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Technique

During a fill, how do I make my pink-and-whites thin?

January 23, 2008

During a liquid-and-powder fill, the key to keeping your pink-and-whites thin is a combination of a few tricks. First, bevel off the old white product to allow room for new product, then prep the cuticle area for rebalancing.

The second key element is understanding your mix ratio. This is what determines the strength of the nail, allowing you to create natural-looking enhancements without over-building your product. A common confusion for nail techs is if the nails are created thicker, they will be stronger. This is not the case.

If the product is too wet, it won’t be controllable and you’ll likely over-build and experience delamination. If the product is too dry, you’ll have a difficult time applying the product and will get thicker nails. Ensure you’re using the correct mix ratio and your clients will enjoy their nails more and experience less service breakdown. — Jessica Marie Ellison is the nail program educator at Yorkville School of Make-Up & Esthetics in Toronto

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