winter hand care


nails: gel q&a


Q: I have invested a lot ofmoney in a gel polish system.How can I get themost in return?


Steven RhysWells: “Stay competitive, don’t charge for removal, and do some free sets with eye catching qualities, i.e. glitter on friends and family etc, as this will create interest when they are out and about; word ofmouth is the best formof advertising.Make sure you are educated on the products, and work on your technique and speed.”


Q: Do I need a pedicure qualification just to apply gel to the toenails?


KarinHirschorn&EstherAnderson: “If it is only an overlay, just gel training is required, but to do a proper pedicure with hard skin removal etc, it is necessary.We would recommend a pedicure qualification.”


Steven RhysWells: “Yes, you do need a pedicure qualification if you are going to work on the toes, even if it is just a gel polish. It is essential you are aware of contra-indications of the feet and also the anatomy and physiology of the feet and legs. Knowledge is the key to success.”


Marie-Louise Coster: “I would say yes, formany reasons but ultimately your insurance – you cannot offer a treatment for which you have not been trained and obtain insurance for it. Equally you still need an understanding of all of the underpinning knowledge in order to complete the procedure, and you have to question how happy you would be to receive a treatment fromsomeone who was not properly qualified?”


TaraOldham: “I would say no; you do need to have a NailTechnician’s qualification though.Toenails and finger nails are similar and the application and the guidelines for themboth is the same.The only time you would need a pedicure qualification would be if you were to performthe treatment alongside the gel nails.”


RachelGribble: “Personally, I would say yes, thoughmany would disagree.That pedicure qualification would enable you to treat the foot as a whole, not just the nails, and offer a full gel pedicure.The extra knowledge wouldmake sure you aware of all the anatomy and physiology of the foot, and the possible diseases and disorders which are associated with them.”


NataliyaAl-Ta’ai: “Absolutely, you need to have the knowledge of how to professionally care for toes and feet, be familiar with disorders and diseases to avoid cross infection and contamination and provide a professional healthy service to your clients.”


Marie-Louise Coster: “Training, practising, advertising and promoting. Make sure you are fully trained in the system, proficient in your application and that you get lots of practice – that way when clients start to have it they will love it and be so happy that they tell all of their friends, family and colleagues.You will also need to advertise it extensively andmake a real fuss about the fact you are now offering this treatment, the benefits and why everyone needs to have it.Tell all of your current clients, perhaps promote it with an offer, get lots of nail pops and when you have breaks paint themin different designs and colours so as clients can see what is available.”


TaraOldham: “Learn how to use your products correctly.That way your treatments will be effective and you are less likely to have customers return with complaints and you will retain and grow your customer base. Be creative in your treatment offerings and always look after your products. Gels are very easily ruined by over exposure to UV rays, dust etc so keep lids tightly on at all times and don’t use themin direct sunlight. Store themin a roomtemperature environment.”


RachelGribble: “Make sure that your application is good every time and removals are done correctly and safely. Offer clients a good choice of colours, just a few is not enough, so do keep up-to-date with the latest colours and trends. Offer some nail art and price yourself according to the area you live in, but don’t go too cheap either.”


LauraMaddock: “One way is to include gel polish in a luxury manicure; another is to add nail art to your treatmentmenu. If you can master simple gel nail art you can charge up to an extra £1 per nail dependent on the design and product used! Nail art is hugely popular so don’t worry about demand.”


Q:What should I look for in a gel application brush?


KarinHirschorn&EstherAnderson: “Your brush is yourmain tool, we offer square or round brushes in two different sizes with sable bristles; the handle needs to feel nicely weighted in the hand and the brush should be easy to clean.”


Steven RhysWells: “It depends on what results you want fromyour product. Personally I always like to use a contoured nylon flat brush with a separate clean up brush for removal ofmistakes. Some people like to use a square flat brush but it is entirely down to preference.”


Marie-Louise Coster: “You really should invest with your gel brush. I would go by the recommendation of themanufacturer of your chosen gel but ultimately you need a good quality bristle and you need to keep your brush clean, flat and protected when not in use.”


TaraOldham: “I have always stood by the principle of buying a good quality brush.They last longer andmake applicationmuch easier, so don’t sacrifice quality for price.There are both synthetic and natural hair


brushes for gels and preference is down to the individual. For a gel polish I would always go with a natural hair or Kolinsky hair brush as they are less prone to leaving streakmarks in gels, but for building and sculpting a synthetic brush is probably a better bet.”


LauraMaddock: “Price point.Make sure you don’t simply choose the cheapest gel application brush because if the brush is cheap it won’t withstand use and will end up costing youmore in repurchases.”


NataliyaAl-Ta’ai: “Invest in a good quality gel brush as it is themost important tool in your kit. Choose the brush that is recommended by the manufacturer of your chosen product.Take good care of your brush; store it horizontally in a brush case away fromdirect sunlight or a UV lamp.”


GUILD NEWS 105


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144