Magazine for the professional nail industry.
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the product every two weeks for a color change. And many technicians are unclear and untrained as to how much time the removal product requires them to soak for a proper loosening of the product to the natural nail. The majority of nail techs though are using gel-polish correctly and to great success, but it only takes a few bad apples for the industry to take notice. "Gel-polish is the best thing that's happened to the nail industry in a long time," says Schoon. "And because of improper removal, we're threatening to poison the well." "I don't think anyone is doing this on purpose," he adds, saying that when- ever he has shown a nail tech the proper process, she always responds positively and says, "I never thought of it that way." The ⇒ rst job for nail technicians is to protect the natural nails of their clients. Anytime you scrape the nail you are harming the natural nail. Nail techni- cians also have an obligation to educate their own clients on how to take care of their nails at home. Too many clients are their own worst enemies when it comes to nail health, pushing their new gel-polish manicures too far among the rigors of everyday life. "They go out and think they can do anything they want, but if the client starts picking at them she can really end up injuring her nail plate," says Jim McConnell, who has seen his share of manicure-abusive clients. For the nail technician, she needs to advise her clients that the health of their own nail beds is their responsibility too. When they are away from the salon, they need to watch themselves around chemicals similar to acetone. Simple isopropyl solutions used for everyday cleaning can start to break down gel-polish. And clients should never pick at their nails. This pulls the nail plate keratin just as when a nail tech scrapes and pulls too hard during removal. For technicians, the answer to this problem literally is right in their hands. And if the industry works together to help one another become better educated, all will bene⇒ t. The clients will have happy nails, and will continue to contribute to the growing success of gel- polish and the nail industry as a whole. THELATEST WRAPS ANDREMOVERS To meet the soak-off needs of all of the gel- polish lines, manufacturers have begun to release their own brands of soak- off solutions and remover wraps to help techs get an eff ective and thorough soak for clients. WRAP IT UP Remover wraps are specially designed to conform to the tip of the fi nger and keep the acetone or soak-off solution pressed against the gel-polish to ensure a maximum amount of coverage contact for complete penetration. They take the place of traditional aluminum foil with pre-cut shapes to fi t snugly and apply easily over the fi nger. Here are some of the latest wraps to hit the market. Alfalfa Nail Supply has special Gel-Off Clips to hold a cotton pad onto the nail. The clips ensure that the hold is snug and that the remover solution or acetone is working to its maximum eff ectiveness. www.nailsmag.com/fi fi /23480 EZ Flow's Gel Remover Wraps go on quickly and easily, while providing a secure hold for the remover solution to soak the gel-polish. The box contains 100 foil Remover Wraps that can be used on any soak-off gel product. www.nailsmag.com/fi fi /23481 CND's Shellac Remover Wraps off er a simple, safe, and eff ective removal of CND Shellac Power Polish. The wraps are plastic-backed and self-adhering cotton wraps that were custom designed for gel- polish removal. www.nailsmag.com/fi fi /23482 Vamoos Lite Remover Wraps and Pads from Famous Names are a unique system that makes removal of all enhancement products (on both fi ngers and toes) easy and economical. These easy-to-use foils have a seam for easy placement just above the cuticle line. www.nailsmag.com/fi fi /23483 126 | NAILS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012