Technique

When doing backfills on my gels, why am I having a problem with the white separating and coming off?

August 01, 2006 | Bookmark +

When doing backfills on my gels, I am having a problem with the white separating and coming off. Sometimes it comes off in one piece, or the natural nail will peel away from the gel. I am being very thorough with my prep work. What causes this?

Answer

Gels will lift away from the free edge if they are not applied properly. A technique called “capping” is used to prevent the gel from separating at the tip and sides. Capping means the tech pulls the gel to the edge of the nail, then takes the tip of the brush and gently goes along the sides and the free edge of the nail. As gels cure, they shrink, and if the tip of the nail is not capped, it will separate. Remember, if, after curing, you decide to file the tip or edges of the nail, the seal will be broken again, and the area must be glued or recapped.

If proper care has been taken to cap the nail and your client is still peeling, natural nail primer may be used very sparingly on the natural nail as a last resort. — Kimberly Ensign is an educator for EZ Flow and ibd, and owner of Acrylic Enhancements by Kimberly Ensign in Bloomington, Ill.

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How can I prevent lifting when my client's hands are constantly in water?

I have a client who is in the medical field so her hands are constantly in water. She has me keep the length of her acrylic nails short. No matter what I do, she always has at least one nail that comes off, and she always has lifting and gets water under the acrylic. I prep the nails correctly, I have a cuticle bit to clean the cuticle area, and I wipe the nail with alcohol, dehydrate the nail, and prime the nail. What should I do?

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