Product Adhesion | Acidity| Nail Prep

Adhesion - a term we often hear in the nail industry and rightly so. Poor product adhesion is the number one reason for product lifting. It is also a common misconception that a product's adhesion can only be "formulated" by a manufacturer.

In fact the chase after the "best adhesion" has landed the industry into quite a bit of trouble over the last few years. The total content of acidity in nail products has skyrocketed since 2018; in some cases above regulatory guidelines.

Unlike today, for more than 15 years the nail industry relied upon prep basics to aid adhesion - not on a miracle product.

Well and here we are ... in less than 5 years the industry has plummeted into an alarming rate of dermal allergies, onycholysis and all the other nail health problems we often come across on social media.

Prep vs Product Acidity

There is no cutting corners around good nail prep and relying on product to do all the "adhesion work" for you can have a very negative effect on the health of your client's nails.

With correct nail prep and selection of an appropriate sculpting technique , based on the condition and length of the natural nail there is no need to use:

• aggressive primers
• bonding agents, or
• UV/LED gel products with high levels of methacrylic and acrylic acids

With so many customers now overexposed to these acids, allergic reactions are far too common and it is important for us as a company to keep highlighting the importance of correct nail prep and product selection.

Instead of chasing after the "product with best adhesion" troubleshoot your nail prep and sculpting technique:

• have you ensured there are no dead skin tissue around the cuticle and lateral side walls (# 1 reason for product lifting around the cuticle)
• have you thoroughly etched the natural nail to remove shine
• have you cleansed, dehydrated and primed the natural nail
• have you strengthened the free edge on a longer nail (# 1 reason for product lifting from the free edge)

Prep Helpers

Gellifique® now offers a number of Prep and Prime products that combined with good nail prep can greatly enhance the adhesion and /or longevity of your nail enhancement.

Our updated Prep and Prime system improves adhesion by:

• removing any trapped moisture
• balancing the PH level of the nail plate in preparation for product application
• acting as a "double sided" sticky tape between the nail plate and product

By combining gentle nail prep and opting for hard gel, acrylics or acrylic gel for longer nails instead of BIAB, you are safeguarding the long term health of your clients nails.

CUTICLE PUSHER - SMART - PS 70/1 - £11.00 This double sided cuticle pushers with smooth, manually sharpened edges will help you to safely and effectively clean up the cuticle area. BUY NOW

PREP AND PRIME SYSTEM - £17.98 Gellifique® Prep and Prime System duo helps to reduces product lifting even on problematic nails. BUY NOW

SUPERBOND BASE COAT - £16.50 Got a client with sensitivities to standard base coat formulations? Try our Pro Care Range. BUY NOW

ANTISEPTIC SURFACE SPRAY - £8.50 This scent free antiseptic spray can be used to not just to keep your tools and surfaces clean but also to remove any product tack and as a "slip solution" for acrylic gel. We love multi - functional products. BUY NOW

2in1 GEL BRUSH (8mm / 9mm) - £9.99 A great gel nail brush to get the product as close as possible to the cuticle area without flooding when you sculpt. Best suited for small or narrow nail plates due to its optimal width and length. BUY NOW