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Nail

The Ultimate Guide to Avoiding Broken Nails

by admin
written by admin

Having broken nails is one of the biggest heartbreaks nail techs and nail art designs enthusiasts can ever experience. Nobody wants to go through that heartache since it can be as painful as seeing your highly coveted eye makeup palette fall to the ground or your newly purchased e-file not working.

The last thing you would want to happen is your beautifully designed nails crumble right before your eyes. We’re here to answer your why’s and how’s on broken nails and how to successfully avoid them.

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF NAILS:

Here’s the scenario: After a week or so of having a manicure or spring nails, your nails crack and break. But why? It has something to do with the structure of the nails; Durability is mainly about the foundation, not form.

WHY DO NAILS BREAK?

To simply put, your nails continue to grow. A tiny smile-shaped gap will appear between your cuticle and acrylic (or dip manicure) after a week or two. During this growing phase, the product will move towards the free edge of your nails, creating pressure on the tip, much like an uneven seesaw.

Around two weeks, cracks will form at the stress points. These cracks will increase in size as your nails grow. Eventually, the stress becomes so huge that your nail snaps off.

However, if the whole acrylic comes off, it is primarily due to a lack of adhesion. If the acrylic has not adhered correctly at the time of application, the nail might come off completely. You can read our acrylic nails blog or the common acrylic nails mishaps guide here.

WHY IS STRUCTURE IMPORTANT FOR NAILS?

The structure of your nail is the most important thing. The nails will break if the nail technician has not made the right or accurate structure. It’s hard to master, but we’ll get there!

First things first, the product needs to be thick in certain spots. But, if the whole nail has a thick layer of acrylic, it doesn’t guarantee durability. 

The structure holds the key to durability, and it will also determine how long your nails will last. Your nails should be thickest in the center (slightly near the cuticle) and thin towards the tip, and they should not be thick at the free edge.

HOW TO FIX BROKEN NAIL TIPS?

First, assess the situation. What kind of crack is it? Grab your hand buffer and gently file over it if it’s a simple crack. Filing removes the rough edges, so the broken piece of your nail won’t attach after filing. You can fix your broken nail quickly by following these steps:

Step 1:

Get a nail tip glue and apply it to the tip of your broken nail. Be sure to use a small amount of product. If you use a lot of the product, the nails won’t stick.

Step 2:

Attach the broken piece of the nail and press it for a few seconds.

Step 3:

You can add glue (or acrylic if you have time) if there is a missing chunk of acrylic. Remove the excess glue and let it dry.

Step 4:

File the surface of acrylic to remove bumps. Remember to file gently.

Step 5:

Buff the edges and surface of your nails and dust them.

Step 6:

Apply the nail polish, and voila! You’re ready to go out.

Note: If your nail bed is broken and bleeding, it is best to clean the wound and apply skin disinfectant prescribed by your doctor (such as Betadine or Cutasept).

HOW TO AVOID BROKEN NAILS?

1. Get regular fill-ins

Regular fill-ins are necessary to avoid broken nails. They help to maintain the balance of your nails as they grow. Why? Constant wear and tear could cause cracks, especially with growing nails. Imagine a seesaw, one side bare and the other heavy. 

Get regular fill-ins every two weeks. Your professional nail technician will fix the cracks, and your manicure will last longer. Having a broken nail can be stressful to nail techs and nail clients alike, so it would be best to get fill-ins as much as possible.

2. Don’t pick off your nail polish

Products made to last weeks are hard and sturdy. So picking them off would damage your nails. It will not be even when you peel or scrape  gel, acrylic, or dip powder nails from your nails.

Even if you manage to take most of it off, it will take some of your natural nail bed off. Afterward, your nails will eventually weaken, causing a fragile infrastructure for your next nail art and possible wounding.

3. Wear hand gloves

Wear gloves every time you do household chores or whenever it’s winter. The chemicals in the cleaning products can damage your nails, and, in turn, your nails will break off.

Even if you’re washing the dishes, wear gloves to protect your hands and nails. You can read our blog about taking care of your nails during the winter season here.

