k, I got them done 3 weeks ago, I'd never had them b4, the lady tells me how 2 take care of em, how 2 clean etc etc and she tells me i gotta come in every 2 weeks for a refill ( where they fill the bottom bit of ur nail)

them a week ago i went into get a refill and below the nail u can c like a yellow discoloration- got the refill done ( bottom tips refilled) they said the discoloration is nothing.

go 2 the doc- he says it is either fungus/bacteria

went in today 2 c the owner- she said it isn't bac/fungus, we talk about it back and forth so i ask another customner who is sitting there and she says it is ur natural nail growing ( the discoloration).
get back 2 yappin with the owner and she's like if ur worried u can get them taken off 4 15 bux but it is nothing, then she goes on 2 tell me that u also have 2 refill the tips- get the white color painted over the discoloration- every 2 weeks...then we get into it's not her or the gals job 2 tell every customer and how she has a lot of businesses 2 in the mall and then we get into why she didn't tell me that in the beginning ( she did my nails the 1st time) she only said the refills as in the bottom of the nail.. i ended up walking out after she's like u pay 35 i can do them now 4 u...i'm like no pay and i left.


so...was i suppoosedc 2 know this info b4 hand or as she told me everything else she should have told me that
[Edited 2/25/10 22:46pm]

I paid $20 to have mine done one time (hands). The nails were not long.

I'll never do it again.ever.

The nails are not sharp enough to kill an itch. Typing with them is difficult and the "click click click" of the acrylic nails hitting the keys.

I found it hard to "pick up" things off of a table using my fingers (such as a pencil) as the nails would get in the way of getting a grasp. I felt handicapped.

luv4u said:

U paid 20 bux? Wow I paid over double 45. Yea i can't pick up little things either. Typing with them is hard and even calling is- i need to use a pencil cause i hit the wrong key.

i thought maybe id get used 2 it.

I had it done once because all my friends were but I wouldnt do it again as I really dont like how it leaves your nails after you have them taken off.

Though I do like having designs painted on to my actual nails though they dont last as long you dont normally have to pay much to have them done and dont have to pay any extra to remove it (or at least only a bottle of polish remover)

b3xy said:

yea I heard they r really weak after u take them off. thats cool !

missmad said:

Its because they remove the nail enamel so the acrylic sticks better or something.

I have heard that you can remove acrylic nails yourself by soaking them in alcohol (i think the person said vodka but rubbing alcohol would be better) as it disolves the acrylic.

I only know the following because my wife has been a manicurist for 20+ years: The yellowing is a fungus and was caused by improper sterilization - many shops re-use products that are meant for one time use to increase their bottom line. You do have to get a fill as the nails grow out and the manicurist should have told you this. In the beauty business you do get what you pay for... in this case, a microbial infection. Absolutely do not go back to that salon.

luv4u said:

Did you tell them that you wanted "active/working" length?

I don't do acrylics (because they're expensive and poorly done in Germany), but at home I used to be able do them with no problem typing, sewing, lifting things for work, etc. That coupla millimeters really seemed to do the trick, but my nail techs always asked me beforehand what level of actvity I needed to do and we would agree on the length. It worked out pretty well for me, but I think maybe there could have been one time (when I first tried them) that they were slightly too long and it felt awkward doing some things. But then that nail tech also didn't ask if I was active with my hands or not so maybe she just gave me the standard "short" length. That was the only time I ever had a problem though.

squirrelgrease said:

This is what I thought, and I'd love 2 get my money back- she tried to tell me it wasn't by showing me a picture of the fungus box and i said that is what i have there and she shook her head.

she told me about the bottom fill but apparently there is a top fill as ur nail grows out u have to get the white part done again? this part she did not.

I had a look while i was waiting and they were nail filers in a bucket and it looks like they have not been cleaned at all as well as drills etc.

I'd like to find out 4 sure, go to a few other places ask them about this and then when i have plenty of proof that this is fungus/infection I'll write up a letter and send it 2 my media contacts.

i wonder though what about the customer who said that this is my natural nail growing through?

If I were you i'd get them removed.
I used to get my nails done all the time and even trained in doing them. I've since come to the conclusion that it's far better to look after your own nails.

I haven't had acrylics in a long time. In fact, my shop doesn't offer them anymore.
I did get a fungus a couple of times with them. Angie's shop is clean and she doesn't just recycle files and things- you are assigned a numbered box and you keep your own in it.
Now I get the gel, and it is much better. They feel more natural, and you can scratch with them. And she always asks me "Length Okay?" when I first sit down. She knows that I need to keep them shorter because I teach and need to be able to hold a pen and type.
(I think we discussed pros and cons of the different kinds on another thread. People had interesting insights.)

Get them removed- but I don't think just alcohol will work. Go to a beauty supply and get a remover that will dissolve that nail glue.

Where is acrylic on this thread?

novabrkr said:

I was thinking that!

