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Original poster

Please explain nail salons to me

125 replies

salviapages · 05/11/2021 21:39

I would love to be someone who always has nice nails but I do not understand how nail salons work

Cuticles: first time I got my nails done she did a soak ans then trimmed my cuticles beautifully, I was so happy with it I went back again. This time I got someone else and she just started scraping them back dry, it hurt and bled, they looked terrible and so did the polish over top. She basically said it's my fault because I don't oil them every day. I thought maybe she's just crap and next time I went to someone else who did the same? How do I get someone to do my cuticles properly?

Once for my birthday my mum got me gel nails which I loved! But I don't really get how they work, do you literally have to go to a salon and pay like £20+ every time to maintain them?

I want to have nice nails but I don't know what to ask for and how much to budget and I'm fed up of wasting money and coming out with disappointing nails! Help!

OP posts:
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5
thechaseison · 06/11/2021 08:21

@Finfintytint

I just assume nail salons = human trafficking, money laundering and modern day slavery. Don’t know why anyone would buy into that. You can keep your nails healthy at home if you want to.
What the fuck?😂what about all the people who train to be beauty therapists in the uk?😂😂are you okay
XiCi · 06/11/2021 08:24

Your natural nails will look awful underneath so you'll want to keep having it done
Absolute rubbish. The OP is asking about gel/shellac which does not affect the nail at all if properly removed.

I would try and get a recommendation from someone OP. Then once you find a technician that's good just stick with them. Often hairdressers will have a nail technician that works there. My cuticles are dry pushed but it never hurts and they always look nice. They should not have bled. If you want polished nails all the time then yes you will need to go every 2-3 weeks to get them redone. Mine are £17 a time and she does not charge for removal if getting redone. I used to do this but now I'm WFH just tend to get them done for nights out etc and can remove the shellac at home myself pretty easily now after a bit of practice.
You can get the UV kits to do the gel nails at home as well

Thatsplentyjack · 06/11/2021 08:25

Buy cuticle soak and cuticle trimmers, a decent nail file and do the manicure bit yourself. Watch YouTube there will be loads of videos on there.
If you're just getting gel/acrylic nails, then yes, they will just scrap cuticles back dry and trim them. What you are looking for us a proper manicure.

thechaseison · 06/11/2021 08:26

@nameyouwhat do you actually live in this world? I own a salon..it's very lucrative thank you

XiCi · 06/11/2021 08:26

The OP didn't ask about acrylics, she wants gel/shellac polish

Robertthebrucesthistle · 06/11/2021 08:27

I agree, if you do go to a salon research it as best you can www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-42729302.amp
I’m busy looking to start getting gels on my nails and currently thinking of going to a salon where I know the owner as a friend of a friend or getting someone to come into my home.

LadyWithLapdog · 06/11/2021 08:30

I don’t like how your nails get destroyed underneath the fancy-looking cover. Plus the human trafficking aspect.

Tillymintpolo · 06/11/2021 08:30

I have acrylics, lashes and brows done every 3 weeks. I go to an independent technician. It’s my treat and I love it

JurgensCakeBaby · 06/11/2021 08:36

A friend of mine got a little UV lamp thing and a gel kit and learned to do her own, mainly from YouTube, she can change them whenever she likes and side from initial outlay is free/cheap. Mine are unpolished and cut very short, I just file and buff occasionally. The few times I've had acrylics I've been appalled by what they do to my actual nails. I also don't like the feel of look of having longer nails so I'm really not the target audience.

statetrooperstacey · 06/11/2021 08:38

I have gel infills and never have them removed , just ‘ infilled’ as they grow, £25 very 5 weeks ish they always look lovely and maybe 2 broken nails in about 4 years and I have a rough outdoor job that kills my normal nails. Ask for gel overlays and when they’ve grown out a bit you go back and ask for infills👍

nameyouwhat · 06/11/2021 08:38

@thechaseison. yes I am sure it is lucrative.

FreeBritnee · 06/11/2021 08:39

I think the older I get the more I can’t stand the look of these talons. Long nails distort the finger when the owner tries to use their hand normally. The nail is often hugely thick with filth underneath. It’s massively expensive. The cuticle often looks horribly sore. Just give it a swerve OP. It’s not mandatory.

peridito · 06/11/2021 08:40

I've recently had acrylics ,first time .Was shocked at the prep and now I'm worried what my nails will be like when I have them off .

