1. Improper nail prep

Whether applying an acrylic, gel, gel-polish or regular polish, it’s important the nail bed be free of dead skin or oils so product can adhere to the nail. Use a plastic, wooden or metal cuticle pusher when prepping the nail, and use smooth, gentle pressure on the nail plate to avoid damaging the natural nail. Cuticle solvents and removers are a must for cleaning the nail plate. With cuticle nippers and cutters, remember: Less is more.

2. Unbalanced nail enhancements

The shape of the nail is very important to constructing a nail enhancement—especially a sculpted extension. For a nail extension to be structurally sound, it must have an apex located over the stress area and in proportion to the length of the extension. For short, natural nails, this is the center of the nail, and for longer extensions, the apex is just slightly down from the middle of the nail toward the cuticle. Angling your brush when applying acrylic at the cuticle area helps create a natural arch toward the apex.

3. Forgetting to put on primer before acrylic

Nail enhancements lift and pop off the nails if primer isn’t used before acrylic application. Most acrylic doesn’t stick well to the natural nail, so a primer has a chemical makeup of monomers that bond to the nail as well as the acrylic so the bond is extra strong. One coat of primer is typically enough—applying too much can actually decrease adhesion.

4. Applying gel-polish too thickly

When gel-polish is applied too thickly, the suggested manufacturer curing time might not be enough to create a full cure, which can lead to peeling. Most manufacturers will recommend two coats for solid color coverage, so use the three-stroke method to help keep applications thin: one fluid stroke down the center, then two on either side.

5. Not pinching the C-curve

C-curves that are too  at look unnatural and gawky. Pinching is usually done with fingers or specially designed tweezers, where pressure is applied to the sidewalls of the nail to help bend the free edge of the extension into a nice C-shape. C-curves begin during the sculpting stage, so make sure the form  ts correctly underneath the nail and that it follows the nail’s natural curvature. Too tight a pinch will cause damage and can even break in the enhancement.

6. Incorrect acrylic ratio

An easy way to spot an improper liquid-to-powder ratio is to look at how the bead appears on the brush. You want a minimal amount of the bead attached to the brush hairs to allow for a quick, easy release onto the nail. The ideal bead should be smooth, round, plump and suspended lightly on the brush hairs.

7. Not changing UV lamp bulbs

A telltale sign of bulb inefficiency is if you notice the tacky layer on your clients’ nails getting thicker or see small air pockets or cloudiness in the enhancement. If you have 30 to 40 gel clients per week, the bulbs should be changed every four to six months. For 20 clients a week, change bulbs six to eight months. Once a year is sufficient for fewer than 20 gel clients per week.

8. Not capping the free edge with gel-polish

When gels are cured, they shrink, so it is important that the product continues down over the free edge—but not underneath—so it does not recede back over the top of the nail. As you apply the gel-polish down one side of the nail and reach the free edge, turn the brush slightly and swipe the hairs across and down the free edge toward the center to seal it. Repeat on the other side of the nail, then make your final stroke down the center of the nail, swiping down over the free edge when you reach the end.

9. Over-filing

Excessive filing leaves nail beds thin and weak—not a good platform for enhancements. A thin nail is more flexible and can cause enhancement product to bend more, sometimes creating hairline fractures that lead to breakage and tiny cracks that can get bigger over time. Thin nails also allow enhancement products to possibly seep through the plate and onto the nail bed, which can trigger allergic reactions.

10. Improper product storage

Nail enhancements break down when products go bad. Keep all lids closed tightly and products stored in a cool, dry place when not in use. Gels should be stored away from sunlight because any light that seeps in will begin to harden gel. Acrylic powder lids need to be tightly closed so moisture in the air does not interact with the powder. Dispose of polish that becomes stringy and unworkable.

As seen in NAILS 2015 Career Handbook.

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