I took the 'Permanent French' Plunge
I know a lot of you were thinking of doing this.
I had my appointment today. It took about an hour.
First she removed my old polish and filed the top surface of my nails (I guess to rough them up) and applied 2 coats of this substance that seemed a little glue-like. Then one each nail she used a liquid dipped in powder to form a gel (reading about this later, I think this wasn't the true UV Gel, but I didn't specify. I thought it was all the same, so I just said 'permanent french'). She put the pink color on first, molding it to each nail and using a little guide to cut it off at the smile lines. After all were done, she added the tips of the nails with white gel, forming the square edge. I did not add length or extension to my nails. The new nails are the same length as my natural nail.
After that I put my hands underh the UV light. It kind of burned/tingled at first. One hand was worse than the other, but I was able to take it out for a minute for relief. Then she filed the nail down with 2 different electric files. Since it was gel on top if my nails, it stuck up a lot, she made it even. She then filed and buffed them like normal. She added a shiny top coat that smelled pretty strong (definitely not regular topcoat) and it was a few more minutes under the UV light and I was done.
I read online and saw that this was really acrylic and not UV 'Gel'?? I don't know.
I like the results. She said it's good that I did it now because they look more natural after they've been filled in than the first time. I will go for a fill in in 2 weeks and then again the day before the wedding. When I said my mom wanted to do it she said to have my mom come when I come in 2 weeks for reasons stated above.
I'm not used to fake nails and although they are not longer, they're thicker, so it's a little to get used to. I'm just glad they're so durable. It was nice to leave the salon knowing the nails were totally cured and wouldn't chip within 5 minutes, which often happens.
I paid $60, which I've heard is high, but she did a lot of work.
ETA: Photo
I had my appointment today. It took about an hour.
First she removed my old polish and filed the top surface of my nails (I guess to rough them up) and applied 2 coats of this substance that seemed a little glue-like. Then one each nail she used a liquid dipped in powder to form a gel (reading about this later, I think this wasn't the true UV Gel, but I didn't specify. I thought it was all the same, so I just said 'permanent french'). She put the pink color on first, molding it to each nail and using a little guide to cut it off at the smile lines. After all were done, she added the tips of the nails with white gel, forming the square edge. I did not add length or extension to my nails. The new nails are the same length as my natural nail.
After that I put my hands underh the UV light. It kind of burned/tingled at first. One hand was worse than the other, but I was able to take it out for a minute for relief. Then she filed the nail down with 2 different electric files. Since it was gel on top if my nails, it stuck up a lot, she made it even. She then filed and buffed them like normal. She added a shiny top coat that smelled pretty strong (definitely not regular topcoat) and it was a few more minutes under the UV light and I was done.
I read online and saw that this was really acrylic and not UV 'Gel'?? I don't know.
I like the results. She said it's good that I did it now because they look more natural after they've been filled in than the first time. I will go for a fill in in 2 weeks and then again the day before the wedding. When I said my mom wanted to do it she said to have my mom come when I come in 2 weeks for reasons stated above.
I'm not used to fake nails and although they are not longer, they're thicker, so it's a little to get used to. I'm just glad they're so durable. It was nice to leave the salon knowing the nails were totally cured and wouldn't chip within 5 minutes, which often happens.
I paid $60, which I've heard is high, but she did a lot of work.
ETA: Photo
