Tip Tuesday : Full Cover Tips
We're starting off our new support series, Tip Tuesday, with a closer look at our Full Cover Tips. Have you tried them, but struggling to perfect application or looking to introduce them as a new service?
We hope you find our Full Cover Tips Tutorial and some of our FAQs helpful! If you have any questions, please drop us an email on info@izabellehammon.com or give us a call on 01582 798920.
FULL COVER TIPS FAQS
HOW DO I APPLY YOUR FULL COVER TIPS?
Our full cover tips can be applied using a clear (or colour) builder gel with no need for nail resin. The technique may require some practice, but once mastered the application is simple & quick. As the tip is supported over the whole nail bed, the tips don’t require a reinforcement build layer for strength and shape like traditional half well-tips or gel sculptures.
If preferred, tips can also be applied using resin. We recommend always using a base of clear first and not applying the resin directly onto the natural nail. Cure your base layer thoroughly before applying whole nail tip with resin.
WHAT GEL CAN I USE TO APPLY THEM?
All Izabelle Hammon clear base gels can be used for securing clear tips. We recommend using CALGEL or iZ Pro Base&Build Clear for best results. Our HEMA Free GEL&GO 2in1 clear can also be used. Our gels do not require etching of the underside of clear tip prior to application.
Our clear full cover nail tips can be used with alternative clear builder gel if they are suitable. If using another system, you may wish to etch the underside of the tip for adhesion. Please speak to your clear gel supplier, or contact us to find out more about our Base&Build Clear Gel.
DO I NEED TO USE A PRIMER ON THE TIPS?
Some systems require you to use a primer to the underside of the tips, if you use CALGEL clear builder or iZ Pro Base&Build Clear, you don’t have to prime the tips.
ARE THEY SUITABLE FOR HEAVY-HANDED CLIENTS?
Yes, they would be suitable for most clients. These semi-flexible tips allow some movement minimising the risk of breakages or snapping when used with Izabelle Hammon Ltd colour gels (which add extra protection). Always advise your clients to avoid using their nails as tools so ensure their tips last as long as possible.
CAN THEY BE USED ON CLIENTS WITH VERY SHORT OR BITTEN NAILS?
Yes, but we would recommend that the free edge of the tip extension is no more than the length of the natural nail bed for the first appointment. It is better to start shorter as your client gets used to the extra length & allow your client's natural nails to grow beneath the tip.
You can reduce the length of the tip from the bottom ensuring you keep the pre-shaped edge. We would recommend our Short Round or Natural Short for nail biters.
We would also recommend building up the apex of the nail prior to applying the tip as bitten nails are often very flat.
HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST FOR?
When applied correctly, the full cover tips should last until you choose to remove them. Nail preparation and the base layer of clear are crucial to the longevity; if the base layer of clear starts to lift, so will the tip.
HOW DO I REMOVE THEM?
Removal is easy; the tips can BE soaked-off as normal. You may wish to thin down the layers of gel on top of the tips to help speed up removal. If your client wants to go shorter, you can clip the tip extensions to required length before buffing the gel on top and soaking-off. The tips soak-off in roughly 10 minutes without gel on top.
If you are trained with an e-file, you can e-file off the gel on top of the tip before soaking off as normal. You may also choose to e-file off the tip down to base layer of clear, but be cautious to not go to far and damage the natural nail beneath.
DO I NEED TO SOAK-OFF EVERY TIME?
There is no need to soak-off for every appointment. Gel can be infilled as normal on top of the clear tips. If you prefer to completely remove the previous colour, we recommend doing a layer of clear on top of the tip before applying your colour so you are able to buff or e-file the colour off to the base of clear (which helps to protect the tip beneath it) before infilling with clear gel to rebalance (or infill) the regrowth and applying a fresh colour gel on top.
I DON'T USE YOUR GELS, CAN I STILL USE THESE TIPS?
Yes, all our tips are suitable to use with any colour gel nail system and can be used with other gel tip extension systems if not being used with one of our clear gels. If you'd like to find out more about our Builder Gels, please contact us on info@izabellehammon.com