Experimentation

[keiramarcos]

So, I called myself doing "research" on applying gel nails. No really. I read a bunch of sites, I visited a salon and talked someone into giving me instruction while they worked on a client. I watched four or five hours of tutorials on youtube and various sites. Now, mind you -- I watched professionals do this with tools that I didn't fully understand. But, I thought it wouldn't hurt for me to try it. I bought all the supplies I thought I needed. Followed the steps I'd taken careful note of in various how-to guides and videos. 

AND.

They looked fantastic for about.... seven days. Then, as with any failed experiment -- I documented my steps and compared notes. Somewhere between my first video on youtube and my salon lesson-- I merged "primer" and "bonder". They aren't, in fact, the same chemical but TWO DIFFERENT ones. Jesus. Christ. My fingers are so tender I can barely type.  This sulk is going to last me as long as it takes me for me to get my natural nail in shape enough to try again. 

Mother fucker.

Comments

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Ouch. That deeply sucks.

Break out Dragon? Becsause I think you will go spaz without writing something...

~L

[qbic1.livejournal.com]

Ouch!!! Hope you're a quick healer 'cause we will miss your fancy fingers dancing on your keyboard regularly. But, ouch!

[i-cant-talk-now.livejournal.com]

Dick.Tay.Shun.

[keiramarcos]

That made me snort. The third time I sounded it out. I obviously need sleep.

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

If I thought it would work, I would offer my fingers. But.... Yeah.

Go sleep. Maybe it will look better in the morning.

~L

[mass-hipgnosis.livejournal.com]

BFF thought she could do gel nails after getting them done in a salon, youtube videos etc. I was the labrat. Ugh. I had long nails for about a day and they started popping off.

[chris-king-2005.livejournal.com]

Um, ow?

I think my fingernails just tried to retract just thinking about it.

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

ouch... hope it gets better soon!

[sarehkert.livejournal.com]

Ouch!

It is probably so not cool to admit that I owned a Bay City Rollers t-shirt when I was a youngin'

[arcadii]

You aren't alone - t-shirts and fanclub. I was also into Shaun Cassidy - same music . . . same hair. :)

[quiltedlives.livejournal.com]

same here (to both!)

[juniper617.livejournal.com]

Oh, Shaun Cassidy -- my first love! :-)

[blackchaps.livejournal.com]

He was sooo awesome! *sighs*

[m. moggiye markham (from livejournal.com)]

Ick! Well, at least you know what you did wrong so I hope you heal up quick so you can try again! Or go to the salon with your mom?

[optimouse.livejournal.com]

My first advice is...try cold water soaks.
My second is rest up and heal. Try repeating the term 'long term permanent damage' when it gets tough. Laugh at yourself when you inevitably break the 'rest up' part. Turn on old DVDs of SGA and try to enforce the resting part while enjoying yourself...
Wait, this sounds like how I started writing that QaF story...with my hand in a post surgery bandage. Apologies.

[joya-oscura.livejournal.com]

Ouch. My sister is also currently experimenting in gel nails. (I, on the other hand, will never do it. The only nail maintenance I do is cutting & filing as needed.)

I think the first attempt done at a salon was a disaster with the nail technician filing the her natural nails down too far. By the time the nail tech was done, my sister said that her nails felt like they were burning.

The second time she went to get them done, the nail tech (at a different salon from the first) combined gelling with acrylic. Overall, this was a better success. However, if though it had better results, her thumb nail was still tender for about a day.

PS: My sister wants to know, are the gel nails are still attached?

[keiramarcos]

No, I soaked them off. My mistake was not curing the bonder before I put on the gel. So my nails basically lifted and popped right off but I'm tender. It's better today. I soaked them and I'm going to do a paraffin wax dip tomorrow.

[spazlady2002.livejournal.com]

ouch. Very bad move.

[juniper617.livejournal.com]

You know, I buy these acrylics in Walgreen's for, like, $6.00. Each set comes with a bunch of different sizes so it's never a problem fitting them. They glue on, and you can file them into the shape and length you want. You can get them pre-polished, even; I like the french manicure look, especially when it doesn't depend on my manual dexterity to accomplish. The nails only last about a week, but it's very low effort for once a week, and they're not expensive. They do a lot less damage to my natural nails than when I used to have gels done in a salon. They look really good; we're not talking Lee Press-Ons from the 1970's. :-) My beautician thought they were professionally done, even. (I've known her a loooong time -- she's not just flattering me!)

Just a thought.

[yanagi-wa.livejournal.com]

Ouch!

I got one set done in a salon. Never again. They started out by trimming my cuticle to close. Then they filed my nails back and forth. Um ... they're nails, not 2x4's. after that, one coat of something clear then she smacked my hands. ??? "Put here" really rude. Three coats of this and that later, I was exhausted, mad and realized that in two weeks, I'd have to come back to have it removed.

I don't blame you for wanting to do it yourself.

[insanityoutlet.livejournal.com]

Ouch.

...and that, ladies and gentlemen, is why once a month I give a very nice lady (in a small independent shop) twenty dollars and stick my hands in a small UV oven.

Good luck - the hot wax should help.