FAQ's

FAQ's

What is a No Chip Manicure?
A No Chip Manicure is a color gel application that comes in many colors and is cured under a UV/LED lamp. There are many No Chip Manicure Gel systems on the market today.

Will the No Chip Manicure ruin my nails?

Yes, if they are removed incorrectly!!! Applying the No Chip Manicure does not and should not ruin your nails.Stay away from salons that drill or file your nail bed down before a no chip manicure (this makes the nail bed weak). Light buffing(with a buffer not a finger nail file or drill) may be needed to remove particles or oils from nail bed but ABSOLUTELY NO drilling or filing of the nail bed is needed before a no chip manicure.  Its the removal process of the No Chip Manicure that can ruin your nails. Whether you are peeling the No Chip Manicure off yourself, frequent improper removals of the No Chip Manicure can damage your nails. What to do? Return back to the salon and let them remove your no chip manicure the proper way or better yet watch them remove your no chip, pick up your own supplies, and you can then attempt to remove the product yourself at home. Best Advice: Let the professionals remove it first, then attempt to remove the product on your own. The longer you sit soaking your no chip manicure off the better. Patience is needed in the removal process. Again, peeling, drilling, filing your no chip manicure off WILL damage your nails. Overall, if you feel your nails are weak from over application please Take a break from the No Chip Manicure.

Please do not peel off your no chip manicure.

Please do not rip your no chip manicure off your nail bed geese! We can tell immediately if you ripped your no chip manicure off your nail bed by the white thin spots at the tip. Please take a finger nail file and lightly file your no chip manicure (chip) down until you make it to the boutique. Ready to just take it off? Please visit my website @ www.soakoff.com

What can I do until I get my next no chip manicure? You can color over your no chip manicure with regular finger nail polish. That's right!!! Just grab your favorite color and use your base coat, then your color polish, and your top coat.

Why does it take a whole hour to apply? We use a paint brush throughout our entire application which is the old-school technique. Today they have gel in the bottle such as Shellac which can be applied faster and removed faster (we do carry Shellac). However, we love Bio Sculpture and their color selection. We now offer Express No Chip Manicures in Bio Sculpture only. Please click above link for more details on Express No Chips.

Bio Sculpture Gel Brush

Can I just get clear coat just to help my nails grow? This product is awesome for clients who are looking to help their nails grow. Just get a clear and a top gel for shine. (You can even add nail polish on top).

From some Nurse's and some Teacher's

The (industrial) foam sanitizer can be very harsh and drying on the hands and cause some gel to lift. They advise limit your use of the foam sanitizer and use the traditional method by washing your hands with regular soap and water or use the liquid hand sanitizer.

We live in a Text Messaging World

Please be considerate and do not be text messaging while we are doing your no chip manicure. Please try to hold your hand still in the UV lamp and avoid bumping them against the sides. This will cause the NO Chip manicure to chip. If I seal your tips with gel and you go and start text messaging on your phone you just removed the gel. Once your hands are inserted into the UV lamp TRY not to remove them to answer your phone and/or text message.  If you do remove your hand remember you are taking away the allowable time for them to cure correctly. 

Going longer than two weeks

No Chip Manicures are wearable for two weeks. Going any longer we are not held responsible for chipping. SOMETIMES, we tend to use them for tools the longer they get and the pressure from text messaging and typing may cause some breakage underneath. Bio Sculpture Gel is not a very hard gel like your traditional gel and it bends when your nail bends. However, even small things like opening the car door may cause breakage if you are not use to long nails. It really becomes hard to type and/or text message if you are use to short nails. Please keep this in mind, come in for a refill and/or removal and have them trimmed down.However I have some clients who like the longer nails and are doing just fine.

Clear Coat

If your just getting a clear coat (men) please do not expect for it to last too long because it is just a clear coat. There is not as many layers as the color gel and the pigment in the color gel is much heavier than the clear pigment. Therefore, your color gels will last a little longer. You can add a regular polish on top of your clear gel also if you like.

Regular Color Polish on my No Chip Manicure

You can color over your no chip manicure BUT, first do a base coat then your color coat and top coat. Do not just add another color on top of your no chip manicure. Treat it as if your getting a manicure. Add your base coat, then your color and top coat. You can remove the nail polish and the base coat with a non-acetone nail polish remover. I do not suggest doing this more than once.

I Colored My Hair/Make-up 

Please do not get a no chip manicure if you will be coloring your hair and not wearing gloves. Color shampoos can also cause staining on light colors. If you color your hair red/black and have a light color gel, then go and shampoo your hair without gloves you will get staining. The chemicals in the hair color (ammonia and bleach) can also cause lifting and/or tinting of the nails. Please wear gloves when tinting and/or using color shampoo. If you are wearing a light color gel and use your fingers (foundation & sponge) you can also stain your nails. Light color gels tends to pck up dyes, tints, much faster. Please use acohol to wipe down your nails if you have residue on them. 

Refills

To help the longevity of your no chip manicure we ask that you receive a refill. A refill can be of the same color or a darker color. Please consider a refill instead of a no chip removal every two-three weeks. To make them shine again just wipe them with a little bit of alcohol.

Nails as Tools

Chipping of the same two fingers on each hand is the result of using your fingers as a tool. Like both of your thumbs or both of pointing fingers; this could be from typing or text messaging. Let your nail tech know that the majority of your time is spent typing and an extra top coat may be needed. If you are a nurse or work in a doctors office extra gel may be needed for added protection. 

Citric Acid

Do not use citric ingredients for the first 24 hours for this will also cause some lifting of the no chip manicure. Citric can be found in oranges, lemons, and even some dish washing liquid.

Nail Hardeners

Your nails are already hard so why are using a nail hardener or strengtheners on top of the No Chip Manicure? Nail hardeners at your convenient store can also cause lifting. Try to stay away from these products that pertain nail hardeners as an extra ingredient.

Vacationers (Chlorine and Salt Water )

If you are going on vacation and will be in swimming (chlorine water, salt water)) your no chip may start  to lift. For added protection we ask that you add a simple top coat (without a hardener) on top of your no chip manicure before you go swimming. 

Sun Screen 

Please also note that if you will be in the sun for a long period of time first and far most please use sun tan lotion. You can also add a top coat to help protect from fading. We ask that you do not wear a transparent color for it tends to discolor in the sun.

These are just some no chip hints and I hope you have a great No Chip experience at the No Chip Manicure Boutique.

4/06/10