What is/was this stuff?

[annasmum]

I apologize in advance this is going to be a lengthy one.

I had posted a thread about over exposure a little while ago. The client has now come in for the second time and I had a proper look at her nails. Last time was two weeks ago where the nails looked really sore. Especially around the cuticle area. I advised 2xdaily solar oil which made a huge difference. The client loves the solar oil which I pretty much expected. Works great on sunburn too.

I had hoped to just reduce the bulk and leave some of the "gel" on and shellac her nails. She told me that they used a liquid, dipped a brush in liquid then powder and only used a UV lamp when they put on top coat. Sounds like L&P to me even though she had specifically asked for gels.

Anyway when I had removed the polish all the nails were badly discolored and looked kind of streaky. The little one on the right hand had green discoloration where they had applied a tip to what was left of her nail after they had cut off the part of the nail that had come away from the nail bed. I advised her to see her doc. Just to make sure. I decided to remove the nails and buffed then soaked in acetone as I normally would but the stuff just wouldn't budge. Normally it goes sort of crumbly but this just went a little slimy/stringy about the thickness of a dispersion layer. Any idea what the previous salon may have used? Is this what happens with MMA?

Pretty much all of her nail have onycholysis on them to varying degrees. So for now we've agreed on weekly manicures, solar oil 2xdaily, gloves when doing housework, lots of tlc and meticulous hygiene because of the separation. Anything else we can do? Would a vitamin supplement make any difference? Obviously ask her doc which one. Her nails are very damaged from overfiling and paper thin now. The regrowth looks much better but it will take a while.

 

[Envy]

The client loves the solar oil which I pretty much expected. Works great on sunburn too.

Also works great on stretch marks and scar tissue... basically it's the best anti aging product you can get your hands on... I've even seen clients use it on crows feet/smile lines with great success...

I had hoped to just reduce the bulk and leave some of the "gel" on and shellac her nails. She told me that they used a liquid, dipped a brush in liquid then powder and only used a UV lamp when they put on top coat. Sounds like L&P to me even though she had specifically asked for gels.I decided to remove the nails and buffed then soaked in acetone as I normally would but the stuff just wouldn't budge.

this sounds like powder gel, it is primarily a gel, but they add powder in to reduce the massive shrinking effect ... Because it uses an oligomer formula (gel) it does not soak off easily in Acetone, buff to remove... In no way is this related to MMA

Would a vitamin supplement make any difference? Obviously ask her doc which one. Her nails are very damaged from overfiling and paper thin now. The regrowth looks much better but it will take a while.

No a vitamin will not help...
There is nothing you can put in your mouth that will directly help your nails in ANY way...
On a side note, hair and nail keratin is the last protein chain the human body produces so if you are unhealthy or eating a poor diet they will both be the first to suffer.

Her nails will need to grow out to recover, Shellac would be a good idea as it requires no filing of the natural nail (ie, no additional damage) and will add that little extra protection until they recover.

In my opinion it pays never to completely remove another techs enhancements as you just never know what damage you will find underneath - you are almost always better off to rebalance over them and let them grow out naturally.

Hope that all helps.

 

[annasmum]

Thank you for your reply. I always thought even with powder gels you have to put the hand into the lamp to cure between layers. Learnt something new today. I left a thin layer on after struggling for 1.5 hours. The nails are seriously thin and half way off her nail beds now and I was really worried about heat spikes.

 

[Envy]

I had hoped to just reduce the bulk and leave some of the "gel" on and shellac her nails. She told me that they used a liquid, dipped a brush in liquid then powder and only used a UV lamp when they put on top coat. Sounds like L&P to me even though she had specifically asked for gels.

My apologies, I didn't read this part correctly ... This is indeed L&P with a gel top coat.... sadly a lot of 'lower end' salons will do this and just call it gel...

