Read this on the drive home
Make the set last.
A good set is half us and half you. Here is your half, plus the questions we hear most at the front desk.
Do.
- Wear gloves for dishes and cleaning. Hot water and sprays are what lift gel.
- Oil your cuticles every night. Yes, every night. See below.
- Use the pads of your fingers for cans, buttons and stickers.
- Text us a photo if anything lifts in the first two weeks. It is a free fix.
- Book your next one before you leave, so week four does not become week seven.
Don't.
- Pick, peel or bite at a lifted corner. It takes a layer of your nail with it.
- File the top of a gel set to fix a snag. Smooth the edge only.
- Use your nails as tools. They are jewellery that you wear on your hands.
- Soak in a hot tub or a long bath on day one. Give it a day to fully settle.
Cuticle oil is the cheapest thing you will ever buy that makes a set look new.
The cuticle oil sermon
One drop. Every night.
Dry cuticles crack and pull away from the gel, and that gap is where lifting starts. Oil keeps the skin soft and the product flexible, so it moves with your nail instead of popping off it. Rub one drop into each cuticle before bed. It takes forty seconds. Do it in front of the TV.
Any plain oil works. Jojoba is great because it soaks in instead of sitting on top. Ask for a free mini pen at your next visit.
Questions
Asked at the front desk.
How long does a set last?
Gel and builder last three to four weeks before the grow out shows. Soft gel extensions last three to four weeks too. Acrylic lasts as long as you keep filling it, every three weeks. Gel on toes often lasts five or six weeks.
Does gel ruin your nails?
Gel on its own does not have to. Bad removal does. Peeling it off or drilling too hard is what thins nails. We soak off by hand, file gently and never take the drill to your natural nail plate.
Can you fix a break?
Yes. If it breaks or lifts in the first two weeks, the fix is free. After that a single nail repair is quick, so text us a photo and we will fit you in between sets.
Do you take walk ins?
Before noon, Tuesday to Saturday, when a chair is free. After noon we are usually booked, so call or text first and we will tell you honestly if it is worth the trip.
What is the late policy?
You get a ten minute grace period. Past fifteen minutes we may need to simplify the art to keep the next client on time, or move you to another slot. Running late? Text us, it always helps.
Do you do kids nails?
Yes, for ages six and up with a grown up in the studio. Kids get regular polish and simple art, no gel and no extensions, and no curing lamps on small hands.
I have allergies. Do you have HEMA free gel?
Yes. We keep a HEMA free gel system for anyone with a known sensitivity or who had a reaction somewhere else. Tell us when you book so the right tech and products are ready.
Can I remove my set at home?
You can. File the shiny top layer off, soak cotton in pure acetone, wrap each nail in foil and wait ten to fifteen minutes. Push off gently. If it does not slide, wait longer. Never peel or pry.
Something else? Ask us directly or check the prices.