A word about AUTOCLAVE usage:

Just because a shop claims to autoclave their implements doesn’t mean that you should necessarily take their word for it. Stay safe! Every autoclave pouch will have some kind of autoclave sensitive indicator. These indicators will change in some way, usually color, if the pouch has been properly exposed to an autoclave environment. These pouches may vary depending upon the brand, but just know that you are well within your right as a customer to examine the package before it’s opened and the implements are used on you. 

Although I will thoroughly examine your feet and legs for any potential issues prior to beginning your service each time, if you are aware that you currently have an issue present (Athlete's Foot, other fungus, infection, etc.), please do not schedule your pedicure at this time as I will not perform a service on you and will request that you wait until the condition is resolved.  For some minor, common issues there are excellent products available, just ask. Also understand that while performing my pre-pedicure examination if I notice something that I think might behoove you to have a Podiatrist or Physician take a peek at first, I will have to deny your service until we know for sure what’s going on.  The State does not allow Nail Technicians to diagnose potential conditions and I personally would never think to do so.  But I can suggest that you go see a medical professional, and I can refuse to render my service using my best judgement.  However, if you have something going on that causes you to be unsure whether or not you can still be serviced, you are more than welcome (and encouraged) to contact me and we'll talk about it.

 Wearing nail enhancements really is a way of life/“Jewels, not tools”

When you decide to start wearing nail enhancements of any type for a length of time other than for a special occasion, you have to be ready to commit to their care. Understand that your enhancements, although structured to be as strong as possible for your specific nail situation, should never be used for any task other than looking good. Don’t pick at them. If something should happen and something comes off, don’t reattach with glue if possible (unless it’s to just to get you through an event, for example, but have that nail properly repaired ASAP).  Additionally, resist the urge to file your nails when you’re wearing gel polish. You’ll break the gel polish seal along the nail’s edges, which can encourage lifting and peeling of your polish. It’s also extremely important for ALL nails, enhanced/extended or not, to be thoroughly cleansed with a good cleanser and a nail brush on a regular basis. Especially after messy tasks involving your hands.  Wear enhancements of an appropriate length for your fingers, nail bed size, experience level as an enhancement wearer, and your lifestyle (I will gladly assist you with this). Overall, you can’t treat your enhancements just any old way and expect for them to continue looking great or to last. Remember, your Nail Technician might be a lot of things, but normally a magician isn’t one of them!

”Is it ok to bring my own nail polish (or other insert-product-here)?”

You’re welcome to bring your own nail polish for application at the end of your service, but no other outside products are allowed. Please note that Talonted won’t be responsible for any service breakdowns (polish peeling/chipping, etc.) or claims of nail, skin or other irritations when your own nail polish has been brought in for use.

"Can you do these?” (nail art requests/about most nail designs you see online …)

I enjoy nail art, there is so much out there to play with!  I have no problem if you find a picture of a set of nails online and present it to me with an inquiry.  I encourage it!  Before you do so, however, please consider and keep the following in mind:

• The nails you seek were ultimately created by someone else
• Most pictures of nails online (especially those done by “internet famous” Technicians) are made specifically for the internet with a lot of preparation and alterations
• Are you willing to sit for the extended time required to complete a more complex design?
• Are you willing to pay the extra cost it would require for your fancier nails?

Please reach out to me with any questions and feel free to share any pictures. 

"I'm confused about all of the nail terminology I'm hearing these days!  'Nail enhancements,' 'Gel Manicure,' 'Gel Nails,' etc., what's what?"

The nail industry is ever evolving, and you have every right to be a little confused about all of the different terms you're hearing in nail salons. There is also a fair amount of erroneous and misleading information being passed along (some innocently and some not so much). The following should help clear things up a little.

• Nail Enhancement - application of nail tips, acrylic or hard gel to lengthen, strengthen or change the natural nail in some way. (Which reminds me to insert a little PSA here:  do not let someone try to remove your nail enhancement by using a nail tip, or any other object, to pry it off.  This is dangerous to your nail bed, can be painful, and is a highly unprofessional and lazy, though not uncommon, practice.)

• Gel Manicure - traditionally a gel manicure involves a waterless, basic manicure ending with the application of a gel polish.  Some salons take "gel manicure" to mean nothing more than applying gel polish to the natural nails, without first actually performing any type of real nail preparation or manicuring service.

