by Jennifer Hornsby, Island Pedicure –
When people think of nail services, they envision pleasurable manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements that produce strong gorgeous nails in your local salon!
Natural nails are the hard protective plate located at the end of the finger or toe. They protect the tips of the fingers and toes, and their appearance can reflect the general health of the body. Our nails are composed of mainly keratin, the same fibre protein found in skin and hair.
Base coats are an important part of a pedicure (feet) and most importantly with a manicure (fingernails) for your polish to stay until your next salon visit. The colour of your choice is applied, then finished with a top coat. When choosing a manicure or pedicure, there are several factors to consider – most importantly your schedule, lifestyle and style preference. (excerpt from Milady’s Nail Technology.)
Everyday Nails with Traditional Polish
Short length and round shape is a great go-to nail for everyday activities. With natural-looking polish it’s perfect for a simple manicure, yet it gives your nails the proper care they need.
Natural nail base coats or nail strengtheners are the base coat we use for this nail service. There is one coat of base coat, two coats of coloured polish then one coat of top coat to protect the polish. This polish needs to air dry for about 15 to 20 minutes and lasts for three to five days, depending on your lifestyle. You can easily remove this polish with nail polish remover at home.
Tip: some nails have sensitivity to any polish – to keep your nails healthy looking, oil-based exfoliant, along with cuticle oil, can help to keep your nails in tip top shape.
Two-Week Manicure with Soak-Off Gel Polish
A busy lifestyle can mean it’s harder for you to make time for a salon visit, so soak-off gels can be the answer to a longer-lasting manicure. This is also the perfect service if you are going away for a short vacation!
This base coat can only dry in the UV/LED lamp for 60 seconds. Next is one or two coats of gel colour, then it’s finished with top coat to keep it shiny and prevent chipping for at least two weeks. This polish lasts longer, but it needs to soak off with gel remover or acetone or filed off with a correct nail bit and an electric file so this usually must be done at your salon.
Tip: applying cuticle oil everyday helps to nourish your cuticle and prevent gels from lifting.
Structured Nail Manicure
Some nails needs a stronger base coat to keep them long and strong. This kind of base coat or nail enhancement doesn’t need to be completely removed and lasts up to three weeks or longer.
We applied Builder Gel to create a structured base coat. Builder gels have a thicker viscosity than a soak-off gel, and is recommended for nails that are thin and need a little more strength than a gel polish alone. These nails are a great choice for holidays and special occasions.
Photos by Janis Jean Photography
