· Maintaining the "Natural Look"·
Stephanies's Nail Tips“Treat your nails like jewels„
Like all cherished possessions nail enhancements need care and attention to maintain their elegance. Here are some tips to help you:
Treat your nails with care. Wear gloves when gardening or exposing hands to water for extended periods of time. Do not use your nails as tools. Use a soda can opener to pop tops, for example.
Enamel should not be changed too frequently but if required you must use a non acetone remover. After removing the enamel, lightly buff the nail to restore shine, then proceed as for natural nails. Apply a base coat as this will help avoid discolouration.
File with care. What do you do if you snag or break a nail? Carefully file away. Always use a fine-grit file, which can range from a 240-400 grit, and gently file in one direction. Never file nails in a back-and-forth motion, as this can cause your nails to fray and split.
Don’t forget about cuticles. Use cuticle oil or treatment several times a day to help maintain their condition. It keeps cuticles supple and moisturized and helps keep pesky hangnails and dry skin at bay. Gently push back cuticles with a wash cloth or the ball of your finger, not with the free edge of your nail.
VERY IMPORTANT, Visit your nail technician at least every two weeks for a manicure and at least once a month for a pedicure. Leaving too long between will cost you time and money and may cause problems with the natural nail. With care the enhancements will last much longer and maintain their immaculate and natural look.
Allow yourself a few days to become accustomed to your new nails. Many people who have enhancements for the first time have never had long nails before and have to adapt to new ways of, for instance, doing up buttons, opening car doors etc. This will soon become second nature as anyone with their own long nails will tell you.
Use top coat to help nail polish last. Applying a layer of top coat 24 hours after your service. That should double the duration of your manicure and keep your nails looking shiny and new
Mend a chipped nail. So you’ve applied top coat, but you still managed to chip a nail. What to do? Using your fingertip, dab a small amount of polish remover on the affected area and lightly smooth it over. Re-coat with polish and top coat. If you have a bigger problem such as a split nail, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. Call your nail tech and schedule an appointment to get it fixed
MOST IMPORTANT Don’t take them off. If you decide you no longer want to wear nail enhancements, do not take them off yourself. Picking and pulling the nails off will damage your natural nail, rip layers from your nail plate, and make regrowth a long, painful process. Your nail technician can safely remove nail enhancements.