Nails - Liquid & Powder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L & P Revival!
Over the years, as in any industry, trends come and go, different treatments experience increased popularity or evolve as need demands. After experiencing bad press and scaremongering from both within and outside the industry, nail techs are reporting a revival in the popularity of Liquid & Powder, or acrylic nail enhancements.
“For me personally, L&P is a salon staple, it's my ‘go to’ for most of my clients,” says EzFlow International Master Artist Educator Jess Marks.
“Luckily I am able to offer a full service of treatments, but I'd say around 80% of my clients still have acrylic L&P over hard gel, gel polish or natural nail treatments.”
“Acrylic nails are still so popular. Of course natural nail care has become more and more popular but there is always ladies who suffer with weak, brittle nails and acrylic just gives them extra strength that they would never achieve with natural nail care,” says Suzanne Alcock-Thompson from Asu Nail & Beauty Supplies. “The demand is and has always been there. I really feel its the nail technicians’ promotion, aftercare, maintenance and removal of acrylic that ensures success with this service.”
“Liquid & Powder is one of the oldest systems in the nail industry. It stands to reason that things have improved a lot over the years as technology advances and we understand more about health and safety,” explains CND™ Education Ambassador, Fee Wallace. “Modern L&P techniques do not cause damage to the natural nail, quite the opposite. A properly applied, high quality L&P Enhancement will give
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the nail the most protection possible, allowing the natural nail to grow uninterrupted.”
“For some reason, over the years acrylic has gained a reputation for damaging natural nails,” adds Paulina Zdrada, Crystal Nails Absolute Master International Educator. “The fact is that it's not the product that damages the nails of our clients, but the technician. When applying acrylic nail extensions, we only need to take the shine off gently with a soft file. Many uneducated or inexperienced technicians file the nails too much or use a file that is too strong for this job. We need to remember that the stronger the nail underneath the products, the better the adhesion will be.”
Fee Wallace agrees it’s about caring for the nails: “It is essential that proper home care, regular maintenance and/or professional removal are carried out. It's logical that if you have a coating with such great adhesion to the natural nail, damage will be caused if that coating is removed incorrectly,” she says.
Super versatile
In fact, it’s L&P’s great adhesive properties which make this the ideal choice for many of your clients and perhaps the most adaptable. “It is super versatile and can be used for overlays on both tips and the natural nails as well as my personal favourite, sculpting,” says Jess. “The treatment can also be quite quick once mastered and means you can do more clients for little outlay meaning more profit so it’s always a ‘win win’ for any salon.”
Fee agrees: “It is by far the best system for the worst types of nails in the poorest condition. For damaged and badly bitten nails, there is no other system that can both transform the appearance of the client's nail but also be durable enough to get them through a
problem free couple of weeks until their following maintenance appointment.”
“I always feel a heavy handed or hard wearing client will always suit acrylic better as it is slightly stronger,” says Suzanne.
Audrey Heffernan, OPI Educator at Hennessy Hair & Beauty, concurs: “Liquid and Powder applications are very popular for people who are hard on their nails. They are an ideal choice for hairdressers. Hairdressers work with their hands all day and they are constantly in water so need the added strength of acrylic.”
Paulina adds: “Nowadays clients are a lot more educated and demanding when it comes to nail services and they choose their nail technician very carefully. They expect the best service possible and they want their nails to last weeks before they come back for a maintenance appointment. As a nail technician it's crucial to offer a wide variety of nail treatments and systems to your clients which make it easier to decide which one will be best suited for them.”
Perfecting the mix ratio
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of learning the skill of applying L&P enhancements is perfecting the mix ratio of Liquid (Monomer) and Powder (Polymer), which is so crucial to obtaining clarity and longevity in the final nail.
“When applying the acrylic, the ratio of liquid to powder should be 2:1. This gives you the perfect consistency so the acrylic isn’t too wet or too dry,” says Audrey. “When applying acrylic it’s very important that you apply it nice and thin at the cuticle and sidewall area. This will avoid lifting of the acrylic on the nail. You need the acrylic to be flush with the natural nail. Added strength needs to be applied to the apex/stress area of the nail. If you
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