Why do 'nail tech' adverts show gaps at the bottom of the nail?

[HeatedDryer]

OK, humour me, I'm full of cold and I'm bored so I've been looking through Facebook marketplace at all the nail tech ads. So many are just awful, but the thing that really gets me is, why do they leave such a big obvious gap at the bottom of the nail? Surely it just looks rubbish?
(You may well ask why do I care, I don't really I'm just curious )

I thought it was to keep the polish off your cuticles so it wouldn't peel?
My cuticles are rubbish and if I do my own nails it lasts longer if I haven't touched the polish to the cuticle.

Oh maybe that's it then. Could be worse I suppose, just found these beauties
(I really need to get a life)

I've often wondered about this too.

thenightsky I'm glad its not just me!

And why are they always covered in baby oil? It’s looks horrendous!

True! All shiny and weird

You don't paint right against the eponychium (what most people call the cuticle but actually the cuticle is something completely different).

You paint close to it but never touch it especially with gel or acrylic because it can cause an allergic reaction over time from over exposure to uncured product.

Ooh ooh a proper answer cookiemonster, I am very excited! And now I know a posh word for it! Thank you, you have truly made my evening complete

And the shiny stuff is cuticle oil which is the finishing product after a service and everyone should be using several times to moisturise and condition your skin and nails.

You don't paint right to the bottom with normal polish either so no different.

Lol

Erm I do Pelligrino

The photos you’ve posted aren’t good, I wouldn’t let whoever posted them do my nails tbh!

I need cookiemonster to come and do mine!

Posted too soon lol

Your welcome. Bonus fancy name for the fleshy bit under your nail is the hyponichium.

I know, some of then are shocking! I'm not convinced they have any training or qualifications, just calling themselves a nail tech and hoping to charge £25!

Awesome, now I can sleep tonight cookie

I thought it was to stop it flooding and looking messy? I always paint my nails the same way

These are mine right now. Away to change again for Xmas. Only ever do photos of my "good hand" because we all struggle to do our "bad/wrong hands" lol.

Hi, you have to leave a gap as if the product gets onto the skin the acrylic/gel will lift. The gap shouldn't be as big as the photos you've posted though.

Look like mine after about a week‘s growth! Hence I only ever get clear polish....

Now those are very lovely. But you haven't left a huge gap? Looks much better in my completely amateur opinion.

That right one looks like when kids do it and paint outside the lines...

You do need a gap but some seem to leave absolutely huge ones which means they look like they need redone after 5 minutes imo

It's hard to get a good photo of your own nails but it's the best I could do.

If your properly trained and with practise you can get really rally close. With certain products in natural colours you shouldn't even be able to tell where the nail ends and product begins.