Nails
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Technique

Am I losing my touch applying acrylics?

September 3, 2014

There are many techs who have great success with clients going three to four weeks in between fills with NSI products. The exceptional adhesion combined with durability and flexibility make it a great choice for techs looking to extend time between fills. So here are a few things I would look at:

First, I would make sure your product hasn’t expired and that it is stored correctly and not contaminated. Check the expiration date on the products. Liquids and powders are good for a year after they are opened. Liquids should be stored in a temperature-controlled environment and not stored near the powder.
Make sure you’re taking steps to not contaminate your liquid. For example, don’t use a dropper to take it out of the bottle and make sure you never leave it open on your station. Also make sure you’re using new liquid for each client.
Check your prep. Are you getting down into the sidewalls with your file and cleansing and dehydrating well in that area? Is your brush contaminated? Brushes should be cleaned and stored in a brush holder away from all the dust and contaminates that are present at a nail station.
Mix ratio of the product is also key. You should be using a medium-wet mix ratio with the NSI Attraction system. If you’re working with it too wet or too dry, this can cause product breakdown, which eventually leads to broken nails.
Are you using the correct primer properly? If a methacrylic acid primer is used and it touches existing product, it can cause product breakdown and discolor the acrylic. Attraction acid-free primer is the best primer to use with the Attraction line of acrylics.
— Malinda Haggerty, director of sales and education for NSI

More FAQ

Why do my clients' acrylic nails look discolored?

I am a new tech and have noticed that two of my clients who have been wearing acrylics for more than three months have discolored nails. One client’s nails look gray and the other’s nails have a yellow-orange tinge. What am I doing wrong?... read more

Should I apply more than one coat of primer before applying gels?

I applied one coat of gel on natural nails, and the gel peeled off the next day. Should I have used more than one coat of primer? The only preparation I did was to buff the shine off of my client’s clean nails, dust, apply a bonder, then one coat of gel, and let cure. What am I missing?... read more

How do I correctly apply tips? I am either getting bubbles or the tips pop off.

I am feeling frustrated because I have trouble applying tips. I am either getting bubbles or the tips pop off.... read more

How do you get a client to stop picking the acrylic at the cuticle?

How do you get a client to stop picking the acrylic at the cuticle?... read more

How can I place the acrylic so that the wide tips will look right?

Some of my clients have nail beds that are wider than the widest (size 0) tips. How can I place the acrylic so that the tip will look right?... read more

How can I keep my manicure implements from dulling?

How can I keep my manicure implements from dulling?... read more

How can I lay acrylic on a nail without it going onto my client’s cuticle?

I’m a newbie. How can I lay acrylic on a nail without it going onto my client’s cuticle?... read more

At what point in a pedicure do you use the hot towels and how?

At what point in a pedicure do you use the hot towels and how?... read more

Is acrylic causing curling nails?

I have an acrylic client whose nails have been healthy for many years. Recently, one of her thumbnails has begun to curl upward, about ¾ of the way up from the cuticle, toward the tip, but still well into the nail bed area. Each time I see her, it has curled more. I keep the nail trimmed as short as possible to avoid her pulling it on accidentally, and I keep it capped with acrylic (she doesn’t want me to remove the acrylic unless I absolutely have to.) It seems like the acrylic is not adhering to her thumbnail as well as it should. I don’t know if it’s because it’s short and she’s using it differently, or if it has something to do with the curling. Please advise.... read more

I had a client who is a runner, and her toenail was on the verge of coming off. What should I do?

I had a client who is a runner, and her toenail was on the verge of coming off. She wasn’t in any pain, but she wanted to try to have it look nice for an upcoming event. What should I do?... read more

How can I use an e-file to remove soak-off gels without overheating the nails?

I heard you can use an e-file to remove soak-off gels because it is faster, but when I try this technique the nails are getting too hot. Is there something I can do?... read more

Why is it that most of my acrylic clients are having lifting by the cuticle area?

Why is it that most of my acrylic clients are having lifting by the cuticle area? I prep properly, removing all the oils from the nail beds, and I prime twice. I’ve even considered using an 80-grit file. What can I do or what am I doing wrong?... read more