Question for those who use acrylic nails.

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itoprover

Posts: 344
Joined: Jan. 3 2006

Question for those who use acrylic n...

I've been using acrylic nails(tips + acrylic painted on in a salon) for 2 or 2.5 years now and tried to switch back to natural a week ago. Just an experiment. I am now really disappointed with the sound of my natural nails: much thinner tone, much poorer attack but picado became faster. I must say much faster and more controlled. I think it is because of the fact that natural nail is a little bit closer to the finger tip than acrylic. So now I am looking for something new to put on my nails.
Has anybody tried acrylic gel? Or maybe I should tell the lady in salon to make the acrylic layer a little bit thinner than usual?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 15 2006 22:39:39

cneberg

Posts: 257
Joined: Apr. 20 2006
From: Sončno polje pri Večnosti

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

I don't know about that, but I tried plastic nails and I hated it. They are stiff - no flexibility, they damaged my nails.... i still keep plastic nail on my thumb, but it's not perfect.

If you're lucky enough and have fairly strong nails, then I think you should forget about all this chemistry and play it naturaly.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 15 2006 23:04:17

itoprover

Posts: 344
Joined: Jan. 3 2006

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to cneberg)

Unfortunately, my natural nails are not strong enough and I will have to do something to strengthen them sooner or later. I am just trying to figure out if something can be done professionally at salon and work well for flamenco playing. Basically I need a pretty thin layer of hard material covering the nail but I don't know what to ask for at a salon: they can make acrylic, solar, silk, gel, etc nails. I've tried only acrylic so far and it works pretty good for me but I think acrylic is pretty thick and the distance between the finger tip and the edge of the nail is too large.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 1:20:19

nickeyg

Posts: 56
Joined: Jun. 16 2005

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

I've been using acrylic nails for about three years now and very much like them except for the trip to the salon. What I do is when I go to the salon I tell them to do basically nothing to them except the fill-in and I wait until I get home to shape them myself. I bought a little battery powered filer/buffer and I thin the acrylic's down to pretty darn thin. So people who say they are too thick and stiff probably should try to file them down on top to the appropriate thickness. Also I let my nail grow under them so what comes into contact with the string is the actual nail, not the acrylic. I then do all the fine shaping neccesary to get the tone I want with very fine sandpaper. Really it takes about twenty minutes and I absolutely don't have to worry at all about breaking a nail for many weeks. Those who say they break I don't understand, maybe the salon they went to did a shoddy job. I have always had weak nails and it severely inhibited my ability to practice on a regular basis. Since I started using acrylics and got better contolling them I never have to worry about breaking a nail and can practice as long as my hands and body will allow. This has made for significant improvement in my flamenco playing over the past couple of years and consequently much greater happiness. For those who don't like acrylics and I say it takes some time to learn how to shape them thin and also the kits that you buy suck, get a professional to do it, learn how to shape it and you can play with alot of dynamics, Nick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 2:56:52

itoprover

Posts: 344
Joined: Jan. 3 2006

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

nickeyg, Thanks for your response. I am totally agree that acrylic nails provide more confidence and bright tone. I decided to try natural nails after 2 years just for experiment.
Could you please give a link to this filer/buffer thing, which brand is it?

Thanks a lot!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 5:49:02

cneberg

Posts: 257
Joined: Apr. 20 2006
From: Sončno polje pri Večnosti

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

So acrylic nails are plastic nails? Or is this something else. Because you're talking only about nail tips.....

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 7:43:51

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Acrylic is a liquid/powder combo, that gels into this really
hard substance,, its harder than plastic.

Its almost like cement

, so it doesnt have much "give".

You have to use a Very thin coat.

TK

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 9:02:29

cneberg

Posts: 257
Joined: Apr. 20 2006
From: Sončno polje pri Večnosti

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

aha, I see. I've heard about this before...I think...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 10:21:46

itoprover

Posts: 344
Joined: Jan. 3 2006

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Hi Todd, do you use acrylics too? If so do you ask them to put a thin layer initially or you file them later to the needed thickness. They say it would be porous if they apply a thin layer initially or maybe I should go to another salon?

Thanks.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 16:31:20

nickeyg

Posts: 56
Joined: Jun. 16 2005

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Ilia-I can't find a link to what I'm refering to the file/buffer, but it is like a mini-version of the machine they use at the salon to smooth the top of your nails. You will probably be able to get one at your pharmacy or nail care center. I think I got mine at Kmart or something. It comes with about five different head attachments and you just put in one AA battery. Lets say the width of your real nail is one unit, then I try to thin the acrylic down to a total of about two or three units. And when I go to the salon I don't tell them anything except to hurry and not to shape them at all. They always want to file them down square or round. Anyway I still use 600 grade sandpaper to to smooth them out every couple of days like alot of classical dudes. Nick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 18:30:22

itoprover

Posts: 344
Joined: Jan. 3 2006

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Thanks Nick,

Here is what I found on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRIC-PROFESSIONAL-NAIL-GENIE-MANICURE-SET-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ9531138903QQcategoryZ31812QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-MANI-PRO-ELECTRIC-PROFESSIONAL-MANICURIST-NAIL-FILE_W0QQitemZ9530178071QQcategoryZ31812QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What do you think?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 18:56:43

ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

quote:

Hi Todd, do you use acrylics too? If so do you ask them to put a thin layer initially or you file them later to the needed thickness. They say it would be porous if they apply a thin layer initially or maybe I should go to another salon?

Thanks.

