Aftercare

How to get the best from your treatment?
I want you to be happy with your new nails but to ensure that they stay looking their best and are long lasting, please follow these simple steps:

1. Your acrylic nails will continue to polymerise for 24 hours after application and will only be fully set after this period, so please be gentle with them and avoid soaking them in hot water or any strenuous activity.

2. Allow yourself a few days to become accustomed to your new nails. You may find it difficult doing up buttons, opening car doors, picking up coins for the first few days but eventually, you will get into the habit of using your hands in a different way and your nails will start feeling more natural.

3. Have regular maintenance services. They are recommended 2-3 weeks after treatment depending on the nail growth. These services will return your nails to the pristine condition they were in, looking healthy and beautiful. Leaving them for more than the recommended time will result in breakages and lifting of the nail enhancements, which may cause problems to the natural nails.

4. Always wear rubber gloves when performing normal household tasks such as when washing up, using cleaning products (especially bleach) and when gardening, as the chemicals found in these can affect your nail enhancements and may result in being harmful to both your natural nails and also the skin on your hands.

5. Repetitive or severe pressure on the nail enhancements will lead to cracks that result in full blown breaks.

6. Do not bite, pick or file your enhancement. This can cause them to lift, become weak and break as well as possibly causing damage and thinning to your natural nail.

7. If the nail enhancement appears to be lifting from the nail plate, contact me and make arrangements for a revisit as soon as possible to prevent bacterial infections. Do not be tempted to pull off the lifted part as this will cause nail distress and weaken your natural nail.

8. Do not be tempted to do any home repairs. If the nail breaks, do not try to glue it on again as you might trap air between the tip and natural nail which can lead to bacterial infections. Also, never glue down the lifted product, without proper sanitisation as moisture can become trapped and provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

* Symptoms of an allergic reaction include irritation around the eyes and mouth and redness, itching and swelling of the skin around the nail. If you develop any of these symptoms then consult your doctor immediately and call me to remove the enhancements.

9. Sun tan creams, tinted lotions and coloured hair products can all dis-colour your nail enhancements. To protect your nails from becoming dis-coloured, wash your hands thoroughly or wear gloves. Do not push back your cuticles as this will enhance the gap between the natural nail and the nail enhancement and maintenance will be required.

10. Apply cuticle oil daily before bed in order to maintain the enhancement’s flexibility and durability as well as strengthening the natural nail and keeping the cuticles soft. It will also help keep the natural nail from getting dehydrated and thus preventing the natural nail curling away from the enhancements.

* I have a 3-day fix policy: I will fix any damage that I deem to be a result of my application free of charge. After 3 days there will be a small fee of £2 per gel polish and £3 per extension/acrylic overlay.