My number-one irritation with doing gel nails is the CLIENTS. They come in with these absurd notions that gel is so much "better" for their nails than acrylic and THEN they REFUSE to shut up and LISTEN to me for five minutes while I explain to them how the gel service is different from acrylic — and their utmost cooperation is required.

Gone is the "hand that you're not working on" option! And I set that timer for a REASON. Stop pulling your hand out of the light for any reason! Seriously, if your hair is on fire, I promise I will get up and take care of that for you. But you can't blow your nose, get another cough drop, answer your phone, check that text message, take a drink of you coffee, or gesticulate randomly while you try to tell me a story. Your hand needs to stay in the light until the timer goes off. Otherwise, the gel will not "dry."

Also, you should take note that merely resting your hand inside the lamp will not suffice. Your hand must be completely inside the light. You must lay your hand down flat inside the light and please be sure to keep all of your fingernails in a position that allows the light to penetrate the gel. If you have your hand sideways, or otherwise askew, there is a very high likelihood that the light will not reach the gel evenly and fully and your gel will not "dry."

Of course the light bulb is hot, why did you put your finger against it?

The gel will not "dry" until it has been in the light for the appropriate amount of time! Please put your hand  back in the light!

No. You cannot get into your purse just because the timer went off... Uh, yes, I am aware that your nails are sticky — that's why I told you not to put them in your purse yet. Yes, the nails are "dry" now but they're sticky. When you — ummm, well I guess that's OK. I can wipe off the black lint from your purse lining. It'll be OK, I can fix it.

And then, of course, they come back in three weeks later complaining that the gel "just isn't working out for them" and they "tried to soak it off" but "it wouldn't budge."

Good grief. I miss the golden era of acrylic.