the gel and ripped them apart causing false leukonychia or white spots caused by him chewing on the gel. I tried matte top coat and then clear glossy top coat so that perhaps psychologically, he could see how shiny they are and maybe that would stop him from biting them off.

I stopped the treatment after I warned him that he should have responsibility for his nails during the consultation period. Unfortunately, he was causing the "self harm" on his nails so I recommended going down with normal manicures and lacquer top coat. I am not a doctor, but I did advise him that he might have an underlying problem/s on his nail biting and he should see a Doctor so that he could be referred to a specialist. So yes, gels will not work unless they either have the will power to stop or seek professional help from a therapist.

 

[Stook]

Other ladies have covered the main points but when I read your post I though the following.

Ladies who bite their nails should always have it stressed that they need to commit to stopping biting.

Ink London do a product called Fortify. It's brilliant. You can apply it over base coat to give the nail strength and again over the colour to prevent chipping before applying top coat. Well worth investing in for future clients with weak nails.

Also worth the investment is IBX. Look it up - results are brilliant.

Xx

 

[Opinaillove]

I'd get some IBX to strengthen her nails... It'll help with gel staying on top.