You are quite right, powder gels do require curing during application

Remember, even a gel top coat will stop Acetone from penetrating at all... And very cheap L&P can be very hard to penetrate without being MMA... it is very hard to prove...

hth's

 

[annasmum]

Thanks again. Was just my own curiosity really. End result is the same poor woman had really badly wrecked nails from being overfiled with an e-file. Now don't get me wrong I generally have nothing against e-files. I think when used correctly they are a very valuable tool but... Only time and patience will get her nails right again. Had just hoped that some sort of vit b might help a little.

 

[user 35377]

Generally, if you file on acrylic nails that have MMA in them--there is a VERY distinctive foul odor (similar to cat urine) that comes from it. It does take very long to soak off and gets stringy and almost fibrous looking. And it is known to cause onycholysis. Really the only thing you can do is regular manicures, gloves, lots of TLC and maybe some type of nail strengthener like Rejuvicote or NailTek II.
Good luck--she is sooo lucky to have found you!

 

[ellewopter]

If it was a "discount salon" then they seem to do the same L&P and charge 2 prices for the same thing.

I had one lady with bright green and black nail infection visit me after yrs of going to them, in 9 yrs it's the worst i have ever seen. I thought they would never get better but after 2 years her nails were back to almost normal and i have been doing them ever since so there is hope.............

When i opened my salon 6 months later one of these salons opened down the road from me, i have seen all you described and nothing shocks me now, they go like gunge when you soak them and the current record it 4 hrs to get them off, but if there is no Onychilisis etc present then the best solution is to infill and grow it out, there's no telling what delights there are in store for you lurking under all that high quality product.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing hun. And i believe there is no way of telling for deff if it is MMA without lab tests according to those in the no

 

[Envy]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing hun. And i believe there is no way of telling for deff if it is MMA without lab tests according to those in the no

Ellewopter is very correct, there is no way to know what liquid they are using without a very expensive lab test - and this generally can only be run from the liquid

Even cheap nasty EMA can have a horrid smell and be a nightmare to buff off....

 

[annasmum]

Thanks for your answers. That's probably what it was cheap and nasty L&P stuff. Deffo no CND or other reputable company. And yes it is one of those cheap salons where they just get corner stick a tip under and lever off the "enhancement" as they can't get the stuff off either and would never sit there for 2 hrs to try and get it off. I cringed when she told me how they get it off. Had another one today with the same horror story. What beats me is why on earth would you put yourself through that? It's got to hurt surely when you just pry off a nail like that.

 

[Envy]

Thanks for your answers. That's probably what it was cheap and nasty L&P stuff. Deffo no CND or other reputable company. And yes it is one of those cheap salons where they just get corner stick a tip under and lever off the "enhancement" as they can't get the stuff off either and would never sit there for 2 hrs to try and get it off. I cringed when she told me how they get it off. Had another one today with the same horror story. What beats me is why on earth would you put yourself through that? It's got to hurt surely when you just pry off a nail like that.

These stories are all too common, and still they make my eyes water!!!
Clients go there because it's cheap, fast and they don't know any better!
It's stories like this that have keep the old adage going "fake nails ruin your natural nails"
NO they DON'T!!!! Bad techs do....

Only educating these clients by saying, nails should never hurt, and if done by a 'professional' they will be better than they've ever been...

 

[chocolatepickle]

Totally agree with Envy- I WAS once one of those clients... eugh, i feel sick at the thought of it now i know better. Though I never had a proper removal done- I'd just leave them on for a few weeks and either get infill's or wait till one lifts to start picking them off.
I was young and went for the price alone.
Nowadays you couldnt pay me to go though that, when I done my foundation I realised that all these things i thought were normal about getting your nails done like getting cut with the efile (most times), discomfort for the day following them, my nail plate drilled to bits... the list goes on!

 

[ellewopter]

Actually had a client ASK me to take them off by levering them off like they doo, didn't want to wait to get them off and didn't no why i bother with how i remove them!!!!! can you believe it???? :twisted:

I think we will be seeing the same for some time to come and im sure they will be thinking up new and interesting ways to horrify us oh well what next???