Fall 2014

MasterTechnique

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Salon
Perfect Nails

Creating the perfect set of salon pink and whites is no easy feat. Here, Gelish U.S. Dean of Education MaeLing Parrish uses the ProHesion Acrylic System to do just that. Follow the steps to create your own salon perfect nails.

BY MAELING PARRISH
PHOTO BY TED EMMONS

prep:

Push back the cuticle and shape the free edge. Buff the surface of the nail to remove shine and wipe away dust. Apply pH Bond to the natural nail from cuticle to free edge. Apply a thin coat of ProBond to the entire nail plate.

01

Remove the ProHesion nail form from the backing and place the center tab underneath to stabilize. Hold the form between the fingers and thumbs and roll it to create a curve. Holding the curve in, slide the form under each sidewall and rock it back onto the finger to adhere it. Using your thumbs, press the tabs together and make sure the C-curve is even down the entire barrel of the form.

02

Saturate a Pro 9 brush in ProHesion Sculpting Liquid and pick up a medium sized bead of ProHesion Vivid White sculpting powder. Place the bead at the junction of the natural nail and the form. Distribute the white ball side to side toward the nail groove to form the preliminary smile line. Curve the smile line, lightly stroking to evenly distribute and smooth. Tap the brush on the side of the dappen dish to pick up a tiny amount of sculpting liquid. Pick up a tiny dry bead of white and apply on the natural nail at the point of the smile line and stroke to blend forward. Carve to perfection. Repeat on the opposite side.

03

Pick up a medium sized bead of ProHesion Elegant Pink sculpting powder and place halfway between the cuticle and the smile line. Press across to evenly distribute and stroke forward. Pick up a smaller bead of ProHesion Elegant Pink sculpting powder and apply to the cuticle area, stroking forward to blend.

04

Mold the C-curve, starting at the nail body and down to the smile line - rolling and lifting to get a consistent curve down the whole body of the nail. Press the free edge around the Harmony C-Curve Stick to enhance the C-curve.

05

Start with the 150/150-grit file and shape the free edge, side walls and lower arch. Switch to the 180/180-grit file and repeat. Contour and surface shape using the 180-grit file. Make sure the C-curve is consistent from side to side.

06

Wipe the dust off with a dry clean Wipe It Off lint-free nail wipe before switching to the 100/180-grit buffer. Repeat using the 220/280-buffer. Wipe the nail with a dry, clean Wipe It Off lint-free nail wipe to remove dust between buffers.

07

Buff with the blue side of an Eco Shiner. Turn it over and repeat with the white side to reveal a high shine. Apply Gelish Nourish Cuticle Oil and remove the excess with a Wipe it Off Lint-Free Nail Wipe.
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