• Gel Nails - a type of nail enhancement that uses a product with a true, gel-like consistency that must be cured under UV or LED light, can't be soaked off and therefore must be filed off.  So, when someone tells you that they're doing "gel nails" on you -- and proceeds to pull out a powder and a liquid like that used when performing acrylic enhancements -- you are NOT receiving gel nails, period! There is no such thing as “powder gel nails.” Either that person is unaware or just plain dishonest. The term “Solar Nails”, which is quite loosely thrown around in many non-standard salons, actually refers to an acrylic nail system created and owned by a well-known nail product company, Creative Nail Design (CND). The same holds true for “Shellac”/“Shellac Nails”, which is a gel polish system by CND.

• Hard Gel vs. Soft Gel - there's a whole lot of science involved here, but to make understanding it relatively simple, first and foremost, gels are comprised of elements from the acrylic family (surprise!).  You can even apply a hard gel on top of acrylic as a final layer.  An example of this is the application of a beautiful gel that you'd like to use as you would a nail polish of sorts.  Hard, or traditional, gel must be filed off.  Soft gels, of which one type is gel polish, can be soaked off with acetone. All types of soft gel begin as a traditional hard gel.  What transforms them into "soft gels" is the addition of ingredients that break down, or weaken, the formula. All types of gel require UV or LED light in order to cure, or harden.

Some people will still try to convince you that one type of enhancement product is  "less damaging" for your nails than another, or that nail enhancements in general are a bad thing.  This is simply not the case.  As long as a nail enhancement product, acrylic *or* gel, is a quality product that is properly applied, properly maintained and properly removed, they are all safe for the nail and which one a person chooses is nothing more than simply a matter of individual preference.  

"How often should I remove my nail enhancements in order to let my nails 'breathe?'”

Nails are made up of a protein called Alpha Keratin and are not living things.  Therefore, they do not “breathe.” There is no real reason to remove nail enhancements other than one's personal desire to do so or at the recommendation of your Nail Professional for the reason they provide.

"Nail “drills” are bad and shouldn’t be used."

A nail “drill,” properly known as an E (electronic)-file, can be an indispensable tool when used by capable hands for the right purpose.  A good Nail Tech who uses an E-file will also be skilled at traditional hand filing. A good Nail Tech will also sanitize E-file bits and accessories between clients and never reuse those little sandpaper (arbor) bands from client to client.  Yes, studies have shown that constant exposure to the dust/particles produced by e-filing without taking certain precautions can cause problems, but for someone who is not constantly and continuously exposed to this (like clients), the risk is honestly not a great one.

"What is a “non-standard” nail shop/salon?"

A non-standard shop or salon is one of the many shops that have popped up on virtually every other corner, in strip malls and inside some discount stores, etc.  They generally employ multiple people, who may or may not possess the required, legal credentials that State regulations mandate.  Their practices, procedures and the products they use may be of a questionable nature.  They are referred to as non-standard because a good, traditional nail salon setting generally operates under a noticeably different business model.  It will provide a healthy/safe, individual, personalized experience for clients, with services rendered by properly educated and trained, legally licensed Nail Technicians who remain current and up-to-date on regulations and education. This is the standard.

"Why doesn't Talonted do/use Nail Dip Systems?"

Currently, dip powders are primarily viewed by the nail industry as an alternative to gel polish. Most are marketed as a way to add color and additional strength to the nail. What follows is my own personal opinion. Nail Dip Systems were created with one main objective:  to introduce yet another nail enhancement product that could be applied even more quickly than the other methods before it, with less technical skill required, thus enabling the servicing of more clients in as little time as possible.  Dip systems are nothing more than finely milled acrylic powder and resin (glue) used together.  As a matter of fact, dip powder is quite frequently used with nail liquid (monomer) and a brush in the traditional acrylic application method.

Additionally, the method of application with Dip, hence its name, is generally unsanitary in nature.  I personally have never been to a non-standard nail salon and had anyone sanitize my hands prior to beginning services, nor have I seen the Techs sanitize their own hands (and putting unsanitized hands into gloves doesn’t quite count). However, your fingers are being dipped into a product that is being dipped into by many! Because I am a professional who adheres to aseptic methods and procedures and am not into cutting corners, I choose not to offer this service.