How to prep nails for a manicure
A perfect, long-lasting manicure relies on correct nail prep tailored to suit the individual client.
One common mistake is not carrying out a consultation, which is crucial in fully understanding your client’s requirements and also often a legal requirement to ensure the validity of insurance.
Key consultation findings should include: an understanding of the client’s occupation, lifestyle and any hobbies, whether they suffer with any allergies and if they take medication.
Following a consultation, to correctly prepare the nail plate and surrounding skin for product application, there are a few steps to include to avoid errors:
1. Invest in quality nail tools
Quality tools will give a superior finish with minimum effort. They will also last longer than cheaper tools if looked after well, therefore offering a much better return on investment.
2. Make sure the nail plate is completely free of any cuticle
People often call the proximal nail fold the cuticle when in fact cuticles are the dead skin fixed to the nail plate and are quite often invisible to the naked eye. The aim is not just to push and gently lift the proximal nail fold, it’s to also remove all the dead skin on the nails to avoid product lifting prematurely.
The key is to use a cuticle pusher that is gentle but also sharp enough. Start with a pushing/scraping motion from halfway down the nail and you’ll note how much more you can remove. Brush the excess off with a nail brush and scrape off anything left around the sidewalls and proximal nail fold using a curette and cuticle nippers.
3. Choose the correct nail prep product
Always refer to the product manufacturer’s advice when it comes to properly preparing the nail plate. For example, find out which product they advise to use to clean the nails, or whether a primer or bonder is required.
Not all brands are this thorough, so it is wise to make sure you understand your system and follow each suggested step, otherwise this can severely impact how long your enhancement work will last.
4. Use a reputable brand
Do your research before you invest in a brand. Reputable brands should offer training; if they don’t it should be a red flag! Read the literature regarding your options as thoroughly as possible and choose a brand that best suits you and your clients’ needs.
Train with your chosen brand so that you can become an authority on their product collection, their functions and how best they are applied and used.
Some techs like to offer a selection of different brand options so that they have more to offer their clients – but make sure you do not mix the brands and that your lamps are suitable for the systems you use. Others, like me, prefer to align with one brand and get to understand it completely. The choice is yours.
Julie-Anne Larivière is a Salon System Gellux expert and the owner of Sketched by J-A Nails.
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