Thanks for all the input, guys. So far, it seems like my understanding of the gel polishes was right on... I have to clarify though that this client was NOT a "kitchen nail tech;" she was simply a nicely upscale, educated woman (college degrees are rare in these parts) who was "informed" about the product... but that's just the problem: People see Shellac on The View or GMA and then they come to the salon and they THINK they know what they want... but the information that gets bandied about on these tv shows isn't necessarily accurate. -- you wouldn't BELIEVE the headaches I had after CND got their "custom blended manicure" on The View!!!!-- This lady did NOT specify that she was interested in SHELLAC when she made her appointment, she asked for "a manicure with the new color coat." It was only once she arrived in the salon that she mentioned that she specifically wanted Shellac. And she wanted Shellac because a friend of hers had had "the gel" (who knows what product it was, or what type of salon it was, or why my client thought that Shellac wasn't "gel" at all?) in a salon in LA and "they had to file it off".... which also means that it might not have HAD to be filed off so much as they just opted to file it off... or maybe the friend thought she'd be able to go home and get it off with polish remover and couldn't, so SHE just filed it off thinking that's what she HAD to do?!!!! Even amongst us here, we all see our colleagues-- people that I would totally trust to refer my clients to-- who opt for a different method than ourselves. I try very hard NOT to villify a method of removal or application. I want clients to understand that filing off a product CAN be done without damaging the nails in case they end up in a salon where a tech opts to file off. BUT I try to point out to them that filing shouldn't file into the natural nail-- that's the difference! Still: With CND insisting that you should never file on Shellac for anything, consumers are starting to think that means that there shouldn't be a file involved in the manicure AT ALL! Not to mention that they think that means that there shouldn't be a file involved no matter which product is used.... I have a regular client who texted me last week to tell me her nails are "weak" and doesn't want me to file on them anymore, she wants me to soak off the gelish.... WTF? I wrote her back and tried to figure out what she meant because I NEVER FILE ON HER NAILS! OMG! I don't even buff the natural nail before application of the Gelish! I ONLY file the top coat to "break the seal" to soak off, doesn't even file through the color! AND her Gelish would last 3 or 4 weeks if she went that long between appoitments! So, if she hasn't taken the color off herself, what would make her think her nails are weak? And why does she think I've been filing off the color? Has she been smoking crack? I suspect that her nails have gotten too long and are starting to break. But I have no idea why she thinks we HAVEN'T been soaking off????!?!!!!!! Oh... sorry... got on a tangent there. Point is: Too much conflicting information out there and people don't understand. *sigh*
Maggie Franklin: Owner & Artist, The Art of Nailz, Visalia CA "Visionary rebel dreamer; obviously way ahead of my time." Maggie Rants [and Raves]@Nails Magazine Facebook >________________________________ >From: Jill in Ky <[email protected]> >To: NailTech <[email protected]> >Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 7:50 AM >Subject: NailTech:: Re: Looking for info about UV Polishes > >Hi Maggie, > >It is tiresome when you do encounter "amateur nail techs" who make >their living doing other things instead of nails, yet somehow they >positively think they know more than those of us who do nails >everyday. When I detect in our initial conversation that the person >standing before me IS one of those people, I immediately stop trying >to educate her on the aspect of nails because as the old saying goes >"Those convinced against their will, are of the same opinion still." >And some day I'll need that wasted breath. > >A good response would be "Have you ever thought of becoming a nail >tech, because you seem to know a lot about it?" I'm saving this one >for the next time. But I'm with you on the differing classifications >each nail company wants to lump their product under. Too confusing for >the techs and consumers. Right or wrong I just refer to all of them as >"gel polishes" in order to simplify the confusion for the clients. > >If my clients want to soak off their Shellac at home I've taught them >how to do it without damaging their nails. But since I don't charge >extra for the soak off process, most opt to come in 15 min. early and >let me soak them off. It'll be interesting to see what others have to >say on this topic though:) > >Jill Wright >Bowling Green, KY. > >On Nov 11, 4:32 pm, Maggie in Visalia <[email protected]> wrote: >> So I just had a new client come. When she booked her appointment, she >> specifically asked for a manicure with "the uv color coat"-- she did not >> mention any specific brand name. >> >> When she arrived, however, she was specifically interested in Shellac. She >> said she didn't want "gel" because her friend in LA (Los Angeles, not >> Louisianna) had had "gel" and had to soak it off in acetone... >> >> I explained that acetone is how we get it off-- Shellac included-- but most >> professionals opt for the "individually wrapped" method instead of soaking >> in a bowl. But that Shellac would have to be soaked off with acetone as well. >> >> Anyway... during our conversation it became extremely apparent that-- once >> again-- I was battling marketing that led the consumer to believe that one >> product was significantly different from its competitor products in ways >> that I don't think it is. >> >> So can y'all bombard me with some technical data about the various UV polish >> formulas? I've largely been nodding and smiling through all the "hybrid" vs >> "all gel" talk... I don't understand why I'm seeing a sudden trend toward >> "all gel" formulas? Do we want "all gel" formulas just because of the >> solvent evaporation issues? Or is there some advantage to an all gel formula >> in wearability/removability/health of the nail(ability?) >> >> What constitutes a "hybrid" formula? I was largely under the impression that >> Shellac, Gelish, Polish Pro etc all fell into the "hybrid" category-- and >> that "hybrid" was largley a buzz word for marketing purposes. >> >> I don't really love that consumers seem to be getting the impression that >> there's significant difference between all the different "gel polish" >> products-- not differences such as "Shellac doesn't need to be soaked off in >> acetone" or that "you don't have to go back to the salon to get Shellac off" >> that I was hearing from this lady. >> >> Mind you, this young woman was educated, articulate, and intelligent; >> exactly the type of customers we'd all love. BUT I also found her to fall >> into the category of women that feel that they have done their research and >> know more than I do. I could HEAR her brain sweeping most of what I said >> aside because it contradicted what she thought she knew. Like I say, "well, >> acetone is how we remove these products, Shellac isn't significantly >> different from Brands X,Y, and Z in that respect, but most professionals opt >> for a method of removel where we wrap each nail individually with >> acetone-soaked cotton pads in order to avoid excessive exposure to the >> acetone. This method is faster, less messy, and less drying to the skin." >> And she nods and smiles at me while she mentally corrects that to, "Yeah, >> lady, I know you're just trying to make me come back so you can charge me to >> take this off... I read on the Internet that I can take Shellac off myself." >> >> Anyway... I'm looking for a little more info that can help me properly >> compare the major lines of UV polish. Like, which ones are considered >> "hybrids" and which ones are "all gel" etc. >> >> Maggie Franklin: >> Owner & Artist, The Art of Nailz, Visalia CA >> "Visionary rebel dreamer; obviously way ahead of my time." >> Maggie Rants [and Raves]@Nails Magazine >> Facebook > >-- >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >"NailTech" group. >To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >[email protected]. >For more options, visit this group at >http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en. > > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NailTech" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nailtech?hl=en.
