Nail Wraps: Detailed Step-by-Step

Fiberglass Transparencies (Fiberglass Over Natural Nails)

Fiberglass’s versatility also added to the popularity of this wrapping technique. Fiberglass doesn’t use primer and can be used to create a strong cover over a natural nail. By putting a strong cover over a natural nail will help and client to grow out their own natural nail. Smart salon owners market fiberglass nail wraps to health conscious client as an alternative to regular manicures. With regular maintenance needed to maintain fiberglass wraps it is more profitable then manicures. Fiberglass over natural nail give clients many benefits:

1. A strong covering over clients natural nail, aiding the client in growing out her natural nails
2. Light Weight
3. Product is clear giving a natural look
4. Ultra thin
5. Easily applied

• Polish

1. 1 coat of a ridge filling base coat
2. 2 coats of polish
3. 1 coat of a quick drying top coat

• Gel Top Coat

1. Don’t have your client wash, clean each nail carefully with your gel cleanser and a lint free wipe.
2. Apply a thin layer of “Top Coat Gel”
3. Cure
4. Wipe with gel nail cleanser to remove the tacky layer (several manufacture make a top coat that cure without a tacky layer)
   Try IBD Intense Seal which does not leave a tacky residue, save times, and creates a brilliant shine.

• Colored Gel

1. Apply THIN layer of colored gel
2. Cure
3. Apply THIN layer of colored gel
4. Cure
5. Repeat as many times as needed until you achieve the shade you wanted.
6. Apply a thin layer of “Top Coat Gel”
7. Cure
8. Wipe with gel nail cleanser to remove the tacky layer ( several manufacture make a top coat that cure without a tacky layer)
   When working with colored gel one simply rule applies and once you understand why it’s simple to remember. Color which is pigment in the gel blocks the uv rays. So if you apply the colored gel to thick it may not cure underneath because the uv rays can ‘t penetrate the gel fully. So thin is always better than thick with working with colored gel.

• Step 1: Greet your customer by name and introduce yourself. Have your customer fill out a customer card with contact information. Contact information is needed for confirming future appointment, sending out bounce back coupons and for legal purposes (every time a customer is serviced it should be documented).
• Step 2: Remove old polish if any.
• Step 3: Gentle push back cuticles.
• Step 4: With a 180 grit file gentle remove the shine from your customers natural nail. Pay extra attention to the growth area and side walls, a thin layer of secondary skin (pterygium) can stick to the nail and will cause lifting if it is not removed. Cuticle removers can be used BUT YOU MUST BE SURE ALL RESIDUE IS REMOVED AND THE NAIL BED IS FREE FROM ANY OIL, CREAM, OR GEL.
• Step 5: Shape the natural nail’s free edge to the clients preference.
• Step 6: Remove dust by using a sanitized manicure brush. Never use a cosmetic brush which has been commonly used in the industry in the past. Dusting nails with an cosmetic brush creates static electricity which draws the dust to the brush and then spread over other nails. Cosmetic brushes are made of natural hair and can not be sanitized. Spreading dust and contaminating the nail surface with a dirty brush can cause the enhancement to lift. Apply nail sept, nail cleaner, or a product used to sanitize and dehydrate such as IBD’s Nail Prep to sanitize the nail plate. Do not use alcohol to sanitize the nail plate. Alcohol is a petroleum based product and does leave a residue which also is contributes to lifting.
• Step 7: Squeeze your glue bottle watching the glue move up the nozzle to the tip. Carefully place a small bead of resin (glue) in the middle of the nail bed using your nozzle swipe it left than right. Leaving a smooth thin layer of resin covering the natural nail.
• Step 8: If your using a activator in a spray bottle prime it by spraying it away from you and your client. This insures that when you spay it on your clients nails it will be the correct full pump, and not a dribble half spray that could cause problems. Holding the spray bottle at your shoulder of at least 12 inches away spray one full pump. If you miss do NOT re spray the resin(glue) will dry on its own, re spraying could cause the heat effect. You want the activator to be a fine mist that hovers over the nail and gently lands on the nail bed.
• Step 9: Repeat steps 8 and 9. You should have 2 layers of resin on the natural nail.
• Step 10: Cut a piece of material to fit the nail. Leaving a small margin around the edge of the nail.
• Step 11: Place a small bead of resin (glue) on the center of the nail, using the nozzle spread it left than right.
• Step 12: Activate
• Step 13: Repeat steps 12 and 13
• Step 14: Using 180 grit file smooth all imperfections. Be careful not to file off the material if you need to add another layer of resin, followed by activator.
• Step 15: Buff all file makes out
• Step 16: Have client wash their hands using antibacterial soap and a sanitized manicure brush to remove all dust from underneath and cuticle area.
• Step 17: You can finish several different ways.
• Step 18: Have your client pay and book her next appointment.
• Step 19: DONE! Total time: Super Pro=45 minutes, Experienced= 45 to 60 minutes, Intermediate= 50 to 90, Novice/Beginner= 60 -120 minutes!
• Step 20: Have customer and technician wash their hands.