Women have been attempting to add artificial length to their talons since Ancient Egyptian times. These times, long nails were a sign of wealth and status in both Egypt and various other cultures (notably Asian Cultures), and extensions were crafted out of materials that were only available to the rich such as ivory, bone and gold. Nail extensions as we...

A client will make their first impression of you within 15 seconds of meeting, therefore it is important to present a professional demeanour and appearance to ensure they have faith in your abilities and trust in your judgement. E.g. if you look untidy and dishevelled a new client may assume that the service you provide will be sloppy and unprofessional....

The Data Protection Act  Data Protection 1998 sets out principles in dealing with peoples personal information and states that information should be obtained fairly and lawfully, held only for the purposes specified, used only for these purposes and disclosed only to people necessary, ensure information is accurate and up to date, held for only as long as necessary, individuals can...

Consultation cards are necessary to gain a clear picture of the client’s health and lifestyle so that you can identify contraindications as well as determine what the client is trying to achieve. You also need to obtain their name, address and telephone number in order to be able to contact them to cancel or re-arrange future appointments. It is also...

It is important to have a comfortable working environment for the nail technician.  Have you ever complained of back, neck pain, tiredness in your hands or eyes? There are ways to avoid any of these inconveniences by making a few adjustments.  If you experience back pain, make sure your chair and table are at a comfortable height and width (wider...

Hygiene and sterilization are of the utmost importance in the nail industry. Ensuring your working area is kept hygienically clean and tools sterilized will prevent cross infection between clients. Below are some terms and methods that you will need to become familiar with and decide which best suits your needs and budget Sanitisation is the process of killing bacteria but...

The matrix is at the base of the nail and is white living tissue under the mantle (soft creases at end of nail plate) and it ends where the nail bed begins. If damaged in any way, the effects of the damage can be seen on the nail plate. Damage  on the nail plate can cause permanent deformities in Nail...

A contra indication is any reason why your treatment cannot be performed. There are numerous conditions that you should be aware of and able to identify so you know when it is safe to proceed with treatment. Here are some contra indications you should be aware of Transverse ridges Vertical ridges  Beau’s line  Blue nail  Psoriasis Eczema  Paronychia/Whitlow (bacterial infection)...

At the beginning of every Nail Treatment you should undertake a consultation with your client and discuss their choice of shape and length. Give advice if necessary, or if your client asks you, but more importantly listen to their view and abide by their wishes. You can advise and suggest colours for enamels, but choice of colour can be personal...

There are grit ratings on files which is printed on the file itself. The higher the number the lesser the grit will be 100 grit files are used for filing down product during a rebalance - rough shaping 80 grit files are super coarse abrasive files used for taking down existing product 180 grit files is used for smoothing out...

There are some terms below which you may like to become familiar with as they will appear later in the booklet. They just help you to understand the chemical components within the gel system Gel that you use is a pre mixed blend of oligomers and polymers, unlike acrylic when we mix the monomer and polymer together. A molecule is...

In all nail systems, chemicals in the acrylic polymer family are used. They come in semi liquid form, as in UV Gel and the Resin in the Fibreglass systems  The process of a liquid- monomer becoming a solid in these systems is called polymerisation, as the resulting solid is a polymer. The process of polymerisation needs a signal to start....

  Fibreglass Nails Pros Cons Very natural appearance Quite expensive due to the time involved (1 hour 15 mins) and cost of materials Extremely light and thin Very strong and flexible  Cannot be used on clients who bite their nails due to the relatively small area of natural nail plate available Suitable for clients with weak, short and brittle nails...

Brushes All brushes are divided into 3 sections Tip -  The end of the brush used to pick up powder and liquid, create thin even and perfect smile lines and to control product placement The barrel/belly -  The firmest part of the brush and has a "reservoir" that holds and dispenses liquid, it is used to inject liquid into the...

  Tier 1 In Hold all Glass Spatulas Cotton buds In barbicide jar Cuticle Nippers Scissors Cuticle Knife On Trolley Forms Cuticle oil Brush on glue Primer Acrylic products Dappen Dish In 2nd Jar Nail file Block Buffer Acrylic Brush Tip cutters Tier 2 2 split 1 unsplit couch roll Bowl for damp cotton Bowl for lint free pads Wipe...

Acrylics are the oldest form of nail extension in the modern beauty industry. The acrylic itself is a mixture of a liquid monomer and a powder polymer, which when combined, form a hard-protective layer that is sculptured over the natural nail. They are particularly good for nail biters as they are durable and strong, and you can extend the nail...

Once the tip is on the nail it must be shaped and blended until it looks perfectly natural. Do not hurry this stage as any imperfections will spoil the finished result. For and equal and natural ration, the length of white tips should be not less than ½ the length of the nail plate. There are 2 methods you can...

Sanitise yours and your client’s hands Do all necessary cuticle work -  Extra care must be taken when using any type of implement or file over the lunula, it is the thinnest and softest part of the nail and is easy to puncture or damage. Push back the cuticle with the cuticle pusher. Shape the free edge - no courser...

Correct aftercare will ensure client will maintain their nails will increase longevity of their nails and keep them looking pretty. It will also reduce the risk of damage and infection to the natural nail through ignorance and neglect. Rubber gloves should be worn to protect extensions from harsh household cleaning products and tinted lotions Use a good quality cuticle oil...

Lifting Product too close to cuticle area - take more care with application Product too thick at cuticle area - apply smaller beads Overlay too thin - apply more product Natural nail bed is severely damaged Over priming - use sparingly Improper etching Pterygium not removed - more careful preparation needed Applying nail too long - cause stress Oil on...

Acetone = A Solvent commonly used as a tip and nail polish remover   Acid Free Primers = It soaks into the nail plate as a type of monomer. It polymerizes with the overlay. Leave to dry longer   Acrylics = In this context a "system" that uses 2 components, liquid  monomer and powder polymer to create an artificial overlay...

  Tier 1 In Hold all Glass Spatulas Cotton buds In barbicide jar Cuticle Nippers Scissors Cuticle Knife On Trolley Forms Cuticle oil Brush on glue Primer Acrylic products Dappen Dish In 2nd Jar Nail file Block Buffer Acrylic Brush Tip cutters Tier 2 2 split 1 unsplit couch roll Bowl for damp cotton Bowl for lint free pads Wipe...

Practical videos should always be used in conjunction with your training manual. You can choose AK Form or AK Tip from the following.

Please contact your Teacher for details on the schedule for the next Interactive Session. If a session has already been scheduled, you'll find the details below.

A total of 3 case studies should be completed and before and after photos uploaded. This should include the use of tips, forms, colour coat, French build and refills. Once this has been submitted and graded, your certificate can be claimed. NB before and after photo must be on one file