One of the hottest and newest products sweeping the country today is linen wraps, a nail repair and nail strengthener. This product and application technique has many benefits, including profit potential, time savings and ease of application.

For example, in my salon, I have a great percentage of ladies that want to try other methods of nail strengthening other than paper wraps or the acrylic nail.

Consequently wraps have become a welcomed and very profitable service to our salon. The linen wrap consists of actual cloth that makes it very strong. It is applied by a special formulated bonder that bonds the fabric to the nail.

No roughing up of nail bed is needed, and the bonder cures quickly and sets up hard. Excess fabric is trimmed at the sides of the finger and the free edge of the nail. No tucking under the nail is required that often gives the nail that bulky look and feel.

With linen, a quick water manicure, the wrap applied and polish to the nails should take one hour and 15 minutes, no more. Charges can run from $25 to $45 a set, To touch up a wrap or replace a wrap is generally charged at a per finger price of $2 to $5, and wraps need to be maintained every two weeks, with a potential charge from $10 to $12. As nails grow, add-ons are necessary.

Wraps will not make nails longer, but special tips, made for the wrap, can be added to give length at a charge $45 to $65 per set (tips and wrap). Nails can last four to six weeks, if maintained properly.

Also, there are no harsh chemical smells for the operator or your client, and there are no bubbles or fibers to contend with, as the wraps dry smooth and hard.

Nail polish can be removed without damage to the wrap and broken nails can be bonded back on and wrapped over to make a strong nail.

Some training in linen wrapping is advisable, but the following application techniques should be helpful.

For best results, start with clean nails. Apply a coat of sanitizer or non-oily nail polish remover or acetone to sterilize and prevent any bacterial growth.

Next, apply a primer coat as this seals out’ the nails natural oils and protects the nail from drying. This process also helps to prevent the wraps from lifting. Now, trim the cuticle and shape the nail.

  1. Apply a thin strip of the bonder down the middle of the fingernail. Point the finger downward so the bonder will not run into the cuticle.
  2. Next, lay a strip of linen over the bonder, covering three-quarters of the nail only, and stretch tightly over the nail to prevent air bubbles.
  3. With your scissors, trim the excess linen from the sides only, leaving just enough for filling later in the final shaping.
  4. Now apply a thin coating of bonder over the linen. Use a cuticle stick to make sure that the linen is well bonded to the sides and the tip of the nail. Important: allow the bonder to completely dry.
  5. With your emery board, file in quick, sharp, downward strokes, to remove excess linen from the tip of the nail.
  6. Next, apply another coat to bonder over the linen. Remove excess bonder from the sides of the nail with your cuticle stick.

Apply steps 1 through 6 to all nails.

  1. After applying linen wraps to all nails, gently file using quick, curved strokes over the wraps from the sides to the center of the nail. File all-ridges and texture from the nail.
  2. Don’t be afraid to file the linen once the bonder has dried, the linen is set and firm. Continue filing until completely smooth. Do not, repeat, do not file on the actual nail bed.

If at this stage any bonder remains on the cuticle, gently file away with your emery board.

  1. With cotton and polish remover, clean all dust particles from the nail and apply a final layer of bonder. Smooth with your cuticle stick and a fine grade buffer.
  2. Your wraps are now finished. Apply a base coat to keep the wrap from assuming color, and then apply your customer’s favourite shade of nail polish.

Note: Linen will not come off when you remove polish with nail polish remover.

How to Remove Wrap

Important: Tell your customers not to pick or peel the wraps ... this will damage the nails. Soak nails wraps to be removed in non-oily nail polish remover or acetone only. Within five to 10 minutes the wraps should float off. Continue soaking until the linen comes off completely without having to pick or peel. Remember, use only a non-oily remover.

Repairing Wraps

If the wrap separates from the sides of the nail, apply bonder to the area, Again, tilt the finger so the bonder runs into the wrap. Press lifted linen down with your cuticle stick of your own nail. Hold tightly. Gently file away bonder build up and when dry, apply polish.

If the wrap shows a crack across the top of the nail, you have a bumped or bent nail that has broken the bond between the nail and the linen.

Clean off the nail polish and lightly file the top of the existing linen. Add a small amount of border and half of a linen strip or patch over the cracked area. Trim, bond, file and apply nail polish.

Repairing a Broken Nail

For perfect alignment with a broken nail, bond broken nail tip to nail prior to removing nail polish. If the linen wrap is broken, file top of linen down. Apply wrap over the nail; double wrap if the break is low on the nail bed. Nail break will grow out.

If the nail and the wrap chips or dents, gently file the nail back into shape.

That’s all there is to it. No damage to nails or cuticle, does not cover the whole nail enabling it to breath, and no filing of the nail bed. Other suggestions regarding linen wraps:

  • - Change linen wrap every three to four weeks.
  • - Do not cover the nail with wrap.
  • - Do not replace wraps unless you have cleaned nail with non-oily polish remover.
  • - Do not pick at or peel the wraps off the nails.

By following these simple instructions, you and your client will have beautiful, trouble-free nails.

Desiree Marin is executive vice president of marketing for Linnen Wrap, 89 Orinda Way, #6, Orinda, CA 94563.

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