4. Don’t use your nails as tools

Don’t use your nails to scrape, open, or peel anything. If you do so it will damage your natural nails. A lot of nail enthusiasts have learned this the hard way. Always use proper tools to scrape and open things. Be sure to avoid putting any pressure on your nails.

5. Keep your nails short as much as you can

Keep your natural nails short. Your nails, hair, skin, and nails are all of the same components; they all need biotin (B7).The benefits of keeping them short, the fewer the vitamins they will need, which will prevent damage and broken nails.

Of course, we can’t blame you if you love wearing long nails and being adventurous by sporting popular nail shapes, but it all boils down to how you wear them.

6. Give your nails a break

Give your nails a break to prevent being broken. Let your nails breathe since wearing acrylics or nail polish for a prolonged period can damage your nails and make them brittle. No, wearing nail products is not bad, but constantly changing your nails is terrible.

Take a break from manicures every two months. Moisturize your nails for a week, or moisturize them regularly in between manicures. After that, you can get your nails done again. You can read our blog about practicing nail care here.

TIPS ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN YOUR NAILS:

  • Apply cuticle oil and cuticle serum to your cuticles and nails to keep them hydrated.
  • Get your manicure removed by the nail technician.
  • Moisturize your hands and nails using a hand cream or moisturizer.
  • Avoid clipping your cuticles. Instead, gently push your cuticles back.
  • Take Biotin and Collagen supplements.
  • Eat healthy foods for strong nails.  You can read our blog about the best foods to eat to achieve healthy and strong nails.
  • Apply Builder Gel and Base Coat before every manicure. Here’s our Builder Gel guide.
  • Avoid nail biting as much as you can. If you find it hard to do so, seek a professional help.
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Nail

9 Gel Nail Polish Mistakes You Should Avoid

by admin
written by admin

Gel manicures can best be described in one word: long-lasting. A gel manicure isn’t simply shiny in appearance; it’s also resistant to cracking and can last for weeks. You can read our beginner’s guide to gel polish blog if you want to know more about this nail trend. 

 It’s hard to resist this nail trend since it’s all over the internet, and with its lists of benefits, no wonder why people have been trying their hand at DIY gel manis. Therefore, making gel polish mistakes is inevitable, especially for those who just picked up the hobby or are still learning the trade professionally. 

We’re diving into the most common mistakes people make when doing gel polish and how you can avoid them for you to have a wow-worthy gel manicure that will last for weeks.

Here are the top gel polish mistakes:

1. NOT PREPPING PROPERLY

Prepping is commonly misunderstood by newbies as being exclusive to acrylic and dip manicures. You have to remember preparation is critical for any nail service or DIY nail. You can read our nail prep starter guide to learn about it in-depth. Prepping your nails will help set a strong foundation for your nails to make your gel polish aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting.

Beginner nail techs tend to oversimplify or skip the nail prep process since it can be time-consuming. However, good things come to those who wait, so better to prep your nails than see your gel mani crumble right before your eyes!

2. FAILURE TO APPLY A TOP COAT

Did you know that when you apply a top coat in your nail prep, it will help determine how long your gel manicure will last? One of the common mistakes people make is skipping the top coat when they shouldn’t since it’s one of the secret ingredients why gel manicures last.

 3. REFRAINING FROM USING UV/LED LAMPS

Gel polish has different chemical compounds and formulations than a traditional nail polish which is why you’ll be needing a UV/LED nail lamp when doing so. In addition, gel nail polish needs ultraviolet light to cure effectively. Keep in mind that other gel polish doesn’t require a nail lamp, depending on the gel polish product and brand that you’re using. You can check our roundup on our stylish UV/LED lamps.

4. USING EXCESSIVELY THICK COATS OF GEL POLISH

Thin layers of gel polish are a good amount to allow the UV/LED nail lamp to cure correctly. However, if you have bulky or overflowing coats of gel polish, it will create a list of dilemmas for you, from having a puddle of gel protruding on the surface of your nails to your gel polish not sticking longer than it should.

5. NOT USING A BASE COAT

First, apply two coats of the base coat and cure each one for two minutes with a UV or LED lamp (30 seconds). You can give your nails extra sturdiness by using a base coat that’s two layers thick. Thus, the gel polish will adhere effectively to your nails once you use this method. Aside from using a base coat, you can also use a builder gel to strengthen weak nail tips. 

