
6 Ways Self-Love Will Help You Crush Your Goals
From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.
Ease of application is an attribute technicians look for in every product. The majority of technicians we spoke to about fast-set acrylics sang the praises of their application. Says Ferraro, “With a standard set, you tend to overwork the product because; you have to work with it longer. If you don’t work with it, it will move because; it’s not set up yet. With a fast set, I just brush the product over the nail once and I’m done. It shortens my application time by 10 minutes. East-set acrylics have really allowed the faster technician to excel by getting the job done faster.”
Trina Zummallen, owner of Trina’s Nail Room in Bourbonnais, Ill., and an educator for Tammy Taylor Nails, agrees. “A fast-set acrylic sets up quicker and is easy to work with because it flows on the nail rather than having to be patted into place as with traditional acrylics.”
But Rachel Mathes Vogel, owner of Class Act Nails in Iowa City, Iowa, and an educator for OPI Products (N. Hollywood, Calif.), finds that a “patting” technique works for a fast set acrylic, too. “I use a one-ball method, and place the ball of product at the stress area of the nail, then pat it into place,” she says.
“With traditional acrylics, you don’t want too much liquid with the powder so you have to use a smaller brush. And when you dip your brush into the powder, you draw a circle to produce the ball,” says Sue; Furtado, owner of Image Gallery in New Bedford, Ma., and an educator for NSI. “With a fast-setting powder, you use a larger brush because; you need more liquid than powder. You simply drag your brush in the powder to pick up a ball.”
Because fast-set acrylics require a larger brush, Michelle: Waynick, manager of She’s Got Nails in West-land, Mich., and an educator for Galaxy Nail Products (Corona, Calif.), recommends using a #8 kolinsky brush because it holds more liquid.
Says Johnson, “Fast-set acrylics are self-leveling so you don’t have to work so hard — if does the work for you.” Because: fast-set acrylics apply smoothly to form a near-perfect nail, filing time is greatly reduced, Schaaf adds.
Leah Thorne, a nail technician at Creative Concepts in Louisville, Ky, and a regional account executive for Star Nail Products, also ex***

From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.

From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems

Products marketed as 'magic' or 'burst' gel removers may contain methylene chloride, a federally banned, highly toxic chemical.

Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.

As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.

A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.

For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.

Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.

Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.

Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).

As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.

Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.

Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.

Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.

For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.

One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.

Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.