Yes, i use acrylics. I do basically what Nick does.

i go to the salon, and have them done, then i shape and file
them myself.
You really have to find somebody who understands what you're
going for.
I had to go to a few salons before i found a girl, who listened
to what i wanted and did what i asked.
Very thin and minimal application.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 19:49:30

nickeyg

Posts: 56
Joined: Jun. 16 2005

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Yea the first one is similar to what I have and the second one looks better. The professional ones that you see in the salon you have to have a license for but these get the job done. Of course we all would love to have perfect real nails and the acrylics even when thin don't have the amount of give that real nails do, but at least you can practice and never have to worry about breaking them. If you keep on getting fills ins and not the tips then you can let your real nail grow out under them and also save money on getting a full set. Yea they always coat it on too thick at the salon and when that happens they feel clunky. I can even play fingerstyle acoustic which is a bit riskier with acrylics and can wear them down but it works without breakage. I like the feeeling of being able to go over to someone's house and say they have a guitar laying around, I don't need a special foot stool, or special file or anything to be able to play well. Acrylics allow me that freedom, Nick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 19:54:50

itoprover

Posts: 344
Joined: Jan. 3 2006

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Nick, Todd :

Thanks for your advices and help guys!
I think "natural nails" experiment is now over for me! :)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2006 20:14:33

John O.

Posts: 1723
Joined: Dec. 16 2005
From: Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to ToddK)

quote:

quote:

Hi Todd, do you use acrylics too? If so do you ask them to put a thin layer initially or you file them later to the needed thickness. They say it would be porous if they apply a thin layer initially or maybe I should go to another salon?

Thanks.

Yes, i use acrylics. I do basically what Nick does.

Same here, best thing you can do in my opinion.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 21 2006 19:39:46

Hugh

Posts: 130
Joined: Jul. 27 2006

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

I was at Martin Taylors Guitar festival in Ayrshire a few years ago and went to a guitar workshop taken by Juan Martin. He said due to the massive stresses on his thumbnail, he used superglue to keep it from splitting.
I'm blessed with pretty hard nails so I dont need to use anything.
However, I have had to in the past use these nail repair kits you buy in the guitar shops, in emergenicies after breaking nails in door handles etc.
I'm new to flamenco at the moment so I dont know how they will hold out in the future once my technique gets stronger and more stress put on my nails.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 29 2006 10:01:04

seanm

Posts: 169
Joined: Apr. 5 2005
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

I just started using a system from OPI called microwrap (i believe). Basically, the system uses a self adhesive silk with a glue (basically super glue), and then a coating of gel to add thickness (then you spray on this 'accelerant' to harden it). This gives you both a flexible nail because if the silk but as much rigidity you want based on the gel thickness you apply. Seems pretty good so far. I think I need to get better at applying it because some nails have remained perfect after a week and others already needed some touch up.

Sean

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 31 2006 14:13:46

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

I thought I might try to clear up some misconceptions and misunderstanding of acrylics and gels. I am no chemist by any means, but I have used a lot of the products on the market and done a bit of research.

First off, it’s important to get our definitions down. If you ask a professional nail technician about “gel” nails they would in all likelihood be thinking in terms of the thick liquid that is set with an ultra violet (UV) light source. Gels are applied in liquid form and allowed to self level (flow out) for a minute or so and then set with the UV light. Professionally applied acrylics on the other hand (pun not intended) come in a powder form. A liquid called a “monomer” is used to melt and activate (a catalyst) the powder material. Once the powder has been liquefied and catalyzed it is applied to the nail. Once it cures, it is shaped or added to.

If you were to look geographically, most professionals in the US use powdered acrylics whereas most European’s apply UV gel products. Which is better? The reality is, chemically the two are essentially the same product. One is set by liquid catalyst versus UV light for the other. Powdered acrylics demand a higher level of physical shaping after they set. The surface can be very rough and needs to be smoothed and shaped. Applying acrylics is usually best left to the pros. Gels are very user friendly, as they will level out (self level) by themselves before being set with the UV lamp.

The typical process of applying UV gels is too first lightly rough the nail surface, followed by cleaning with soap and water. A sterilizer-dryer liquid is then applied, followed in some cases by a primer. A gel bass coat is then applied and set with the UV light followed by two to three coats of a thick gel topcoat, setting with the light between coats. The nail is then cleaned with alcohol to remove unset gel. Most professional at this point would do some minor shaping if needed and then apply a high gloss top coat set by UV light. For our purpose we don’t need the last gloss coat. In fact if you lightly buff the set gel, it will be almost the same gloss as your uncoated nails and will not stand out.

This all sounds like a very lengthy, tedious process, but once you get used to the material, it is very easy and fast to apply. The great thing about applying UV gels yourself is you get them the way you want them. Plus it’s very easy to do a fast repair. The downside with gels is a bit of an investment. A UV light will run about $60. Gels will be about $50 to $60, plus another 20 bucks for miscellanies. You can get kits at around $100. This may sound high, but in the long run is very economical and convenient. The gels I am currently using are close to two years old, so the stuff last forever.

Do you need acrylics or gels? If you have good hard nails, why bother. But in my case, it’s the best thing I have done for my nails. If I’m not playing guitar, I’m beating my nails to pieces doing yard work and fishing. I have tried most methods know to man and gels work for me.

Gotta go play my new DeVoe. That’s right, I have another DeVoe, but that’s a different story.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 31 2006 18:19:15

Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: Question for those who use acryl... (in reply to itoprover)

Glad to hear that got taken care of, Pat.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 1 2006 0:05:57