Hello!
I’ve just started out and have a few questions that I haven’t been able to find answers to on here yet. (My request to join INK’s Facebook group is still pending after a week and I’ve contacted Ikon.IQ on their Instagram and website about the first question and haven’t heard back yet either.)
Ikon.IQ: I bought the offer package of 13 Prima gels with the free lamp. In the description it said they throw in the air dry bonder and something else (can’t remember what) too but when the package came they weren’t included and when I went to check the description again it no longer said they throw in the extra products. I didn’t order them thinking they were included and am now worried there’ll be issues if I need to use the Prima gels this week without the bonder. (If I order them now they won’t arrive in time for this weeks day in the salon.) Is the airdry bonder essential to help the gels stick? Or will the usual cuticle work, dehydrating and filing of the nail plate (I use a 320 on the natural nail because I was finding a 240 left scratches) then base coat be enough to help the gel adhere?
Any thoughts on Ikon.IQ’s and INK’s Acrygels? I bought Ink’s for now as it’s slightly cheaper and I’d just be using it to train with for a few months until I pass my Polygel course. I haven’t tried it yet though but wonder how it compares to Ikon.IQ’s as I’m considering investing in theirs down the line. Especially if I can’t mix brands and need to choose one.
INK: I received their Baby Boom Flubber free with my order and tried it on myself. It’s lifted around the tip of each nail after 3 days. Could this be down to me not capping it properly? It’s my first time using flubbers as to practice on friends and family for a few months before starting work I was using a basic gel brand (before learning how bad they are). The flubbers are thicker than a generic base coat so I’m guessing I could have applied it too thickly too and it may not have cured properly?
Mixing:
I have lamps for both brands since I ordered the trial packages for each. I love Ikon.IQ gels due to the high pigment, so it covers in one coat and this means it’s amazing for nail art and I don’t need to buy all the extra studio and art gels like I would with INK. (I also love the packaging and it looks stunning on the shelf ). I’ll be investing in the Hypnos range eventually though. But INK do some stunning colours/glitters/effects that Ikon.IQ don’t, and I wonder if I can mix brands since I have both lamps? I’m guessing it’s a definite no, but I’ve read some posters on here who use both brands but for different things so I wondered if anyone had tried it. I know the only way to know is to try it on myself and see how they wear, but as I work as a cleaner and carer aswell as doing nails on the side now I doubt anything will last long on my nails anyway.
Acrylics: some of the barbers and hairdressers at the salon have acrylic on their nails. They say it’s the only thing that stands up to the heavy use of their hands and all the products they use. I’m not going to offer acrylics and wondered if anyone has any clients who are hairdressers or barbers and what their feedback has been on acrygel nails?
Thanks for any advice!
I’ve just started out and have a few questions that I haven’t been able to find answers to on here yet. (My request to join INK’s Facebook group is still pending after a week and I’ve contacted Ikon.IQ on their Instagram and website about the first question and haven’t heard back yet either.)
Ikon.IQ: I bought the offer package of 13 Prima gels with the free lamp. In the description it said they throw in the air dry bonder and something else (can’t remember what) too but when the package came they weren’t included and when I went to check the description again it no longer said they throw in the extra products. I didn’t order them thinking they were included and am now worried there’ll be issues if I need to use the Prima gels this week without the bonder. (If I order them now they won’t arrive in time for this weeks day in the salon.) Is the airdry bonder essential to help the gels stick? Or will the usual cuticle work, dehydrating and filing of the nail plate (I use a 320 on the natural nail because I was finding a 240 left scratches) then base coat be enough to help the gel adhere?
Any thoughts on Ikon.IQ’s and INK’s Acrygels? I bought Ink’s for now as it’s slightly cheaper and I’d just be using it to train with for a few months until I pass my Polygel course. I haven’t tried it yet though but wonder how it compares to Ikon.IQ’s as I’m considering investing in theirs down the line. Especially if I can’t mix brands and need to choose one.
INK: I received their Baby Boom Flubber free with my order and tried it on myself. It’s lifted around the tip of each nail after 3 days. Could this be down to me not capping it properly? It’s my first time using flubbers as to practice on friends and family for a few months before starting work I was using a basic gel brand (before learning how bad they are). The flubbers are thicker than a generic base coat so I’m guessing I could have applied it too thickly too and it may not have cured properly?
Mixing:
I have lamps for both brands since I ordered the trial packages for each. I love Ikon.IQ gels due to the high pigment, so it covers in one coat and this means it’s amazing for nail art and I don’t need to buy all the extra studio and art gels like I would with INK. (I also love the packaging and it looks stunning on the shelf ). I’ll be investing in the Hypnos range eventually though. But INK do some stunning colours/glitters/effects that Ikon.IQ don’t, and I wonder if I can mix brands since I have both lamps? I’m guessing it’s a definite no, but I’ve read some posters on here who use both brands but for different things so I wondered if anyone had tried it. I know the only way to know is to try it on myself and see how they wear, but as I work as a cleaner and carer aswell as doing nails on the side now I doubt anything will last long on my nails anyway.
Acrylics: some of the barbers and hairdressers at the salon have acrylic on their nails. They say it’s the only thing that stands up to the heavy use of their hands and all the products they use. I’m not going to offer acrylics and wondered if anyone has any clients who are hairdressers or barbers and what their feedback has been on acrygel nails?
Thanks for any advice!