Nails
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Technique

Why do I have problems with acrylic lifting?

January 1, 2009

Placing the apex in the wrong spot on the nail does not necessarily cause lifting. The apex should be over the center of the nail where the free edge is, but lifting is generally caused by two things. One is prep, of course, and I would have a seasoned nail tech evaluate your prep technique just to make sure you are doing it correctly. And second is an inexperienced application technique that places the product too close to the cuticle area. Less is more in this case, so you want to be extra careful to make sure your product doesn’t run onto the cuticle. -Vicki Peters, President of Vicki Peters Nail Products



 RECOMMENDS:

  • Always properly prepare nail plates using the OPI Enhancement Prep Method prior to acrylic application.  One of the main causes of lifting is non-living tissue remaining on nail plates.

  • The use of Bond-Aid pH Balancing Agent improves adhesion of all artificial enhancements. 

  • Apply only one coat of Bondex Acrylic Bonding Agent.  Using more than one coat will interfere with proper bonding. =

  • Use the proper acrylic working consistency.  Follow the individual guidelines for each OPI acrylic system to achieve the proper liquid to powder ratio.

  • Prevent product crystallization with the OPI HeatEQ Liquid Monomer Temperature Equalizer.

  • Avoid touching the cuticles with the brush at all times.  Prevent getting product on cuticles by leaving a small margin around cuticles and sidewalls.

  • Finish services with only Avoplex Oil and Lotions.  Avoplex products are free of mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients which can cause lifting.

  • Clients should avoid frequent exposure to water and chemicals; advise the use of cotton-lined gloves for washing dishes and cleaning.

  • Recommend that your client have regular bi-weekly fills and use only OPI Avoplex products to care for cuticles and skin between appointments.







More FAQ

What’s the trick to getting dark glitters to cure when doing rock star gel nails?

What’s the trick to getting dark glitters to cure when doing rock star gel nails? I do my nail prep, then a layer of Akzentz Base N Gloss. I cure and put another layer of Base N Gloss, then sprinkle on the glitter and tap off some of the excess. I cure after that, and I brush off the excess again when it’s done, but a lot of glitter will come off with it. And this is with a brand new gel lamp. So I put on more gel, more glitter, etc., but I’d like to get it right the first time to save time.... read more

What could be causing the gel to shrink?

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

What's the trick to getting dark glitters to cure when doing gel nails?

What’s the trick to getting dark glitters to cure when doing rock star gel nails? I do my nail prep, then a layer of Akzentz Base N Gloss. I cure and then put another layer of Base N Gloss, then sprinkle on the glitter and tap off some of the excess. I cure after that, and I brush off the excess again when it’s done, but a lot of glitter will come off with it. And this is with a brand new gel lamp. So I put on more gel, more glitter, etc., but I’d like to get it right the first time to save time. And this only happens with dark colors. What can I do?... read more

What causes shrinking on gel nails?

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

Is there any such a thing as a "universal" UV light?

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

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

What’s the best way to put on a tip?

What’s the best way to put on a tip?... read more

What’s the best way to do a pink-and-white backfill?

What’s the best way to do a pink-and-white backfill? I’ve been doing them for years now and I still can’t get my time down. I go back and forth between the traditional way and the reverse method and neither one cuts any time off. I don’t know if I’m over-filing during prep. It usually takes me an hour and a half. I cringe when I have to do one these days. Any advice on cutting time or a new way of doing it?... read more

What's the best way to put on a tip?

What’s the best way to put on a tip?... read more

What's the best way to do a pink-and-white backfill?

What’s the best way to do a pink-and-white backfill? I’ve been doing them for years now and I still can’t get my time down. I go back and forth between the traditional way and the reverse method and neither one cuts any time off. I don’t know if I’m over-filing during prep. But I do have a couple clients who make it a point to tell me how hard it is for them to sit through my long backfills — it usually takes me an hour and a half. I cringe when I have to do one these days. Any advice on cutting time or a new way of doing it?... read more

How do I prevent polish from bubbling?

On some of my natural nail clients my polish tends to bubble. I clean the nail plate with acetone very well before I polish. Then I use base coat, two coats of polish, and top coat. I usually have them hold their fingers in front of a fan between coats, and I spray a rapid dryer on after I finish. Any ideas? ... read more

How do I get acrylic or gel to stick to pre-designed nail tips?

I have decided to try pre-designed nail tips with art, but I am having trouble getting the acrylic or gel to stick to them. After a few days the product lifts off the tips. I tried to gently file the surface of the tip first, but then it takes the design off.... read more