Consumer Beauty Knowledgebase & FAQ - Recent questions

Also seeking options for splitting nails with thin nail plates

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:29:05 +0000

Similar to the writer of "The best enhancement for thin nails that split," I have had a nail tech tell me nothing can be done for my nails and unfortunately, a dermatologist, who commented that my nails plates are thin and nothing can be done. My pinky nails grow fine and up until the past couple of years, so did my ring-finger nails, one of which now splits vertically. My other nails split horizontally within the nail bed. Some well-known nail strengthening products worked for me temporarily, but it's as if my nails have gotten used to them. I have also received regular manicures from licensed nail techs- that didn't work. The only times my nails have grown for a consistent timeframe was during my pregnancies (biotin and other vitamins have not helped either). At this point, I may be ready to give in and seek nail enhancements (a last resort because I really desired to remain natural). I tried gel polish and the splits within my nail bed went through the gel polish. Not only that, I had the gel polish for about one week and it still put a noticeable ridge with my nails. Unless you have another recommendation of what I can try, will you please let me know of some professionals in the Chicago area that I may consider? Licensed nail technicians that do not use MMA products..... I appreciate any advice you have to offer. Thanks.

What are the benefits of Self Tanning products?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:00:13 +0000

Using Self tanners can definitely be tricky, because if you are not using properly it might give streaky and orange look. For getting a natural effect use reliable tanning products.

I was curious how often is it recommended to get a manicure without it becoming to damaging to your natural nails?

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 01:50:33 +0000

I'm not talking about like every day, but is it safer to go every week, every two weeks, once a month. And after a while is there any damaging effects to your natural nail or nail bed?

how to cure green fingernail after acrylics ?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:02:31 +0000

The best enhancement for thin nails that split

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:52:28 +0000

I have very thin nails with ridges that split vertically. I only have two nails that don't split. I have been researching the various nail enhancement: acrylics, gels, biosculpture gel, overlays and wraps to try to figure out how I can best make my nails look their best Of course, I just get conflicting answers. I just had acrylic overlays put on - no tips - using the dip system but I'm a little leery of this type of system. I am also a little disappointed in the tech herself - she bluntly informed me that there was no way my nails would get any better - in fact, she said that at this point I shouldn't worry about damage to my nails because they were as bad as they were going to get. Needless to say I will not be going back there. I am interested in biosculpture gels or silk (or fiberglass) wraps. I had wraps before and they were great - but it's almost impossible to find a nail tech who does this (I live in Toronto Canada). I would be interested in knowing your opinion on the various systems I've mentioned. Despite the last tech's negative comments about my nails I do believe I can have healthy and attractive nails - they just need some help. I look forward to your reply. Thanks very much. DebCanada.

Is it necessary to soak off the soak off color gel polishes or can they be filed down?

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:25:10 +0000

Hello I was just curious, do you really have to soak off the colored soak off gels? The technician I use to go to would always file mines with the drill and im more comfortable with that but unfortunately she moved out of state and I was forced to look for someone else. I normally get the clear gel base put onto my nail along with a color gel rather then the powdered acrylic & i've been getting it done this way for more then 3 years now :). The reason why I would like to know is because my new nail tech. does not carry the colors I like and I was thinking of buying my own gel color polish to bring in to her when I go redo my nails. Any suggestions on brands or can I buy just any uv gel color polish even though it says soak off?

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question ^_^.

Where can I make a complaint if I believe a salon used MMA

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:45:05 +0000

April 2012 I had my first first set of acrylic done. After a couple of hours my fingers started itching and then my fingers started peeling. Next visit I told them that I think I have an allergy to "something" so they didn't use primer. Again after a few hours my fingers started itching and later started peeling but more severe. My third visit I went and had a pedi and acrylic done again. Again I mentioned the allergy . After a few hours my fingers started itching again but more pain and blisters and peeling three times before the peeling before had healed. I started wheezing and getting shortness of breath. My doctor said for me not to go to that salon again because he felt they were using MMA which is a poison that adheres the tips to the nail. It took six months for my allergy to MMA to clear and heal my breathing.

I saw another TV show about gel manicures causing skin cancer - is this true?

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:52:56 +0000

Are the new gel polishes safe and do they last longer

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:03:26 +0000

I want to report a very dirty nail salon

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 19:59:04 +0000

Salon is dusty,ultra-violet dryer is dirty inside.They use one hot wax for all to dip feet into! They try to cut corners by putting shellac over gel polish,instead of using gel top-coat.I am not happy and went somerwhere else,got step by step explaination as my nails were being done.I think that a suprise inspection needs to be done so that these things may be seen,experienced.

why do you say "not everyone can wear gels"?

