On June 26, 2023, the Upper Hand Salon in La Mesa, CA, hosted an all-day class featuring renowned scientist and nail care expert Doug Schoon. With his extensive knowledge of chemistry, product development, and safety, Schoon has made significant contributions to the nail industry.
Attendees were treated to a rare opportunity to benefit from Mr. Schoon's expertise and engage in an interactive session called "Ask Doug Schoon Live." The event, held in the serene ambiance of the Upper Hand Spa Salon (www.theupperhandspasalon.com), provided nail technicians with invaluable insights and debunked many prevalent industry myths.
The author with the Doug Schoon.
Doug Schoon's Background and Contributions
Doug Schoon, a Master's Degree holder in chemistry from UC-Irvine, is an influential figure in the nail care industry. With previous experience as the Chief Scientist at Creative Nail Design (CND), Schoon has dedicated his career to advancing the understanding of nail chemistry, natural nail care, and artificial nail enhancements. He has authored several books and is a chief contributor to "Milady's Standard Nail Technology." Schoon's YouTube channel, @facetofacewithdougschoon284, offers a wealth of information for professionals seeking to expand their knowledge.
Doug Schoon’s presentation was extremely comprehensive. Focusing primarily on the natural nail, the subject matter ran the gamut from nail anatomy to UV lamps. He made effective use of his slide show, much of which was in 3-D. (You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a fingernail magnified thousands of times in 3-D.) The following is a brief summary of his talk.
Debunking Nail Myths
One of the highlights of Doug Schoon's presentation was his emphasis on debunking the numerous myths that pervade the nail industry. In an age where information is easily accessible via the Internet, but often riddled with inaccuracies, Schoon highlighted the misinformation, lack of correct information, and the reluctance of people to accept facts as the primary culprits for the proliferation of nail myths.
Doug did some myth busting around nails and nail health.
One pervasive myth addressed during the presentation was the belief that nails need to "breathe" occasionally to maintain their health. Schoon clarified that the nail matrix, responsible for creating new nail cells, receives 100% of its required oxygen from the bloodstream, rendering the notion of nails requiring external oxygen entirely false.
Practical Tips and Techniques
The presentation covered practical matters, including the potential risks associated with over-filing nails. Over-filing, from either hand filing or electric filing, not only risks creating the dreaded "Ring of Fire" on clients' nails, but can also thin the nails excessively, making them more flexible and prone to polish adherence issues and product lifting. Schoon's insights provided attendees with valuable guidance to ensure proper nail care techniques.
UV/LED Lamp Safety Clarification
Addressing a topic of recent concern, Schoon discussed the safety of UV/LED lamps used in salons. He referred to recent studies claiming that these lamps emit high levels of UV energy, potentially causing cancer. However, Schoon pointed out significant flaws in these studies, highlighting the investigators’ bias and inaccurate conclusions. He referred to a paper co-authored by himself, Paul Bryson of OPI Products, and Jim McConnell of McConnell Labs, which addressed and debunked similar flawed studies.
A Day of Invaluable Knowledge
The "Ask Doug Schoon Live" presentation was an extremely informative and engaging experience for the nail technicians in attendance. The session was specifically tailored to enhance the knowledge base of attendees and provided practical insights they can apply in their work. Attendees praised Schoon's easy to understand and down-to-earth presentation style. One participant even noted more was learned from Doug Schoon in eight hours than during an entire semester of nail school.
Attendees were treated to a rare opportunity to benefit from Mr. Schoon's expertise and engage in an interactive session called "Ask Doug Schoon Live."
Conclusion
Attending a presentation by Doug Schoon is an opportunity not to be missed for anyone in the nail care industry. His extensive expertise, commitment to accurate information, and engaging presentation style make for an enlightening experience. The Upper Hand Salon's event featuring Doug Schoon provided nail technicians with a unique chance to interact with a leading industry expert, further elevating their skills and knowledge in the field of nail care.
About the Author: Gregory Fletcher is a licensed nail technician in San Diego, CA. His Instagram is @millennium_nails_san_diego.
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