Here it is, the final post of the public awareness social media series. Have you been posting them? What has been the response in your community? Do you feel like they have been helpful to you?

This week’s post is about soaking the nails, whether it be in acetone or water. Nails absorb water much in the way a sponge will absorb water and swell in size. While we may not be able to physically see the swelling, it is happening. This means if your nails are soaked in a bowl of water or acetone at the beginning of a manicure, chances are much higher that your polish will either peel or lift when the nail dries out and shrinks back to its original size over the hours following the appointment.

Imagine applying paint to a wet sponge and letting it dry. When the sponge reverts to its original size, you are going to have paint that is no longer laying in the way you applied it, as the paint does not change size while it dries. If nails must be soaked, an oil should be used, since it will travel between the nail cells rather than expanding them.

When it comes to pedicures, toenails generally have 50 more layers than fingernails, so they are naturally thicker, which means swelling is slower. The feet can be soaked for 3-5 minutes to sanitize them. After that you should no longer be soaking in the water. You may need to  rinse the scrub and mask off, however you should not leave your toenails fully submerged in the water once they are rinsed. Unfortunately, because most clients will complain if not allowed to soak their toes in water, salons may require the nail professional to allow it to avoid customer complaints about the service.

Please feel free to use the photo above and the following caption to post on your social media:

Did you know that soaking your nails in a bowl of water or acetone will make it more likely that your manicure will chip or peel? Some salons feel forced to allow the soaking due to guest complaints. For the life of your manicure, request NOT to soak! #IAMLICENSED #FingerNailFixer