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:38:31 +0000

how to remove acrylic nail that also has OPI polish on it and use gel instead?

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:42:24 +0000

Is there any harm in using regular nail polish with the Gel LED system?

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:13:39 +0000

what is the difference between regular nail polish and acrylic nail polish?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 02:41:09 +0000

I bought some nails at Sally Beauty and they keep cracking down the middle. I took them back and the shop girl told me that the reason they keep cracking is because they are meant to have acylic put over them, not regular nail polish, but she could not tell me what the difference was between the two. What kind of polish is it that is sold in the drugstores/groceries stores? Thanks for your help in this matter!

Advice for green spot on nail?

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 02:26:37 +0000

I went to the salon today to get a new set of gel acrylic nails. When the technician removed one of my nails there was a green spot in the middle. She said it occurred due to water getting underneath the slightly lifted gel-acrylic nail (which is true). Afterwards, she buffed it and did the whole maintence, and she said it was safe to still go ahead apply the new set of gel-acrylics (so i did), according to her i just need to let it grow out with my nail until it is completely gone. Anyone have experience and know whether her advice was good? I trusted her because she is a technician, but now i'm questioning because posts online say to remove the nail for at least a week or two before re-applying the product. The color was a very light yellowish green after she cleaned it up... i know the darker the color the worse the case. Please help, I'm so afraid it'll get worse due to her advice!

Can I use polish over french manicure on my acrylic nails?

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 01:47:03 +0000

I got my first acrylic nails 2 1/2 weeks ago with a french manicure. I would like to use colored polish now. Do I just apply polish or do I need to do something else first?

How do I know if I've been exposed to MMA?

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:05 +0000

how do I choose which overlay to have on my nails acrylic,gel,silk

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:39:30 +0000

what to do when a tech drills through natural nail and draws blood

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:31:36 +0000

Nail tech drilled through natural nail and drew blood whil removing acrylic to do new opink and white fill. I left salon with nail not completed but not down to natural nail completely. What should be done?

Are there any salons that use NuFree hair removal products in Sacramento area?

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:58:40 +0000

Does Shellac manicure damage your nails?

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:27:39 +0000

Is Professio Nail a licensed Nail Salon ?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:21:52 +0000

Sale of my salon.

Thu, 31 May 2012 19:09:41 +0000

Hi!

I am looking to sell my salon located in Southern New Jersey. Does anyone know of any sites that may have potential buyers on them?

Thanks!

It's a salon for kids :)

Can I polish my nails at home after having done a gel manicure?

Mon, 28 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I want to polish my nails at home but I just had a gel manicure for the 1st time last week, and I hadn't changed the polish yet, I want to change the color but I dont want to be exposed to the UV light so soon, I was thinking to do it at home, but my concern is can I use normal acetone, and regular nail polish to do so?

Do gel manicures cause cancer?

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Has anyone else verified that getting a gel manicure will not give me skin cancer?

can you file gel nails if they are beginning to wear at the tips?

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:29:31 +0000

What type of uv gel should I ask for and how will I know if I'm getting what I pay for?

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:08:21 +0000

I've had "bio gel" at two different places and they were different. One had colored gel for the french and the other used air brush, the product came in different containers too. What type of uv gel should I ask for and how will I know if I'm getting what I pay for?

Is a primer required before CND Shellac when applied to nails with silk wraps?

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:20:26 +0000

I have silk wraps and would love to use the Shellac color but I am allergic to primer normally used with the gel nails (which is why I have silk wraps and not the gels). I tried the OPI gel color without primer but it peeled off within a day of getting them done. I currently have the Shellac color on now with primer and of course my nails are starting to bother me. So, I am wondering if the OPI didn't work without a primer, then will the Shellac?

Sugaring vs Waxing

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:36:15 +0000

What is the difference between Sugaring and Waxing? Which produces better results? Is it worth trying? Or is waxing the better alternative.

i have weak nail how can i get long strong nails?

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:28:02 +0000

Can Misinformation Really Hurt Us All?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:54:37 +0000

I've had many customers ask me about the dangers of the UV lamps I use to cure their gel & gel polish nails, they all seem to have misinformation on this topic

How do you handle unruly children in your salon when the parents don't do anything?

