The first thought from everyone when they see me arrive at their house is yes, I literally do bring my entire nail life with me! I travel with a wheelie beauty suitcase which contains all the tools I need to do an amazing job of your nails. It isn’t possible to predict what clients need on each visit so I come prepared for all eventualities, which makes it a little impossible to travel lightly. Though a rough idea of what you would like in advance really does help, I can prepare products needed for easy access and also book the correct amount of time into my schedule. Enough time in the day allows me to ensure you are completely satisfied.
After I have arrived it takes me a short amount of time to set up and get out the basics required for nail preparation and enhancement application. The biggest thing needed for this is a desk or table to work on, I do bring a protective table mat with me so I won’t damage any of your surfaces. The table does need to be located near a socket for the lamp to be plugged in, as this is what cures the gel after application. Again, I do bring an extension with me so there is some flexibility in this. The key aspect to this is that the table needs to be OUT OF ANY DIRECT SUNLIGHT. This is because the UV rays from the sun complete the exact same process that the lamp does, it cures the gel and makes it go hard. So obviously we only want the curing and hardening to take place once the products are applied in the correct way, not half way through painting your nail giving you an incomplete & poor enhancement, and leaving us with a rock hard brush which is unable to apply any more product! It is understandable that the home setup in some houses may not easily allow for this (for example the dining table is in the conservatory), so the best way to adapt to this is to think everyone has an ironing board – a flat and portable surface! I do also carry a small emergency table.
The service will first begin with me preparing the nail, this can include removing any other nail enhancements (please make me aware of this on a first visit so I can allow appropriate time). This is a really important and an underestimated part of the process, as if the nail is not prepped correctly it can lead to the gel not having the correct adhesion to the nail, ultimately meaning the enhancement won’t lasting as long as it should. The cuticle also needs to be removed from the nail plate so that the gel is applied directly onto the nail, if the gel is applied onto the cuticle it can lead to a service breakdown as the gel can lift (as the nail grows and the cuticle moves) and it can allow substances (such as water) between the nail and the gel. Part of the nail preparation is also filing the nails to your required length and shape. I always do this gradually and will ask you multiple times if its right and you’re happy, this is to avoid me taking too much length off or getting a shape you are unhappy with. I can take more length off but I cant put it back on, so slow is best!
There are also multiple reasons for a technician to become familiar with your nails, as the nails can show many signs of various issues which can give insights into your health. A close look during preparation can help you be provided with some advice on how to improve your nail health, as well as allowing a detailed service prior to gel application. For example if its noted that you have some peeling or splitting, called lamellar dystrophy, we can address the potential causes of this to help prevent it as well as giving advice on how to look after your nails in the meantime. The peeling can also be looked at as part of the nail preparation, to be removed as much as physically possible, hopefully leading to a gel enhancement lasting longer.
It is important to note that as much as you can be left with gorgeous nails immediately after application it is also important for you to look after them after the appointment! A nail technician can do their job perfectly but the baton is then handed to you to look after the enhancements by completing the correct maintenance. Please refer to the aftercare page for detailed help on how to do this.
Once the nail has been completely prepared it is then cleaned off and the application process of the gel can begin. As soon as the nail has been cleaned off to remove any dust created from filing it is the point as which you should avoid touching anything! For the product to adhere to your nail for the long lasting period you want to achieve, any oil substances must be removed and not come into contact with the nail or between coatings. A simple movement of touching your face can place a body oil back onto the surface of the nail which can lead to a breakdown in service, meaning you won’t get the longevity you wanted. So as hard as it is, we all know when we are told not to do something that we immediately want to do it, it’s really important not to! It can also be harmful to touch the gel in the long term, the gel is made for the none living nail plate and not the skin. Any contact with skin can lead to it being absorbed and being seen as a foreign body, which over time can lead to an allergy developing.
This is why it is important not to touch the products once the application process has started and to always place the hand fully into the lamp for the time designated by the technician. The lamp uses the light to activate photo initiators in the product, which is what causes the chemical process to begin (polymerisation) that makes the gel turn from viscous to hard. Again the process is important, as the incorrect lamp or time in the lamp can lead to under cured or over cured gel, which each have their own implications. At the end of the process I also wipe over with a special product to remove any left over particles of the polish (called the inhibition layer), as this can again penetrate the skin and lead to allergy over a long period of time.
After the application of the gel is complete the very final step is to apply cuticle oil which gets rubbed into the skin. This helps to replace the oils that have been removed from the finger and nail during the application process. Again this is an important step so that the nails aren’t too dried out. This is also crucial in an ongoing process after service, as the hands are hardworking and need moisturising to maintain the nail health. The cuticle oil must be applied at least twice a day to help maintenance, but it can be used lots of times per day as no amount is too much! If you are in and out of water frequently then application of cuticle oil after each immersion in water is recommended. If you go back to school days when you are taught about the reaction of water and oil together and the fact that they don’t mix, this is what the theory is here. The more water that can penetrate the nail means that the nail can become dried out and can lead to issues such as peeling ( of the nail plate layers or peeling away from the enhancement applied), cracking, chipping and weakness. If you can combat this by using a cuticle oil that can penetrate the nail and move between each cell of the nail plate, then it helps to keep the bonds between cells strong, meaning water can’t get in as easily (oil repels the water). The cuticle oil can also lead to less of the naturally occurring moisture in the body escaping. Ultimately meaning you have healthy moisturised nails, which are much less likely to peel, split, chip and crack. Moisturising the nail plate with cuticle oil also means that the nails are well lubricated during the growing process and can keep the nails flexible leading to less chance of breakage.
After the application process is fully complete I will begin tidying up and repacking all of my equipment so that you will never know I was there! I take all rubbish with me so that you don’t come into contact with any chemicals or fumes. I pride myself on being methodical, both for application to your nails as well as leaving you tidy within your home. At this point we can chat about when you would like to book a follow up appointment as well.
Once I have left you my job isn’t over, the disposal of the waste and clean up begins. I correctly and safely dispose of any waste from the service I have provided (e.g. used files, wipes, gloves, acetone soaked removal pads etc) and ensure all used items are thoroughly cleaned. This involves wiping over any surface (e.g. the protective table covering, hand rest etc) with sanitiser and disinfectant, cleaning products from any extra brushes or nail art tools I’ve used, removing dust and debris from used items. The biggest part of the cleaning routine is to clean all of the tools used during the prep and application process, as this is essential to avoid any cross contamination between clients. So any metal files, cuticle tools, electronic file bits, and dust brushes are thoroughly cleaned in hot soapy water to remove any debris. They are then soaked in a specific ratio of special disinfectant for a specified time to help remove any pathogens. After this is complete the tools must then be removed and dried, which is an important step to prevent any damage or rust on the tools, so they are just as effective for each and every use!
