When finishing your enhancements, be sure to downsize to a higher grit file to achieve the smoothest surface possible before attempting to get your shine. I like to use a three-way natural nail buffer to start the shine process. Several companies carry a liquid finisher you can use with a chamois to bring out your desired shine with little or no effort after using a three way buffer. Some companies also carry a shining block that works just as well. However, if neither of these are available to you, try slightly wetting the nail with acetone before finishing with the gray side of the three-way buffer. The acetone will help bring out a higher shine. You may also wish to finish with a top coat. I often choose to finish my pink and- whites with a UV-inhibiting top coat that creates a plastic-like, high gloss finish. This product will need to be lightly buffed off on your client’s next visit. Other times, I use a thin finishing gel that is cured under a UV light — this will also give you a beautiful shine. — Patricia Yankee Williams is the owner of Pattie’s Place in Baldwin, N.Y.
Technique
How do I get a high-gloss shine on my pink-and-whites?
August 1, 2004
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What's the trick to getting dark glitters to cure when doing gel nails?
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So on my last client of the day, I finish her fill, buff her nails, apply gel top coat to one of the hands and it turns out fine. But on the next hand, I do everything like I usually do, but when I put the hand in the light to cure the gel top coat, disaster happens. One finger looks like it has a hole in it (in the top coat) and the others look like the gel has literally shrunk, and they’re bumpy too. I file it all off and start again, but the same thing happens. I try one more time, and it’s still the same. I do it all one more time and even use a different lamp, but get the same results. My bulbs in both lamps are about four months old, so they shouldn’t need replacing yet. What could be causing this shrinking?... read more
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Is there such a thing as a “universal” UV light unit?
Is there such a thing as a “universal” UV light unit or do I have to buy a different light unit for each gel system?... read more
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