What do you look for in a brand, and how has it affected what product you use?

[HeatherDavis]

WHen I first started doing nails in 1996, I wanted SPEED, and aesthetic BEAUTY.

I assumed back then that nails only really ever looked great when they were freshly done, would need removing and replacing after a few months, yellowed if you tanned, smoked, that fill lines were to be expected, that extra primer would always fix a little lifting, that a little monomer on the skin never hurt anybody, and when in doubt FILE!!!!!!

I also believed in "Thicker is Better" "Polish covers everything" and if you want to speed up, lower your grit ( I also didnt know what the heck GRIT meant, so I picked the roughest darn file I could find- probably 80 grit).

As I have grown as an artist, I have altered my views as I learned more information through continued education.

I no longer believe nails should resemble "porn star nails," THINNER is better, and lightly buffing shine from the nail plate is all that should ever be required to avoid unneccesary damage. I have also learned that uncured product should NEVER touch the skin( which in turn means I had to stop doing clean up around the cuticle with the tip of my brush!!), that you dont need an acid based primer to make a nail adhere, and that SUPERIOR Product applied PERFECTLY wil not ever yellow, lift, or need replacing.

My passions are kind of a mission statement. I am passionate about staying up to date on current trends in my industry. I am passionate about preserving the health of my customers nails. I am passionate about helping and educating other techs about what I have learned and experienced to enrich THEIR professional lives.

As a result of all this, I have been using CND exclusively- no news there lol- I have used a variety of products over the years, and made the overall switch in 2003. The difference in my work was incredible. My fill lines disappeared, lifting became a non-problem, the finished product was more durable, tough, flexible. There was no longer a need to replace "old" product, as it never looked anything but brand new. I have paid out the nose for some of my training, but it was well worth it. I have been supported, and embraced by this company and its education team. I have a mentor working with me that doesnt charge me extra, she agreed to work with me after seeing my OLD work, which at that time I felt looked beautiful, but when I look back on it now i am slightly horrified But she saw something in me that she wanted to develop, and she HAS. The other educators I have met have also welcomed me with open arms, offering to help me whenever I need it, and they have followed through every time. Doug Schoon is incredible, he answered every question with a twinkle in his eye, I got the feeling her very much LOVED debate. He informs you EXACTLY what the product we work with IS, and what it is NOT, and what is BALONEY, and what is VERIFIABLE FACT, for ALL companies. To have someone like that leading your team is incredible.

All of things and MORE only further fuel my passion to educate. Nothing please me more than to suggest something to another tech, have her/him implement it, and have them feel the same excitement I felt when I did the same thing. I have enriched them professionally, and it makes me feel SHINY. It pains me that we have so much mis-information running around rampant.

So with that- I have a challenge for you geeks-

Lets read about each others chosen products with an open mind, and see what the difference are. We could have a REALLY great debate here with all the info we can come up with. Lets not talk about what we think SUCKS, lets talk about what we LOVE and WHY- and instead of bashing, we can ASK QUESTIONS about techniques or products we dont understand.

I did this today. After reading and posting and flaming a little (eek sorry), I went to the Tammy Taylor website and started reading. And then I started watching her instructional videos.

While I didnt agree with any of the techniques used, I think its great that this company offers to show its consumers how to use their products in such an easily accessible manner as videos.

Yes, CND trains for a price, and with that price I get superb one-on-one help, a face to go with my name, and I havent had an educator forget me yet.

This could also be because I am a loud mouth that makes my presence known very quickly

so now that I have rambled on and on- what do YOU guys want to say about YOU? I look forward to your responses...

 

[HeatherDavis]

DO I offend? *sniffs self*

Cmon you chickens- it wont start a war unless we WANT it to- I just am really curious about what we are all passionate about!

SO GET POSTING DAM*&T!

 

[Urban Geek]

I look for a performance product, ie one that makes my application easy and controlable and one which helps produce durable enhancements making my maintenance appointments hassle free and easy. I have found that in Creative products.

HTHs! xxx

 

[lotus blossom]

great read heather!!

i want ease of use , yet durability, longevity, great looking week on week, and ease of maintenence,
creative have ticked all these boxes for me,
i used to use others, but now have seen the light!!!

 

[preciousfa02]

I also use creative as well as young nails and now tammy taylor. All these lines has its pros and cons. i love the ease of creative, the longevity of young nails and the education of tammy taylor. As long as you take pride in your work (ie, proper prep, application, educating clients, continuing education) the product should really matter.

 

[HeatherDavis]

YAY! Thanks geeks- good responses so far, makes me feel like a flibberty jibbit lol- Anybody care to elaborate with any experiences??