 

6. INCORPORATING LONGER STROKES WHEN USING GEL POLISH

You can avoid your gel nail polish from getting under your nails and over the sidewalls if you use average-sized strokes as you apply. Non- lengthier strokes result in a more even application. Longer strokes will have a greater chance of making it under your cuticles and have the potential to be problematic.

7. ALLOWING THE GEL POLISH TO TOUCH YOUR SKIN

Be sure to clean off any gel polish that gets on your cuticle or the skin around your nails right away to avoid any allergic reactions or the polish drying on your skin. To remove,  dip a cotton bud or Q-tip in acetone.  You can also use a toothbrush with acetone to remove excess gel polish on your sidewalls. Finally, you can use petroleum jelly like Vaseline once the gel has dried, then wash your hands to remove the gel polish effectively.

8. EXCESSIVE WASHING & FILING OF YOUR NAILS

Another mistake you want to avoid is over buffing your nails since it can lead to brittle and fragile-looking nails. You can ask a doctor to prescribe vitamins like biotin if your nails are particularly weak. Instead, use a buffer to smooth the surface of your nails lightly. You have to ensure leaving a texture on your nails so that your gel polish will stick to them. The gel polish will not attach effectively to smooth-textured nail surfaces.

9. FORGETTING TO CAP THE SMILE LINE OF YOUR NAILS

Do not forget to cap the free edges once you have applied the base coat and top coat to your nails. If you skip this stage, there is a chance your gel polish will start to lift. After applying each coat of polish, be sure to seal the nail’s edges with clear nail polish sealant.

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Nail

The Ultimate Guide to Nail Allergies

by admin
written by admin

You just finished your nail art design, and it looks stunning. You have poured your heart and soul into creating a masterpiece, and it took you weeks or months of practice. You can’t wait to show it off to the world! 

But alas! Something unexpected happens, your fingers start to feel intensely itchy, blisters are forming around the skin, and there’s redness in your eyes or other parts of your body. You just developed a nail polish allergy. 

It’s a complete nightmare for every nail art enthusiast or nail tech since having a nail allergy means they have to say goodbye to the 60% sale of iGel Beauty or stop practicing nail art designs while they’re still recovering. Don’t worry; in this blog, we’ll help you navigate the nail allergy dilemma and lessen the stress it’ll have on you; read on to find out more.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON TYPES OF NAIL ALLERGIES?

If you already have skin diseases like eczema or psoriasis, it can be hard to be a nail tech or a nail enthusiast since it can easily trigger your allergies. Here are the common nail allergies that you can get from using nail products daily.

Consult a doctor, whether an allergist or a dermatologist, if your nail allergy is causing you significant discomfort immediately to get the proper treatment and diagnosis. 

  • Overexposure

Overexposure happens when you use nail products regularly and constantly have skin contact. Another factor to consider if you’re repeatedly exposed to the nail product’s ingredients for a prolonged period is when a specific chemical ingredient on nail polish or acrylic has triggered your allergy. You can read more about overexposure here.

  • Contact dermatitis

Another nail allergy you should know about is Contact dermatitis since it’s when a nail product has skin contact, and you have an allergic reaction. The skin on your fingers will start to be irritated, you’ll develop a rash on your body, and you’ll begin to feel discomfort from the other symptoms of the allergic reaction. Read here to find out more about contact dermatitis.

  • Dip flu

Dip flu is another allergic reaction caused by dip powders commonly used by nail techs for applying acrylic nails or dip powder nails. It’s whether you have inhaled or your skin gets in contact with the powders. You can read our blog about dip flu here.Acrylate allergy

Another common allergy that nail techs have by using monomers or acrylic powders. Here’s a guide to the Acrylate allergy.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON INGREDIENTS IN NAIL PRODUCTS THAT OFTEN CAUSE NAIL ALLERGY?

  • DBT
  • Toluene
  • Camphor
  • Formic Aldehyde
  • DBP
  • HEMA

Most of these ingredients are allergens usually found in nail products and cosmetics, so we highly recommend you ask our iGel Beauty customer service for the MSDS sheets to know the components of a product you’re planning to buy! We’re just one chat away from you to help you out. After all, prevention is better than cure! You can read this guide about the mentioned nail ingredients above.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NAIL ALLERGIES AND SKIN IRRITATION?

