Technique
Bella Shine Top Coat
Bellisima's Bella Shine Top Coat is a UV gel top coat that can dry without a UV lamp. The top coat has a thin viscosity fOr quick dry times but seals to a strong and protective layer to keep enhancements safe from yellowing and chipping.
Design #1: La Flor Blanca
Place thin layer of Speed Clear acrylic on the body and free edge. This will prevent color from staining the natural nail and allow color to fade well.
Nailtrition
Orly’s Nailtrition Leaves Nails Strong and Healthy
Exotic Mango Manicure/Pedicure
Hollywood Nails explains how to give clients a luxurious manicure/pedicure with mango oil, sliced oranges, and flower petals.
Bob's Your Uncle -- It's Robert Munkel
E-filing expert and educator Robert Munkel has been doing nails for 20 years, and he has been honing his skills on the e-file ever since a shoulder injury 12 years ago left him unable to perform hand-filing motions. "I hurt my shoulder pretty badly, and I had to switch to e-filing because my shoulder just couldn’t hold up to hand filing. I was even worried I’d have to stop doing nails, but I got really good at using the e-file, and pretty soon I was making sets even faster than before."
Perfect Palette
Don your berets, because Orly’s new Instant Artist Collection promises to help you achieve clean, precise, and colorful nail art designs at every skill level. The collection features 24 water-based shades that each come with a tapered brush for exact placement. The collection also includes four tools: a detailer brush, striper brush, dotter duo, and design tear-off cards that offer suggested step-by-steps.
IBD Gelac
IBD’s Gelac is a light-weight gel polish that provides gorgeous color and cover and UV cures in just minutes. Two weeks later, nails still look salon perfect. When it’s time to remove Gelac, soak off in just 10 minutes and brush-on a fabulous new color.
NSI Balance UV Color Gels
NSI’s Balance UV Color Gels have exceptional strength and adhesion and come in 49 colors that can be easily blended together. Balance UV Gels have a thicker consistency for deeper color intensities, so clients will be wowed by your nail art, two-tone Frenches, and permanent polishes. Application is quick and easy and cures in two minutes flat with a full hand lamp.
Just My Type
Get the down low for how to cater to four common client types — the glamour girl, control freak, escapist, and eco-conscious client — with nail styles, colors, services, and more that are fine-tuned to the needs of each.
by Sree Roy
Posture Primer
If you’re like many nail techs, you go home after a long day with aches and pain in your hands, shoulders, and back. Proper posture and improved ergonomics can help reduce these symptoms that are often viewed as an unavoidable side effect of being a nail tech.
Behind the Scenes: A Real Life Fairy Tale
When Princess Gard decided to attend America’s Beauty Show (ABS) earlier this year, she had no idea what to expect. Little did she know her entry would not only win her $500, but also a spot on the cover of NAILS Magazine.
by Hannah Lee
The Perfect Polish for Little Piggies
The mom of two little girls who love to get their nails done, Piggy Paint founder Melanie Hurley always hated the thought of her children putting their hands in their mouths after she painted their nails with traditional solvent-based “kid” polishes. The result of her quest for a polish with no harsh chemicals, no foul odors, and nothing that might hurt the environment was Piggie Paint, which boasts the tagline “It’s as natural as mud.”
Rosemary Avocado Manicure
Modern Day Spa in Arlington, Va. uses the 100% botanical formulated products from Mountain Body for this rejuvenating and moisturizing manicure.
Cellulite Massage DVD
In Aesthetic Video Source's new Cellulite Massage DVD, massage therapist Susan Brown goes step-by-step through a complete massage session.
Milk and Honey Daily Skin Polisher
Cuccio Naturale is unveiling a new product to the nail and skin care family, Milk and Honey Daily Skin Polisher.
iSpa
T4's iSpa has an iPod dock and hi-fi speakers and a conical back that prevents the music from bothering others.
Gelish Color Gels
New from Hand & Harmony comes Gelish Color Gels. The gels apply like polish with a twist cap and applicator, but are cured in a lamp like gels.