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About Maggie 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.

You are here: Experts > Style > Spas > Nail Care & Manicures > newest nail gel concept

Nail Care & Manicures - newest nail gel concept

Expert: Maggie Franklin - 10/23/2009

Question
I currently have gel and powder fillins every two weeks. I am trying to cut down costs. My nail salon said the newest concept which now comes in colors should have fillins every month which wouldn't cut the cost but the time spent in the salon. Can you have fillins once monthly or was this just a comeon?

Answer
Well first, I'm confused by "gel and powder fillins." I'm not sure why they are using powder with the gel? Gel is typically a stand-alone product that does not require the addition of a powder. However, I am aware of the extremely common scam where salons do a traditional acrylic service using liquid and powder with a gel topcoat and call them "gel"-- along with charging more for them. This makes me (and many of my colleagues) crazy. Gel is NEVER a powder. It's a gel. So if you are getting gel with powder, you may want to ask some questions about that.

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to go 4 weeks between fills. As long as the product on your nails can last that long without cracking or lifting. You want to take care to have your fills done BEFORE the product starts lifting, cracking, etc because A-- there's no point in getting your nails done if they aren't going to look good. B-- lifting and cracking is a sign of product breakdown that means that you are opening up microscopic entrance points where moisture can get in between the product and your natural nails. Trapping moisture under the product makes a great place to grow bacteria and that's when those nasty green spots show up.

So, as long as you are comfortable wearing your nails for a whole month in between fills and the product is holding up that long-- go ahead! There's no reason for it to have to be the color gel either, any product can wait 4 weeks if it's holding up that long.

Mind you, many salons charge extra for waiting that long between fills though! The longer you wait between fills, the more product it takes to fill them and the more work it takes to properly rebalance the rest of the nail.

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