AboutMaggie Franklin Expertise Professional Nailcare: nail enhancement chemistry and technique, mancuring and pedicuring. I am not qualified to give medical advice or make medical diagnoses.
Experience I am a professional nail technician with 17 years experience in the professional beauty industry. I am licensed in the states of California (license #M120766) and Colorado (license #8611.)
I have been an active member of the online mailing list at Beautytech.com since 1999 where I network with 100s of nail industry professionals around the world.
Over the last 15 years I have accumulated several advanced training certificates, including the coveted Creative Nail Designs Master Nail Technician status, and personal training by Tammy Taylor, Tom Bachik, and Tom Holcomb.
I briefly joined the competition circuit in 2002, taking first place in the second annual Strut Your Stuff Online competition in the Enhancement 2 category. In 2009 I have decided to make time in my schedule to get back into competition by joining "Team Pink," the competition team captained by current world champion nail technician, Lynn Lammers.
I boast several contributions to articles that have appeared in both Nails and Nailpro magazines, including a brief stint as a Nails Magazine Help Desk contributor and now I write a semi-weekly blog for Nails Magazine while continuing to attend tradeshows and continuing education events.
Organizations Nail Tech mailist list at Beautytech.com
Publications Nails Magazine. Nailpro Magazine. Blogging for Nails Magazine since September, 2008: http://blogs.nailsmag.com/maggie/
Education/Credentials CA license #M120766. CO license #8611. CND Master Nail Technician. Tom Holcomb Academy. Personal training with Tom Bachik. Two day advanced training with Tammy Taylor. AEFM certified for use of electric file. HRTE (High Road to Education) in San Jose, CA 2009.
Awards and Honors 2nd Annual Strut Your Stuff Online competition, 1st place in Enhancement 2. Member of "Team Pink" competition team 2009. 3rd place, Novice tip-and-overlay relay at IBS Las Vegas, 2009.
Question Hi Maggie,
I don't understand one thing: if acetone is bad for nails, and we are always recommended to use acetone-free polish remover, is there another way to remove wraps, which are intended to protect nails?
Thank you for your help,
Liz
Answer Acetone isn't necessarily "bad" for nails and many product manufacturers actually do recommend using acetone for polish removal.
Acetone breaks down the polymers that nail products are made of, which is why it's the best solvent for effective removal of product, but it takes awhile for it to work and acetone evaporates very quickly. So it's great for removing nail polish without damaging the acrylic/wrap, etc underneath because the acetone won't stay wet on the nail long enough to damage it unless you have the nail immersed in the solvent for several minutes.
That whole "use non-acetone polish remover" line is way out of date now! There are SO many things that we learned in the old days that turned out to just not be accurate-- the non-acetone polish remover line, and the myth that cuticle oil makes product lift! WOW! Talk about MIS-information! Of course, now we know that cuticle oil is your nails' best friend and we always recommend our clients use it because it actually PREVENTS lifting!
So don't worry about using acetone.
It's true, acetone can be unhealthy-- don't drink it, don't EVER heat it up in a microwave or stove! But unless you are doing something really unusual in the salon, you probably aren't going to encounter any uses of acetone that warrant worry. In fact, at least one major product chemist has claimed that acetone is one of the SAFEST solvents we use in the salon!
It will dry the skin when you use it to remove product, make sure you follow up a soak-off with lots of lotion and cuticle oil.
