Maintaining Nail Extensions The Importance of Maintenance
Every client is a 'Full-set' client once, and then after that they become a maintenance client or a natural nail client. Maintenance services are just as important as the initial set of nails and will keep clients returning on a regular basis.
It is important to see the results of your initial application a few weeks later to see what condition they are in. The client may have experienced some problems such as lifting and the nail technician will need to work out the cause of the problem and how to put it right.
Nails are continually growing and the position of the products will be different. There will be a gap at the base of the nail revealing the natural nail growth.
The need for regular maintenance treatments:
There are 3 main reasons why the nails need regular maintenance treatments: 1. The nails will no longer be looking there best.
2. There may be slight changes to the nail. It is important that the technician regularly checks on the health of the nails & skin and look for signs such as: # A slight reaction to the products # Some minor nail separation.
3. After a few weeks the nail will appear unbalanced, as the apex of the nail extension would have moved from the stress point and will make it susceptible to breakage. If a pink&white application was used, the smile line would be in the wrong place and there would be a band of natural nail growth that will be a different colour to the tip.
Maintenance Treatments
There are two types of maintenance treatments: 1. An infill 2. A rebalance
Infills An infill is a short treatment that allows the technician to check the condition of the client's nails and fill in the small area of nail growth at the base of the nail. This ensures that there are no visible ridges near the base of the nails.
Rebalance # This removes the apex of the original application as it has moved to the wrong position and replaces it in the correct position. # It fills the re growth area at the base of the nail # Replaces the smile line in the correct position.
Infill or rebalance? The decision as to which treatment the client will require will depend on the growth rate of the nails.
A slow to average growth rate: This will require an infill 2 weeks after the original application and a rebalance 2 weeks after the infill treatment.
An average to fast growth rate: This will require a rebalance approximately every 2-3 weeks.
Before starting the maintenance treatment:
The following steps will ensure a successful maintenance treatment; 1. Observation Look at the condition of the nail extensions for any 'wear & tear' or signs of infection on the natural nails.
2. Questioning Ask the client how she is managing with the nails. The technician needs to know the reason behind any broken nails, e.g. if it broke easily or what she was doing.
3. Diagnosing If the nail extensions are not in a good condition then the technician needs to find out how so that in future they will remain in better condition.
4. Treatment Once having established the problems (if any) and the condition of the nail extensions resulting from these problems, then the appropriate maintenance treatments can be carried out to help prevent the problem recurring. Home care/After care advice for Artificial Nails
All clients should be given advice on how to look after and maintain their 'new' nails. The advice is basically the same for all systems.
The following information should be given to your client in the form of a leaflet to take home; it is an essential part of the service you offer to ensure maximum client satisfaction.
Activity: Explain the reasons for providing the client with the following aftercare advice:
After care advice
Reason for advice
Leave only 2-3 weeks between maintenance appointments.
Contact the salon if problems occur: lifting, discolouration, loss of an extension
Always use a non-acetone polish remover
Always use base coat under a coloured polish
Always use top coat
Wear cotton-lined gloves if using bleach or detergents
Use cuticle cream or oil daily
Use hand lotion daily
Do not use your nails as tools; do not use them to ‘pick’
Take extra care with fibreglass nails
Do not do any home repairs
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