An allergy doesn’t happen overnight, whether a nail product or any beauty product that a person repeatedly uses for a long time. When the sensitization stage kicks in, since your body or skin is constantly exposed to the products’ ingredients, skin or nail allergies start to happen.

While irritation happens immediately, like when you apply gel or dip powder on your nails and place some on your skin, you will immediately feel the skin around your fingers turn itchy and red or pink.

Others vary in their nail allergy symptoms since it depends on their type of allergy. Some people can use nail products and never have any allergic or skin irritation. In contrast, others have a cumulative allergy that happens over time from continuous usage of the nail products.

It’s best to stick to one nail products brand to avoid developing an allergy. Different brands use different chemical ingredients, and mixing them up can lead to an allergic reaction.

HOW TO DEAL WITH NAIL ALLERGIES?

You realized you now have nail allergies. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out. You need to stay calm and do these simple steps.

Step 1: Remove the nail product immediately

The first thing you have to do is remove the nail product as soon as possible to avoid the allergic reaction symptoms from worsening. You can wash your hands with antibacterial soap and remove the nail art design you’re wearing, whether gel or acrylic. Remove them just like you would on a client. You can read our gel polish guide here and acrylic nails to know how to remove them.

Step 2: Apply doctors prescribed steroid creams or drink antibiotics

Once you have removed the nail art or nail products that have touched your skin, you can book an appointment with your doctor to get your allergy’s proper treatment and diagnosis. One of the creams nail techs used is called Cortizone, but we highly recommend you seek a professional’s opinion before treating your allergies. 

If you happen to had allergies before because of gel or acrylic nails and know what to do, you can go ahead and use your prescribed treatments. Some would soak their fingers in a tub of ice-cold water to soothe the irritated skin and ease the symptoms.

Step 3: Know the culprit

You need to know what causes your allergy since it can help you in the future. Was it gel? Acrylic? Dip powders? Latex gloves? There are a lot of reasons why you developed an allergic reaction. 

With the help of a doctor or by backtracking the last nail product you applied before you had an allergy can help you minimize the harsh effects you’re already experiencing, so you would know what product to avoid.

Step 4: Stop wearing nail products or practicing nail art designs

Yes, the heartbreaking part comes from having a nail allergy and temporarily refraining from wearing or working with nail products. It’s for the best since the allergic reaction will make it hard for you to use your fingers or hands in general for a while. Always follow the doctor’s orders to ensure a speedy recovery from nail allergies!

Step 5: Wait for your recovery

Give your nails a break as you wait for your fingers to heal from the blisters, painful rash, and itchiness. Yes, it sounds terrible news for your nail career and business. 

Surely, your clients will understand and want to see you fully recovered. If your nail allergy is not that bad or has recovered immediately, you can apply preventive measures not to trigger or worsen your nail allergy and get back to work.

HOW TO AVOID NAIL ALLERGY?

  • Always use hand gloves whenever you’re doing your nails or a client’s. Figure out if you’re not allergic to latex gloves when doing so.
  • Keep your cuticles moisturized always
  • If you’re a client, always tell your nail tech if you have an allergy so they can prepare in advance what products they should use on you.
  • Always wash your hands and practice through nail salon sanitation
  • Use nail products that you’re familiar with only, or switch to allergen-free products.
  • Practice proper nail care
  • Avoid the nail products getting to your skin.
  • Practice your nail art designs using a nail training hand. You can read our blog about nail training hand here.
  • Before buying, always ask our customer service for the MSDS sheet, and always check the label of the nail products you’re buying.
  • Clean your nail tools before and after using them. You can read our how to clean nail art tools here.
  • You can switch to other nail methods; if you’re allergic to acrylic, you can try gels; if all else fails, the safest one seems to be DIY press-ons.
  • If you’re a client, always go to a licensed or knowledgeable nail tech to do your nails.

Having a nail allergy can be challenging, and nobody wants to go through it. Your dreams of becoming a nail tech or wearing dreamy nail art designs are not yet over.

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