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:54:20 +0000

We do alot of kids cuts in my salon but they are driving me crazy!!!! The parents are either deaf, blind, or complete idiots. How can they not see or hear what they are doing?

What to do with a hairdresser that is not very good at what she does?

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:00:29 +0000

I dont know what to do! As the owner of a nail salon, i recently expanded and took on a hair dresser. She rents space from me and i am in no way her boss and have no say in what she does. The rent she pays helps out so much with my business expenses and i do like being able to offer more services, the problem is she kinda sucks at doing hair. My clients that went to her will not go back because she messed up their hair to much. Myself and my husband had to go home and fix our hair after she cut it and i would NEVER let my clients walk out of the shop looking the way hers do. She has been in business for 7 years and when i casually said something about continuing education she just shrugged it off. I dont think she realizes how untalented she is...or she doesnt care anymore. She has signed a year lease. What would you do in my situation?

I need to delete my old listing in Salon Locator.

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:41:56 +0000

All my infor has changed: the salon name, location, phone number, website, email, etc. I need the listing for Adagio II deleted so I can add my current listing.

can gel polish be applied to a nail bed where there is no nail?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:04:44 +0000

Can gel nail polish be used on a nail bed where the nail is gone? Will it bond?

Thank you.

How do I add my salon on this site in the locator?

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:27:15 +0000

To sign my salon in...

Finding a estitician that does gel nails in Palm Desert area

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:28:56 +0000

I need to find a estiician that does gel nails preferably using LCN products - I am a bit nervous going to the salons that have rows and rows of people doing nails - I'm not sure they are licensed and I don't know how clean they're instruments are. Can you please give me the name of one of two salons in the Palm Desert area that do gel nails. Thank you

Is it leagal to give clients wine in the salon when there is no visabel license in the salon?

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:29:44 +0000

I briefly worked at a salon the gave wine to miners on top of not having a liqure license, what should I do? I no longer work at the salon. I feel this guilt that I did not say or do anything about it. The owner said when I first started she got fined already but is still giving it out to her clients and the 2 clients I had were under age!

can i get a razor shave in delaware if the barber uses a disposible razor ?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:20:23 +0000

Are there alternatives to gel nail allergies?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:35:40 +0000

After over 20 years of having acrylic and gel nails, I have developed an allergy to the gel. My fingers burn, itch, and peel. I love my gel nails and my natural nails look awful!!!!

Acrylic Nails did not soak off after 2 1/2 hours how bad is this?

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:13:26 +0000

I just found out that the salon I was going to is using MMA. I found a new reputable salon so that I can have Shellac Nails going forward. I checked everything listed this time in finding the salon from this website.

The nail tech first tried the Shellac removal with acetone to each nail which did nothing. Then she put just enough acetone in two bowls (one for each hand) so that it only covered my nails. She worked and worked using a sanitized tool to take the acrylic nail off after soaking. She gently was using the instrument to lightly start at each nail bed and move forward to the tip of my nails with a very little bit of the acrylic coming off.

She said at 2 1/2 hours after my nails had soaked, that she had got right at 50% off!! She appologized and said she had never seen anything like this in 18yrs!!!. She also used a sanitized nail brush to again very gently brush the product off during this time.

She said that she would go ahead and apply the Shellac to help cover/protect my nails. She said this would be a "work in progress" each visit but that she would only soak with the shellac method. Is this remotely normal for the acrylic with MMA to be like this? Do you think I even have a nail underneath what is left? I am scared to death!! I have Multiple Sclerosis & don't need an infection.

The only way I found out about the MMA is I called the old nail tech and reminded her that I did need this informarion for my doctor due to the MS. So she told me. I also don't understand why I never smelled any odor in the salon, how can this be?

Please help I have read every article on this site and watched the news videos.

Thank you, Denise

Shellac polish removed

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:55:26 +0000

I'd like to know of a reputable/experienced nail technician (near 15215 ) with experience in applying/removing shellac polish appropriately. Thank you.

Cindi R

As a nail technician working for a company should I get blurry eyes if the product has mma.

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:53:35 +0000

Why should I file a complaint againt the salon?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:22:43 +0000

The REAL Truth About Gel Manicures

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:25:24 +0000

Response to: Nail Salon Cancer Warning?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:24:06 +0000

Should I be Concerned About Acetone?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:22:37 +0000

Do UV Nail Lamps Emit Unsafe Levels of Ultraviolet Light?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:20:42 +0000

In Response to "16 deaths per day"

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:16:54 +0000