Famous Names products, the founders of Daddy oil have recently launched a new product to our industry, but is it changing the game or not? I was a bit skeptical at first but of course had to order one and test it out myself.
They claim this machine will mix anything from gel polish to builder gel to regular old nail polish so you can say goodbye to shaking. So... does it do the job? I have put together a demo video for you guys to check out, ENJOY!
Take care and happy August!
XO,
Kelly
Don’t forget “Peace” is our color of the Month, use code PEACE10 at checkout to save on all the products listed below:
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This month I want to talk about LED lights and why you NEED to have a good quality light. In the past couple of years there has been a surge in techs buying lights off of Amazon. While these lights are absolutely fine for DIY-er’s using gel polish they purchased from any retail store, they are not effective for a professional such as yourself. These lights aren’t made to take the beating we give them, meaning client after client as their bulbs aren't quality. We have tested multiple lights and they DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT cure Multi-Flex Gel properly. We may not see this because on the surface the product looks and feels solid, but what is going on underneath is another story as the penetration isn't strong enough for an opaque builder such as Luminary's Multi-Flex Gel.
So what happens when product is not cured properly? Issues, issues you don’t want to have to deal with. Contact dermatitis and onycholysis can happen with any product as long as you are repeatedly exposed and when the product doesn’t cure properly you are exposing your client to “wet” product, like I said that you can’t even see and remember we are using chemicals. If you continue to do this, after a while (could take weeks could take months) your client could and most likely will develop allergies to whatever product you are using and guess what? Those allergies will never go away. You are a professional and should be purchasing a light made for professionals and for the product it's intended for that can withstand our constant use and has the quality bulbs that specific product needs to cure.
How often should we replace our lights? If you are working 4-5 days a week you should replace your light every year because the bulbs start to loose their power. You can test it after a year to see if it is effectively curing by applying as you normally would on your own finger, curing and filing the product down. If it is not "wet" or clogging up your bit then you should be fine and test in another month. You can also use a swatch stick, apply product and when it's finished curing cut the swatch in half with scissors to expose any wet product. If you need help or are struggling with your testing please reach out, we are more than happy to help, info@luminarynailsystems.com
Thank you guys for taking the time to read this and I hope you do yourself a favor and invest in a high quality professional light.
We HIGHLY recommend The Luminary “Pulse”, you can purchase it HERE
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Spring is upon us, and with it comes changing temperatures! There is no better time than now to talk about a few little adjustments you can do that will really make a big difference in the longevity of your gel and perfection of your application.
Have you ever noticed that some clients are so much harder to apply Luminary on than others? It always seem to travel into their sidewalls? Next time, feel your clients hands. I bet they run pretty hot right? That makes your gel runny once it hits their nail bed!
For these clients you want the first coat of gel to be super thin, and you may even need to work one finger at a time on this thin first layer. When you are ready to apply your structure make sure not to put a slip layer down, it will make your job so much harder. Just go on to float the product down their nail. You could also try using a mini beauty fridge to keep a jar of product in for those hot handed clients. Even when using cold product it shouldn’t affect the heat spikes.
Detail brushes are also a great way to move product around and really perfect your application. For hot handed clients, avoid a slip layer and float the product down the nail avoiding the sidewalls. Once you've got about the shape you want down the center, grab some product on a detail brush and bring the gel down by the sidewalls.
Storage is very important for extending the life of your gels. We don’t want a lot of temperature changes in our workspace and we always want to keep our products in a closed drawer/cabinet unless we’re using them on a client. Pay attention to your room temp and always keep it consistent if possible.
You may have noticed if you don’t keep your workspace a consistent temperature that during the winter your gels are a bit thicker and in the summer they are a bit more runny. If you have read a few of my previous blogs, you will also see that sometimes I use a coffee warmer and sometimes I use a fridge for the gel to change up the consistency depending on what services I am doing.
If you guys have any questions or experiences post in the comments below! Happy Spring and don’t forget Inspire is 10% off all month long, use code Inspire10 at checkout ;-)
Xo,
Kelly VanDahl
]]>In our world today the content you upload to social media is super important. It can gain you potential new clients, give your current clients ideas for their next appointment, and gain the attention of brands whom you’re tagging in your pictures.
Luminary for instance always recognizes our customers by continually and consistently posting YOUR work. We don’t rely on pretty “branded” pictures, because you are what makes our company and we want to share YOU! But… we need pretty content right?! You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take beautiful pictures and as a nail tech you already have an eye for detail, so combining that with a few tips and tricks is more than enough to get you started.
As a company, we look for a beautiful pose, consistent lighting, and a clean manicure. What do I mean by a clean manicure? A busy artful manicure can still be a clean one. The cuticles are tended to, the hands and fingers are moisturized but not too oily. This does not mean you have to perform a Russian Manicure by any means. Just clean!
I will give you guys some tips and links to where you can find some of these things no matter if you’re using a phone camera or a larger digital one.
Lighting: I love the spring arm lamps like this one from Ikea below, but they do wear out quickly because you can move them around pretty easy and get the light right where you need it. The bulb you choose is even more important than the lamp you choose. You need a photography bulb or outdoor indirect light to give the manicure the pop it deserves. This bulb is my favorite.
