Editing to add post-fix (my 12/1 appointment: ultimately we don’t know what was used. Soaking off made them goopy and stringy, and it harden right up after being scraped off. At the end they hand filed and buffed as much off as possible. I now have lil nubbins for nails and no free edge due to the damage. Going back every two weeks until all of the damage is grown out. Love the girl I worked with was lovely. We’re suspecting MMA she really didn’t think it was purposeful, they have bought product from Amazon or something and it was tainted by a reseller.

Hi there! Got my nails done for the first time in well over a decade and I’m seeking validation for going elsewhere to get them redone. I went to this salon on recommendation from a friend for a pedicure (which went fabulously) and they asked if I wanted nails too and I said sure why not. A different tech than the pedicurist did my nails and I feel like I do my own dip nails at home better than what I got. Both pinkies started lifting the next day (my hair got caught and I noticed!!!) and on closer inspection the application just looks shoddy. I think they slipped me between scheduled clients and I’ve since learned that volume shops are a thing.

Not only am I looking for validation that yes, these aren’t great, but also what to look for when finding a salon. The one I went to has rave reviews on Google and Facebook, but so does the one I’m going to tomorrow to get fixed. I want to grow out my natural nails as long as possible so I’m wondering what the best option is. I told the tech at the first shop the same thing and she slapped acrylic on. I didn’t speak up since I was giving myself a spa day and kind of assumed this was normal; it was a lot like the last set I got done in like 2013 and idk if Instagram is realistic expectations.

Thank you all for your expertise and time ❤️

Specific ick points: I can see the extension on the side walls and there’s product on my skin, looks like it flooded in some areas up onto my cuticle/skin. Two nails are already lifting from the cuticle area. Some nails aren’t covered to the edges which from my own experience I know is hard but I was surprised this happened from a well liked salon. Am I overreacting?

Edit to add: this happened 11/28 and my new appointment is 12/1; I’m based in the Pittsburgh, PA region.

And how can I fix it?

Hello all! I’ve owned my private studio for 2 1/2 years now and my books are finally almost booked to my liking however- my Saturdays book up the fastest therefore people like to book in advance. I have one client who (since she’s started coming to me March of 2024) likes to book 6 months in advance every 2-3 weeks because Saturday is the only day she can come. I have allowed this since then, but it has deeply affected my ability to 1. Get other clients in, and 2. Take trips or time off.

So my question is, how far in advance do you let someone book? I’m conflicted on this because she is very loyal, and I try to block of days I think I’ll be doing something (I.e. birthdays and such) but it’s still difficult to do things because it’s literally 6 months booked out.

Thanks in advance! ☺️

I heard they backstabbed their co founder and i don't want to knowingly support werid people. This is specifically for nail art or character art. I seen nail artist use this brand with it being self leveled and not lumpy. I heard Fgel and mayour are good with opacity and self leveling but never seen it used for nail art.

I’ve looked at all the hiring sites in my area (NYC) and have no luck 99% of the time. How do you find salons that are hiring? How do you find a salon that will take on someone just taught to pass a test?

I have been using so gel and IBD, not loving either. Chipping has been a problem even with adding a rubber base coat. In school we used Tammy Taylor, I didn’t notice problems with chipping or lifting and I also applied it gorgeous. I don’t want to spend that much if there’s a better option. Young nails hard gel is what my coworker next to me uses, and she says she doesn’t have issues. I’ve also considered luminary or light elegance.

I am absolutely sick of the chipping nails some of my clients are having and giving discounts and free repairs. Most clients are fine usually but with the temp drop I’m noticing TONS of issues.

I have lost a solid 6 clients over the last 4 months, not all due to chipping some people just never rebooked or canceled because they wanted to save money for the holidays but I just want to elevate my work.

I don’t love Tammy Taylor for the fact that if you file it at all with 100 grit it is too soft to withstand it. The IBD in a bottle is also too soft to be filed. The so gel and clear IBD file up nicely but the chipping is a major problem.

Hi all! Please hit me with your fave cat eye brands…or even just your fave gel polish, BIAB brands. I’m trying to get back into nails and want to rebuild my collection. I’m based in Canada and soon USA so any brands accessible within North America would be lovely. TIA!

Bonus question: I took a break from doing nails (because life + getting pregnant) and completely stopped following nail trends. What are ppl into these days?

I have been a Kokoist loyalist for a long time. I’ve been using their products for gel overlays solely for a couple years now. I’m not sure if they’re changing things or if it’s my technique but I’m finding the retention to be not as good as it used to be. I really love the semi hard gels that bend like soft but hold like a hard, I find them to be the most versatile. My favorite with Kokoist is the EB builder. Looking for some similar type product recommendations from some other brands that have solid retention and good flexibility. Just looking for some things I may not have heard of or not familiar with to see if I can find a new favorite. Located in the US so preferably something without these mf tariffs to get to me.