 

[leah82]

great read heather!!

i want ease of use , yet durability, longevity, great looking week on week, and ease of maintenence,
creative have ticked all these boxes for me,
i used to use others, but now have seen the light!!!

Well said Lotus blossom, I feel the same way but about NSI who's products I use!! Especially the New attraction range, which ticks all the above boxes!!

 

[Dessi]

Well i bought EzFlow, TammyTaylor and CND. For me works EzFlow L&P, but i will never change the CND prep and solar oil, i just love it.

 

[becki x]

On top of all that has been mentioned,i want support,the very best in education,innovative products and techniques.

Tbh these to me are equally important,if not more than the product itself,why ?

Well because with all of the above,i can learn to use the product efficiently and make it work for me.

Without all of the above ,a great product would be nothing.

 

[oey]

For me it has to be an all round product.

Flexibility to do what you want, ease of use, looks professional, cost effective, well branded, good ethics, but most importantly - liked and respected by the clients.

 

[nailzoo]

I WANT EVERYTHING ........ I have tried almost every product on the market, i never put "blinkers" on myself, many products are fab, but as a complete system .... I am yet to find one that is COMPLETE, about a month ago a very courageous sales rep came into my salon (most of em freak out coming to see me) , well i tried their product (over a period of weeks), i loved it, but thought their white powder was crap (nowhere near what i use now , OPI absolute white, really creamy texture) I'm not gonna name the company, but their liquid and pink powder was absolutely amazing, but as stated their white powder let me down), well, they are gonna re-formulate their white powder to my requirements (can't wait to try it), what really blew me away was ..... the rep gave me some files and i kinda went "pffft", well there was a file i was given, 180 on one side(i think) and a super fine on the other, i threw it in the draw along with 50 million other files....... some time passed and i just reached into my draw and thought i would give this file a try (it has a wooden middle and i often hate them), but anyways i gave it a try. Well, that one file (which can be oiled) has lasted me 4 weeks now, thats one wooden board file, used on 8 clients a day, 5 days a week, for 4 bloody weeks. I am blown away (and it costs AUS 80 cents). The file is quite stiff and almost melts the acrylic into the cuticle, after 22 years doing nails i am flabbergasted by a simple file. I do pretty good work as standard, but my clients have been coming back better than ever "due to one file". This is what I enjoy, finding simple joys, in a simple product, that makes my slaving over nails even simpler (is that a word). What I am saying is "never stop trying new stuff, you never know when there is something in the pipeline that can help make your life as a slave to nails even better.
Those odd samples that you may just throw in a "crap drawer" may be the solution to a simple problem, give them all a try, never allow yourself to think you are complete without trying new stuff.
We all admire and respect the people who have taught us and initially (as we do) think they are the be all and end all, but our systems (your systems, and the competitors products) improve all the time, don't be afraid to try the odds and sods, you never know what you may find (or even worse) ... overlook, due to your blind, or supposed educated honor relative to product ranges.
In the last 8 weeks (after 22 years trying all sorts) I have found new files, new tips, new cuticle remover, new cuticle oil and a new adhesive (all at prices well below what i usually pay). An even better result at a better price........ isn't this what it's about?

 

[Sassy Hassy]

In short I have to say that for me it's QVC!!!!!!!!!! Well not literally, but Quality, Value and Convenience! First class products that are well prices, next day delivery and a great customer service.

So the ones I use are ...

EZ Flow pro pusher . I need a new one now as mine is wearing away on the end, but nothing has ever come close for me.

LCN - their files just last for yonks, I like their Cleaner, Fastener Rapid (adhesive), their 100 tips as they are so flat and great for the really bad nail biters, finger bandage, glitter gels, and a few other bits and bobs that I can't think of. I love the look of their new manicure range, but I think they are a tad on the expensive side, especially to retail.

Creative - I use the Brisa system and really love it. However i cannot get to grips with the white sculpting gel. i do think it's great that it really is a fab strong white and doesn't budge at all when you apply it (something I never got from the formatur range in LCN), but boy I find it so hard to get it level. i describe it to being the same as when you Royal ice a cake, you just cannot get it smooth until you really get the hang of it, so in the end you just end up doing loads of peaks and make it into a snowscape scene!

I've just started to use Creative tips. i've used Eclipse for a while and really like them. Have to say I don't like Creative's files, they just don't last two minutes with me.

Consumables like couch roll, nail wipes etc I get from Sally's.

 

[Anna Lee]

Well, that one file (which can be oiled) has lasted me 4 weeks now, thats one wooden board file, used on 8 clients a day, 5 days a week, for 4 bloody weeks. I am blown away (and it costs AUS 80 cents).

i really want to know what make/ brand this file is....????

nail zoo.... pleaaaseee tell me....?? pretty please....???