If I'd known I would have had shellac ? gel? something less invasive anyway .

Will my nails be a mess

statetrooperstacey · 06/11/2021 08:41

They don’t have to be long and they don’t have to be thick? You can have short square nails that look natural if you want them.

HelloDulling · 06/11/2021 08:42

@FreeBritnee

I think the older I get the more I can’t stand the look of these talons. Long nails distort the finger when the owner tries to use their hand normally. The nail is often hugely thick with filth underneath. It’s massively expensive. The cuticle often looks horribly sore. Just give it a swerve OP. It’s not mandatory.
What talons? The OP is talking about gel polish. It’s a coloured polish on her own nails which is cured under a UV lamp to make it hard-wearing. It looks like normal nail varnish, not something out of a medical text book.
isayalotofthings · 06/11/2021 08:43

I use a salon that has three fully trained beauty therapists who went to school together doing make-up / nails / massage / other beauty treatments - no trafficking.

Mine were so badly bitten down when I first went years ago that I had press-ons to begin with and had them redone after three weeks. By the next time my natural nails had grown enough underneath to not need them.

I now just have gel on my natural nails - they are neat, short and strong.

It costs about £30 every three weeks which is a lot but I just can't stop biting them otherwise and just felt so conscious of how awful and sore they looked for years. If I didn't have this compulsion, I'd just do normal nail polish regularly at home but I need the gel on there to stop me biting.

For me it's like having my hair coloured... it makes me feel more confident not to have grey roots coming through and looks better than doing it myself. I don't have any other beauty treatments and don't wear make-up. These are my two extravagances!

polkadotpixie · 06/11/2021 08:46

@Ilovenutellaaaaa I usually get mine infilled 3 times and then a new set. I have mine quite short and square though so don't get any breakage. I'm not sure if longer styles last as well or if they're more fragile

HelloDulling · 06/11/2021 08:48

OP, if you have gel polish, you need to go every 2-3 weeks to have the polish soaked off and redone. It’s expensive, and addictive, but does look lovely. I keep mine very short and square, but nice and bright.

I oil my cuticles a few times a week, I keep the bottle on the table in the sitting room to remind me.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 06/11/2021 08:49

I only have gels on mine for special occasions or holidays but last time l fell into the trap of getting them done again as the soak off was free so wasn't as expensive but my nails took ages to recover. Reputable salon who knows what she is doing but l prob won't get them done again for ages

RedHot22 · 06/11/2021 08:50

I think it’s the time going to the salon I would begrudge tbh. I have had gel in the past.

It does sound like gel nails would be a good option for you OP

Oneforthemoneytwo · 06/11/2021 08:51

I have shellac on very short nails. It’s simply a different type of polish which is set under lights. It lasts 2-3 weeks and looks brilliant. I go to a reputable salon run by a lovely local lady who started out from home and then moved to premises and employs other staff.

RJnomore1 · 06/11/2021 08:51

Gel/shellac will still damage your existing nails as they have to rough them up almost for it to stick but unless your tech is incompetent it’s not permanent damage and will grow out. As long as you keep gel on you won’t see it.

Dollywilde · 06/11/2021 08:54

Same as @isayalotofthings. I dye my own hair, do my own eyebrows but I’m crap at nails and I feel so much more put together with gels on my short natural nails (have a toddler so anything longer would be stupid!)
My nail tech is my husband’s cousin who was born in the next village over so I’m assuming she hasn’t been trafficked Grin I really find I feel more professional and put together at work when I have them done, which is worth everything when most mornings I’m doing my make up on the train and brushing my hair for the first time in the work toilets!

Popopopo · 06/11/2021 08:54

I thought it was well known that nail bars are often used as fronts by criminals. There was one near me that turned out to be a brothel.

If you Google nail bars and human trafficking theres loads of info

Flouts1 · 06/11/2021 08:55

I go every two weeks
It cost £30 for infill and ombré shellac colour
I get them soaked off around every 3 months and leave them off for a few days
Lockdown was fucking hell 😂