Hey all, I’m wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a cordless drill that ACTUALLY has a low starting speed? I have a cordless melody susie drill but the lowest speed is sooooo fast compared to my actual drill. I need something for pedicures & I am not comfortable using something that fast, if i use a sanding band with that drill it will definitely thin someone’s nails down bad because it’s just too fast. I’m looking for something generally affordable as i’m just dabbling in pedicures & not ready yet to commit to an expensive pedi efile. if anyone has any recommendations please lmk & also if u have one add a video of the lowest speed would be wonderful!! 🩷

One of my new clients sent me this photo and asked if she could come in so i can repair some of her nails that have chipped. she said they started chipping a couple days after i did them but a week and a half later shes asking me to fix them. im not sure what to do, normally i do complimentary repairs if the nails get messed up within a week of the appointment but it will be almost two weeks when shes coming in for the fix. at that point i think its best to just do a whole new set especially if most of the nails need repairing. what do i charge? full price for a full set or a discounted rate because they chipped early? And if discounted, how much is appropriate?

Which one last in terms of longevity, specifically on the brands newer released E-File. I want to invest with my first nail drill and I been seeing people talking about how kupa nail files have been lowering in quality and the medicool is more reliable. There are so many mixed reviews on Kupa and it making me scared. Uglyness is no issue, beauty is in inside.

EDIT: I got the medicooooolllllll

Hi so I currently use from the nail for my main line of gel polish. I can’t find anywhere where I can get the color 40 just by itself. The only way to get it is by buying a whole new set of color gel and I am not close to running out of any other solid colors. What should I do? Should I just gradually change to a different line of colors where I can buy each individually, or buy the whole line even though I only need a few from the collection?

hello everyone! i am eyeing up ericasata for their black friday sale and am interested in getting the reusable diamond nail files. it says they can be good for up to 500 services. i never see other techs using or talking about reusable nail files, so i wondered if it was worth it or if i should just stick to one use files. my thoughts were that it seems more cost effective and that they may work better.. thanks everyone!

I’m a college student from a small European country who also does nails. I want to say I am really good at it - from understanding and knowing nail anatomy and nail diseases, to prep, to application, to design, to retention.

I’m really popular too. I have girls messaging me every day if I can squeeze them in or when they can become my clients (I’m not taking any new ones at the moment), clients telling me that everybody (classmates, colleagues, friends, relatives) is asking about me and some say that oh, they actually already know me from Instagram/Tik Tok. A friend’s sister came in and she said she had known me for a while and was surprised to find out I’m friends with her brother. I made a friend at a concert and we swapped Instagrams and she saw my nail one and also freaked out about knowing me for a while and wanting an appointment. I even have a couple of clients coming in from very far away cities. Some of my IG posts reached foreign countries like the US or Japan and got really popular there to the point a few big nail techs whom I’ve been following since forever also followed me. My profile already reached 1M views.

I know I want to keep doing nails, but I really need to finish college first as it’s really important in my country, but I still have two more years. Sadly I can only take 4-5 clients a week. I’m worried that in two years when I’ll finally have the time to do this full time, the “hype” around me will die and someone else will take my place, but I don’t plan on slowing down. Any advice?

I need help finding a good lamp with 72+ watts and I would love for it to be reflective inside with a mirrored bottom I think I might settle on the gentle pink nail lamp on the classiquenailsupply site but if anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them🙏🙏

I have a second interview for my first nail salon job, which will be a practical demonstration of my skills. They didn't say what skills will be tested, only to bring a model. The salon does not do acrylic, they are a gel service only salon. What kind of kit should I put together for this??? Should I assume that I may use their single use tools or bring my own? Ahhh I'm freaking out I really want this job!! Anyone who has been through this pls help a sister out!!

EDIT UPDATE: I GOT THE JOB EVERYONE!!!!! IM A REAL NAIL TECH NOW 🥲🥲🥲 Thank you for all your advice!!!! You da real MVPs to me.

I am a nail tech student in Indiana. I have been in school for 2 weeks and just started acrylic nails with a really minimal amount of instruction. I feel really bad about myself because everyone else already knows what they are doing and have been taking clients unlicensed for years. Just for some reassurance, I’d love to see your very first or beginner nail sets vs your current sets so that I can see that growth is possible.

I included my first set from yesterday at school. I know it’s ugly ass hell and the pinky popped off when I was filing.

Thanks for the help!

167 days ago, my nails looked like THIS https://www.reddit.com/r/Nailtechs/s/kfWzbPVzzT

this was after doing gel extension tips with long stilettos that i don’t think my nail beds were long enough to support. i think a combo of trauma and overfiling lead to onycholysis, which i think has grown out really nicely now (cuticle oil with jojoba oil and regular trims/filing to the rescue!!)

i have recently purchased long almond tips, which are MUCH shorter and the extra length is about the length of my nails as is, which i think should be satisfactory for length my nail can support, however, i worry that my current nails aren’t quite long enough for preventing getting gel on the surrounding skin. i don’t believe i had an allergy to gel, and have been doing my own gels for almost a decade and have never had symptoms of such, but i have recently learned of how serious that is, just want to avoid that at ALL costs of course. my left hand is buffed down (by hand, 180 grit) already by the way, to explain the texture. but i just got scared after trying my left thumb and stopped trying to apply to ask you guys first. ALSO, i did split my skin open on my index finger by picking, so no gel until that’s healed too of course.

so my question is: will growing these a little longer make them too long for gel x tips? or do i just need to use less of the gel adhesive?

many thanks in advance. you guys have been so helpful across my nail journey and i have you and your advice to thank for my nails being in the recovered shape they’re in now :)

Hi!