This is the thread I was thinking of: It started off talking about one thing, and evolved (on the Org? Never! ) http://prince.org/msg/100/327306?&pg=1

Maybe some of the comments will help.

missmad said:

You did good not taking what the owner was offering. I'm a part time nail technician and I have my own nail business out of my home. I've had my license since I was 16...but anywho, YES THE DISCOLORATION IS A FORM OF BACTERIA, FUNGUS OR MOLD. Either whoever did your nails used instruments that weren't clean, or if you had a little lifting, some water could have gotten trapped under the acrylic. Either way, it was their duty to fix the situation, FREE OF CHARGE. They should have soaked the acrylic off your nails for free, provided some anti-fungus treatment for you to use for a week or two until it cleared up. Then they should have recommended a different kind of service to you if wanted some type of hard coating on your nails to protect your natural nails (i would have recommended gel nails, they are light, don't lift and last exactly 2 weeks or more, I swear by them more so than acrylic ) But you are not at fault. I would just say to do some research on the nail salon you plan on going to first before getting a service provided there. There are a lot of nail technicians out here wanting a buck and will do anything to their clients to get it. I ensure quality services for my clients, and if anything goes wrong, etc. acrylic lifting, nail breakage, or anything else, I feel its my duty to fix it for them. Thats my job. Hope this info helps you...

b3xy said:

This isn't true, you can only remove acrylic by using acetone.

chocolate1 said:

Gels should replace acrylics in my opinion. They last so much longer, the service doesn't take long to perform, and they stay shiny no matter what you do. I know I've hit my hand against the wall a couple of times, washed dishes, washed clothes, performed other nail services on my clients and they still look just like new!!!!

squirrelgrease said:

Exactly!

florescent said:

this is good advice.

missfee: your advice was the reason I posted the link to that other thread. You had some good things to say in that one, so I posted it in case you didn't come on this one.

Acrylic is the worst on your nails to get. To remove them go get some pure acetone from the beauty supply store or local drug store and soak your nails in it (its what they will use at a salon). It will make them gooey and gross but let them sit for at least 15-20 minutes then you should be able to scratch off most of the material. If you are good at giving yourself a manicure then do so after, if not go to a clean salon and get them to clean them up for you. Tea tree oil is good for putting on the cuticle area where the discoloration is, put it on a couple times a day for about a week and you should see it go away, if not you'll need to see your doctor for a prescription. In future if you want to try having nails again I suggest either gel nails or solar nails and be sure to have them removed every few months and a new set put on. As for fills, that will depend on how fast your nails grow but you should be able to get away with every 3 weeks, the fill is usually only about $10 less than having them put on. Hope things get better for you.
[Edited 2/26/10 5:33am]

chocolate1 said:

Thank you!!! I don't know which gel product your nail tech uses on you, but have you tried the gel products by OPI? They are amazing. Let me tell you, I used the OPI Axxuim Soak Off Gel Laquers (gel's in the color of some of OPI's popular nail colors all in one) and they are superior!!! I have on a light pink color right now, and it is amazing!!! Always shiny, never dull, it's hands down the best gel product I've ever tried!!!! My client's love it!!! Check it out: http://www.opi.com/ Got to the "Hands/Feet" menu, then scroll down to "Axxium".


[Edited 2/26/10 5:40am]

chocolate1 said:

Never fear... I am here!

First and foremost, I'm shocked that you payed over $45... that worries me in itself, that the shop is trying to fuck you over. Most places charge $25 for a new, full set. Esecially if they are short. A new full set for me, with them being long, a $10 design, and an overlay only comes up to $40... otherwise it would've been $25.

I've never had a problem with my acrylics (which are long), getting my nails discoloured. Sometimes, after weeks with repeated fill-ins, the acrylic itself can stain to a yellow-ish tint, because it's old. Time to rip them suckers off and get a new, clean full set.

If your ACTUAL nail is discolouring, I would remove the nails. That could be a fungal infection. When you have a fungus, the nails should be removed immediately because they acrylic/gel/silk/whatever makes it so that air cannot circulate on your natural nail.

When they file your natural nail down to adhear the acrylic, they should ALWAYS use a clean file adapter... it doesn't necessarily have to be a NEW one, but they should ALWAYS steralize them after each customer; especially the certain one that touches your actual nail, and not just the acrylic.

I prefer acrylic over gel -- gel breaks EASILY. If you give your nails a dirty look, the fucking thing snaps; I've had them done at different salons over the years, and even at the current one that I go to (I got to a very good salon, so, I know it's not the service). I opt for a good quality acrylic, and then to keep my design looking new and nice, I get what's called a gel overlay. They put a thin layer of gel over the painted acrylic, and pop it under the UV light to dry it. It keeps it looks nicer longer. No clipped polish.

Just a personal note: NEVER get your nails done in a mall. Please. Just don't. I've heard too many horror stories from friends who have WORKED in mall salons. You should always go in and talk to your nail technician BEFORE they do any work; find out about sterilization processes, price lists, etc. Also always check references.

Hope that helped.

missfee said:

We were just talking about the color gels Wednesday when I got my nails done. I usually just get the clear and then polish them, but I got my first "permanent French" last month, and filled the other day.

Acrylic said:

This is exactly what I have done. Occasionally, an acrylic will chip on an edge - but never the polish. My nails look great for two weeks - and then I go for a fill.

Acrylic said:

this is so true.

chocolate1 said:

I'm glad you enjoyed it!!!!

Once I saw something on TV about a woman who had the fungus so bad that her nails were permanently nasty. That ended my use of acrylics. Acrylic, I know you'll show up sooner or later!

I used to get mine done and I never will again. They were so painfully thin when I decided to take them off. It hurt just to put them under running water. Took forever for them to be strong again.

CarrieLee said:

yes, that too! After they started to get thin, I went for another set and it burned when they did that prep thing.