So there you are........ you have a brand spanking new manicure straight out of the salon and you're feeling fine!!
You know the nail technician gave you some advise on how to keep your manicure looking as good as possible for as long as possible but who follows advice right?
You don't have time to be wearing gloves or whats this oiling business??? Whats the worse that can happen if I don't bother with all of that milarkey??
I have heard it a hundred times over...."I know I should wear gloves when I am washing the dishes...but" or "well I moisturise my hands daily so I don't need to oil my cuticles" or "Well they just turned orange!" or my favourite "well they just kind of.... popped off!"
Advice is just that....its advice! We as technicians can't hold our clients over a barrel and make them follow our advice but if they don't, then unfortunately it can not possibly be expected that their manicure will last as long as advertised.
Everyone is different with different hobbies and activities that can affect their nails, health is a major player in the condition of nails and nail technicians are on a front row seat looking for anything evident in nails that could cause a concern to your health. Its our job to not only make our clients feel good about their hands and their overall appearance but to also keep an eye on their overall health and so if we have advice to give, its because we want our clients to be safe and enjoy our hard work for as long as possible.
I know if I have paid good money out for a manicure I would do anything to make sure I get my moneys worth, even if that meant sleeping in a bucket of manure standing on one leg with my hands raised above my head!.....not something I have ever advised on but you get the picture.
If you are like me and like to ensure your manicure stays as good as the day it was applied and the only reason you need to come back to the nail salon is for your regular maintenance appointment every 2 to 3 weeks, then there are a number of steps you can take to keep your pandies sparkling.......
Firstly lets talk Nourish Cuticle Oil....I can not express enough how important it is to use this little miracle in a bottle at least twice a day. The oil should be applied to your cuticle area but also just as importantly underneath the free edge. Its enriched with oils to re-hydrate and condition the natural nail plate.
Whenever you are washing up, gardening, using household cleaning products or using fake tan...... wear gloves! These can start to break down the surface of Gelish, Polygel or Acrylic and will cause lifting and staining. Don't do as my mum did and bleach your dish cloths without wearing gloves and then wonder why you wake up the following morning to find your beautiful nude manicure has turned bright orange!!!!
Remember that Gelish gel polish is porous and so avoid SPF products, tinted lotions, moisturising lotions and hair colour on your new nails as these can discolour your beautiful manicure and lift the product, always wash hands thoroughly after use or better still wear gloves. New clothing dye can also transfer and so please be careful putting your hands into pockets of jeans and other clothing....if the wash tag advises to wash the item separately....assume that this dye will transfer.
Please don't use your nails as utensils....there is a gizmo for practically everything from screwing tiny screws in on your glasses to opening ring pulls on cans and scraping up spilled candle wax .......believe me I have heard it all!!! My favourite mantra is ...... Nails are jewels NOT tools!!!
Please don't file your own nails after a Gelish manicure unless absolutely necessary. When applying Gelish colour, a professional will “cap the tip” creating a seal over the natural nail, if this seal is broken by filing the free edge, your manicure will be open to lifting at the free edge which again will cause a breakdown in the service.
Please please please (dramatic repeat alert!!!) do not pick, peel or bite your nails...they are NOT indestructible. Gelish gel polish, Polygel and Acrylic are designed to create an adhesive bond to the natural nail plate and if picked, will cause damage to the natural nail by thinning the nail plate. If this happens over a long period of time, nail plates can become brittle, sensitive and painful the thinner they become. I have heard on many occasions "Acrylic extensions have ruined my nails!!" but in reality nail coverings including Acrylic protect the natural nail, its the improper application and/or removal of the nail covering that has effected the condition of the natural nail and not the product itself.
Your nails have been applied by a professional, for the best care they should also be removed by a professional to avoid damage to your natural nail plate. We offer free removal of your previous manicure if you are having a fresh manicure completed within the same appointment but if you do decide to remove your nail coverings yourself, please ask for a comprehensive removal kit and instructions, removal kits are available at Eva Grace Nail Lounge priced £9.99. The kits include a mini bottle of removal fluid, 10 foils, a 240 nail file and yep wait for it....a FULL bottle of Nourish Oil!!!
And finally (I hear you cry)....
Take care of your nails! They are not indestructible, but by following the advice above you will ensure that your manicure will stay as fresh as the day it was applied until your maintenance appointment and you will make your nail technician a very happy chappy!!
Until next time.....
Love Paula xx