Acrylic nail question - shhhlisa and others

[faithellen]

I've been wearing acrylics for, um, a long damn time. And recently I've been hunting for a new manicurist. I found one two weeks ago that I liked and went back to her today.

She told me that every 2-3 months, I should have my nails soaked off and have a new full set put on. Which would cost about double what a regular fill would cost. I asked her why, and she said "because this is old, it cracks." She also indicated that the sides of my nails (natural nails) are all narrow due to filing, and that a new full set would be on top of new plastic bases.

Every fill, they're buffed down, and new acrylic goes on top. As the nails grow out, the acrylic eventually cycles off and is replaced by new.

So? Bullshit, or does she have a point? I think I like the place otherwise, but I will pack up and move on to the next place if necessary.

Every place has pros and cons -- the last place pushed the crystal gel, the place before that had a kid running around AND they didn't care if I made an appointment, the place before THAT had a baby squawking AND running into my chair AND they forgot my appointments... So I recognize that I'm asking a lot for my ~$13.

Comments

[ilostonjeopardy.livejournal.com]

when I had mine done, I'd get a complete do over every so often...I worry about the fungus among us and what not.

[snowcat48.livejournal.com]

I've just redone my acrylics for the first time in a year, but I've them for a long time. I do have to have a full soak off and a new full set put on every 3 months. The acrylic gets brittle and yellow and looks icky. Your own nails should be grown out underneath, so they should have to just do the overlay, not the plastic tip as well. My guy is skilled enough that even when he is doing an extension on my nails, he does not even use the plastic tips. Your nail tech should be skilled enough with shaping to put a new even full set on without the need for tips if you have any nail length grown out.

[faithellen]

I peel the natural growth off. Too many years of nail biting...

[txguera.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is worth getting a new set done every couple of months. During the summer your nails grow out quicker, and the acrylic will be renewed sooner than during the winter. During the winter the acrylic tends to get yellow sooner. Mostly due to heavier lotion use. Acrylic does turn a yucky yellow, and does get brittle, but don't let the nail people set a schedule for you. You know your nails best, you decide when it is time for a new set.

Did you try the Chester nail place? I will ask others for recommendations.

[faithellen]

I did try them -- they're the ones who were pushing the crystal gel. The shop was kind of noisy and assembly line-ish.

Right now I'm at 5 Star Nails, right next to Patient First. Oddly, they're Latina-owned, which is a first in my experience.

[shhhlisa.livejournal.com]

I'll ask Samantha, but I do remember her saying something about a full replacement on a scheduled basis.

[mavis-maude.livejournal.com]

You get your fills for $13? Dang, that is CHEAP. I don't ever get acrylics, but having worked in a salon and with salon people, I know that fills for less than $18-$20 is something to be leery of, at least around these parts. So, yeah, maybe you ARE asking too much. ;)
Also, I know the nail girls I worked with also recommended redoing the nails completely every 8-10 weeks. Clients didn't always agree, but usually they'd urge 2 fills and then a re-do, mainly for hygiene.

[faithellen]

$13 is the going rate around here. Most places charge $3 for a cut down, and then $3/nail for repairs.

Given the overwhelming response to this post that my new woman isn't blowing smoke up my ass, I'm more than a little appalled that I haven't heard about this BEFORE now. Especially since I used to go to a place that charged $35 for a permanent French fill -- you'd think they would've pushed harder for extra cash, given their apparent lack of shame.