Secret Ingredient: Cleansers
Cleansers are used in the nail industry to remove oils and moisture from the nail plate prior to product application. The cleanser temporarily dehydrates the nail plate so it is better able to adhere to the product about to be applied, thus helping prevent service breakdown.
by Tim Crowley
Extreme Nailing
Does our environment change how we do nails? Do techs living in climates where it dips into double digits below zero work differently than techs who live where it’s nearly 100 degrees with 80% humidity?
Test Your Sanitation Knowledge
Take this quick quiz to see where you stand on sanitation. Pencil ready? Get set. Go.
On My Mind: A Tale of Two Labs
Editor Hannah Lee got to tour the City of Hope headquarters as well as CND's research and development lab and found that a lot can be learned by stepping out of the office or salon and taking time to develop professionally.
by Hannah Lee
Bath Salts Drug No Relation to Legitimate Spa Salts; Beauty Manufacturers Address Customer Concerns
Some foot soak companies have had problems because of the misleading name of this illegal drug.
P2 Is Solvent-Free
Light Elegance has just reformulated its P2 UV Polish to remove the solvents that were once in it.
Get the Facts on Gels
Gel manicures and pedicures have been available, and safely used, in salons for more than three decades, says the PBA’s Nail Manufacturer’s Council.
secret ingredient} primers & bonders
With most gel and acrylic systems, a bonder or primer is applied to the natural nail first to increase adhesion for the enhancement.
Websites Worth Watching: Schoon Scientific
Doug Schoon is a well-known chemist in the nail industry who has been instrumental in keeping nail techs, salon owners, and clients informed on important scientific findings regarding the nail industry.
Secret Ingredient} Acetone
The clear and dear friend that makes polish removal a snap, and acrylic and gel removal possible, is a bedrock for the nail industry.
Tune-up Your Manicure Techniques
SELF Magazine, in the November 2011 issue, put together a list of ways to pump up manicures and maximize results for your clients. According to Maridel Reyes, it's always good to tune-up your technique.
Doug Schoon’s Brain DVD
Watch and listen while industry scientist Doug Schoon walks you through 10 episodes of the educational series “Doug Schoon’s Brain.”
Prescription Genadur Treats Brittle Nails
Genadur is the first FDA-approved treatment to help strengthen fragile, brittle nails. According to manufacturer Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals, Genadur helps improve the condition with a once-daily brush-on application that may start showing results in as little as 14 days.
Secret Ingredient: Base & Top Coat
The proverbial bread in the polish sandwich, base and top coats help polish adhere to nails and prevents nails from chipping and breaking.
Secret Ingredient: Resin/Glue
Resin in the nail industry refers to a cyanoacrylate glue used for adhering tips to natural nails, for gluing silk and fiberglass wraps, and for acrylic dipping systems. So what exactly is in it? Where did it come from? And how are techs using it today?
A Vibrating Nail?
Yep, you heard right. Though not a licensed nail tech, Cy Tymony, author of the new book Super Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, has created an innovative way to use simple, small, and inexpensive electronics to make a fun and interactive nail art design that really shakes things up.
Secret Ingredient: Acrylic Powder
Pink, white, or colored, acrylic powder is often seen as the more important partner in a liquid-and-powder relationship. What makes it so special? Is it a secret ingredient? You may be surprised to learn what’s actually in there.