Focus: try portrait mode. This works much better outside than in a studio setting. Make sure you are farenough away from the hands so the background blurs. You’ll then most likely need to crop the picture to get in closer to the manicure.
Client's pose and hands: Take in to account what your client's hands look like. Are their fingers crooked? Are they relaxed? Take the time to make the pose look good and don’t be in too much of a hurry. What pose looks best? Are their hands even camera worthy? If you happen to nip your client with cuticle scissors or nippers make sure for the photo that their cuticles aren't bloody, as that can be one thing that takes away from an otherwise perfect manicure. So many things to take into consideration!
Background: A white poster board, a piece of wood… a simple background not anything too busy that takes the focus away from your beautiful manicure.
Don't forget, we go through our hashtag on a daily basis for content, so make sure you're tagging #luminarynailsystems and the color your using such as #luminaryhope Can't wait to see more of your beautiful pictures!
Try a few of these tips and see the difference in your pictures and comment below with any additional questions!
xo,
Kelly VanDahl
]]>2021 is off to an exciting start for us at Luminary with the launch of our new colored builder gel “Essence” and with “Dream” as January's Color of the Month! Both of these colors are part of our Colors by VanDahl line of colored Multi-Flex Builder Gels, and I hope you are as in love with them as I am!
THE PROBLEM
Before we had gel polish, we had 2 choices: nail polish or colored acrylic. My clients always chose the colored or glittery acrylic, because it lasted so much longer than traditional nail polish. As their nail tech, I loved when they chose this option because it saved me so much time! If you are anything like me, your goal is for your client to walk out with flawless nails. When we were limited to acrylic and nail polish, this meant I would have to spend so much time making my acrylic nail perfect with tons of finish filing just to put nail polish over it. I also really took my time applying the nail polish because I wanted that to be just as perfect. Then, once the client left, they always had issues with wear at the tip of the nail before their next appointment. As you all know, even gel polish did not really fix this issue. That’s where the idea for the colored builders came from.
I was tired of making my base gel application perfect just in order to put gel polish over it. If my base was off just a little, then adding gel polish just emphasized the imperfections. With the extra time spent finish filing, I really dreaded the 20 min I'd have to spend polishing. I wanted to create something that was beautiful with the same strength as our other Multi-Flex gels, while also saving you time, energy, and product. Thus, our colored builder gels were born!
THE SOLUTION
Let's say it takes 1.5 hours for prep and base application, then your client picks a gel color that takes you at least 20 mins to polish, then art on top of that. Some of us are over 2 hours of application time!
By using colored builder gels, you're saving the 20-30 min of polish time and reducing the number of products in your drawer. Colored Multi-Flex gel also soaks off super easily, can be e-filed, allows for thinner application, and helps your structured manicures last 3-4 weeks!
So go ahead, save yourself some time so you can actually, maybe, eat lunch or go to the bathroom between clients… novel idea, I know! Or push your clients closer together and save those extra minutes to get home early to your family. Try our “Colors by VanDahl” line and see the difference it makes to you and your clients.
Happy 2021 all!
xo,
Kelly VanDahl
]]>The key to a natural looking extension is getting the color of the gel right. Our natural nails are a bit transparent and on the yellow side. To achieve a similar look, take an empty jar and mix these 3 colors: Clarity, Presence and Rise. Start with mostly Clarity and add a tiny bit of Presence and a smidge of Rise and keep adding until you get your desired color. Remember you only need to make a small amount—it goes a long way! The closer to a natural look you can achieve, the more natural a Luminary color you can apply. Peace and Aspire are both a tad transparent and look best over a nail closest to natural looking as possible.
My goal is to get a totally natural looking nail without using a tip so [that] adhesion to the nail is the best it can be.
Head over to our Instagram page to watch a short clip demonstrating all of the above!
I have one more tip/trick for you guys while doing this repair. Luminary is on the thinner viscosity side so when you’re applying your custom mix to the form, it may be too runny. Here is how to fix that. Make sure you have a mixture already made up ahead of time and once you are happy with the color, put it in the FRIDGE, yep I said the FRIDGE! I told you the warmer the gel the runnier it is--that is also true for cold in that the colder your gel is, the thicker it will be. I have this small fridge I keep at my desk, and it works great for the gel and a few drinks!
Thank you all for your support of Luminary! Hopefully these tips and tricks help you in the salon and that you have an amazing Christmas and New Year!
XO,
Kelly
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For the 10ml bottle: While seated and legs are crossed, put the bottle between your crossed legs so it can warm up to your body temperature. Leave it there for about 10-15 minutes, then roll the bottle in your palms for 1-2 min.
OR
Try an inexpensive coffee warmer plate, and let the glass bottle sit for about 10-15 minutes before you roll it. Just be careful when you grab it off the warmer as the bottle will be hot.
For the 30ml bottle: Use the same crossed leg method to warm up the product. Then, open the bottle and stir with an orange wood stick or metal mixer.
OR
Grab a mug with a couple inches warm-hot water and submerse the 30ml bottle. Do not put the cap below the water, as that will ruin the gel if water. Do not set the plastic 30ml bottle directly on a mug warmer.
One last tip as we head into the chilly weather. When you receive your gels in the mail, they will be cold! Please don’t open them right away, let them sit at room temperature overnight to find their way back to their original consistency.
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