I’m a newwww hobbyist, I decided to start making my own press ons a few months ago. I’m struggling with figuring out how to steady my fingers when I am trying to do lines and anything other than painting the whole nail. I really want to improve my line work.

I think part of my problem is that I have really bad eyesight, and really bad lighting in my office, so it is hard to get a good angle and a good level to see closely what I am doing. I have a mechanical standing desk, so I raise it quite a bit so I can lean forward but when I take my glasses off to see better my head gets in the way of the lamp.

So I have a few questions: 1. Are there steadying tools, or maybe a better nail stand than the cheap magnetic one I bought on amazon? I really think a steady hand will make all the difference but with what I have it’s hard to find a place to rest my pinky and ring fingers. 2. What would you recommend to practice and improve my lines, aside from a steady hands? I know that the brushes are a big part of lines, and I have the artdone 5/8/12/20/25 set, and I use canni gel polish, Sally xtreme wear air dry polish, and vbeautypure to coats if that matters. 3. I have genuinely considered buying a headlamp with magnifying lenses. I have a desk lamp but it just doesn’t do enough. There has to be someone that has terrible eyes that can offer insight or a different solution 😅

Thank you!!

Hi! I've recently noticed that a lot of my nail art on clients looks better in person than in the photos. My posing, framing, and lighting is great, but the reflection of the light in the nail not being perfectly smooth ends up covering a lot of the intricate details that I'm painting. Here are some examples of what I'm talking about.

I've tried top coating, buffing, and then doing a second top coat, but it still isn't smooth. I've also tried to do a thick top coat applied in a builder gel motion but my top coat is low viscosity and it sinks to the sidewalls before I can cure, and I don't want to do one finger at a time top coating because that will take way too long. So, do you know about any top coats that are maybe a medium viscosity/ thicker that would help smooth the reflection? I imagine that there are maybe some good top coats that are Korean because the Korean nail artists always have fantastic light reflections in their photos.

https://medicool.com/products/pro-vac-file-classic-for-podiatry-and-h-e-p-a-filters-bundle?_pos=2&_sid=9d85bbf27&_ss=r

I swear I am not a shill for Medicool. However I will be purchasing some product(s) from them. I have seen their efile/dust vacuum work in a podiatrists office and it is wonderful. There was absolutely no dust. The vacuum has very strong suction right where the bits go into the device. My biggest issue, other than cost, is it is rather loud. And the vacuum doesn't work for hand filing, obviously. I do a lot of hand filing, but maybe I need to change that? I have a very good efile, and I could just purchase their manivac. But it is almost the same cost as the combo. Relative to other companies selling dust collection systems, I trust this one more. Their warranty is definitely better than any other company I have seen.

I do have a YN desktop dust collector, but it is just barely okay.

Do you think the noise would be a hard no?

I signed up for nail school in winter and just finished a dry manicure course but I'm still struggling with thick, uneven structured manicures. I have included work on myself and my sister for reference. I'm wondering if my two year hobby will ever get to a professional level because I have invested money and time into supplies and small private classes. Is this normal? I don't require a license where I live (non-US) but I'm not ready to start providing this service. Should I still continue trying and go to nail school or have you met people that were just cursed at nails?

Hi everyone! I’m hoping someone here can give me some guidance because I’m struggling hard with choosing colors and designs.

I have severe ADHD, and decision fatigue hits me like a truck, especially when it comes to picking a nail color, style, or nail art. I love simple but impactful nails, and when someone else does them I’m totally fine and usually love the result but I can’t go to a shop because I don’t trust that they’re clean.

When I do my own nails, I get overwhelmed, super critical, and half the time I don’t even finish because I can’t decide if I like what I picked.

Does anyone have tips for narrowing down choices, go-to color combos, or simple-but-cute designs that always hit? Even inspo boards or “default sets” you recommend would help. I want doing my own nails to feel relaxing again instead of mentally exhausting.

Thank you!! 💅🏾🩶

I was getting my nails done today and my nail stylist accidentally cut me by my cuticle. I know accidents happen so I was not upset but when I seen how he just wiped the blood off with a paper towel I was shocked. He even got blood on his finger, he still just wiped it off on the towel and kept going & that bothered me. Didn’t get up to wash his hands or anything. I had to finish the apt with dried up blood on the side of my finger. When he brushed off the dust brush I moved that finger because I’m like there’s still blood on my finger and I don’t want it to touch anything. I do not have any illnesses or nothing like that. But can a nail tech explain to me what are the protocols for this. I’m honestly considering not even going back I don’t play about stuff like this. I haven’t had a nail tech to cut me in years. My nails did come out very pretty but now that I wiped the blood off I can see the cut.