Introducing An-Gel -- organic soak off gel

An-Gel is the latest organic soak off gel from Korea, which only a few manicurists (at least those who graduated from Pink Room International) are using.

By "organic", I mean that no petrochemicals are used in the formulation of the product. Most soak off and traditional gel in the market uses petrochemicals, which will cause some clients' skin to peel/ become very dry especially if they suffer from sensitive skin condition or eczema.

An-Gel can be "soaked off" (literally, you soak your fingers in a solution called "acetone") and need not be "buffed off" (buffed off means using a rough file to patiently file down to remove the gel). Gels that need to be buffed off are "traditional gels". The BIGGEST (and most likely will happen) risk of buffing off by inexperienced manicurists is that your natural nail under the gel may be filed off as well (and in some very bad cases, will bleed.) Even experienced manicurists will end up thinning your natural nails. Soaking off is a MUCH gentler option. Only complaint is that the solution will dry the skin (easily remedied with hand creams/ cuticle oils).

Like all gel, An-Gel can also be used to make gradiated nails (think 1 or more nail colours blended seamlessly on your nail). Extensions are possible, but because it's a soak off, your extensions cannot be too long (likely to snap, cos soak off gels are softer than traditional hard gels). Clients prefer to use An-Gel as a overlay on their natural nails (meaning, apply it over like nail polish on natural nail).

Currently, An-Gel has a selection of gradiated colours (specially formulated for gradiated mix), pearl colours (also very beautiful for gradiated overlays), glitter colours and matt colors.

Choosing between acrylic and gel extensions

Who should do acrylic extensions:

People who are very rough with their nails (gel extensions will BREAK very easily), people who don't mind sitting for longer period to have the manicurist file their extensions, and people who likes to change their extension designs like oh, every few days?

Who should do gel extensions:

People who like SHINY finished product (i.e. shiny without much buffing like acrylic), people who takes REALLY good care of their extensions, people who are sensitive to the stink of monomer, and people who cannot sit still for their manicurist to file the extensions. BUT, most importantly, people who don't mind the SAME extension designs for a VERY long while (think 6 months and beyond).

Nail disorders

The manicurist is not a doctor, thus she will do/ not do your nails in the following conditions:

1) Beau's line (horizontal ridges)
- Possible causes:
* too much buffing (with white block esp) * illness
* health conditions (pregnant)
- Can still do mani/pedi, but manicurist will give u ridge fillers/ acrylic extensions

Blue nails (nails bluish at lunala)
- Possible causes:
* Lack of oxygen in blood stream (weak heart/ poor circulation)
- Mani proceed as normal, but with darker nail polish

Injured nails/ Bruised nails (dark purplish clots underneath nail plate)
- Possible causes:
* injury
- Can still do mani, but with darker colors

Eggshell nails (weak whitish nails, that curve downwards)
- Possible causes:
* Illness/ lack of nutrients
- Will do acrylic nails

Longitudinal furrows (vertical ridges across nails)
- Possible causes:
* cogenital, or illness such as psoriasis, arthritis
* can end up in onychorrhexis nails if not taken care of
- Use ridge fillers/ acrylic

Hang nail (cuticle split)
- Possible causes:
* Dryness
* Frequent soak/dry/soak in water
* May become paronychia nails if not taken care of
- Use paraffin soak to treat, but if it's bleeding, don't go for mani

Spoon nails (thin, soft, spoon shaped nails)
- Possible causes
* iron deficiency
- use acrylic

Lamella Dystrophy (flaking/peeling of nail layers)
- Possible causes:
* Chemical damage
* Too dry
- Will use hardener

Leukonychia (white lines/ spots underneath nail plate)
- Possible causes:
* Don't know....(maybe by injury)
- Manicure as per normal

Onychauxis (overthickening of nail plate)
- Possible causes:
* past trauma
* Fungal infection
- if it's a fungal infection (got smell, turns black...) we won't do the manicure

Onychocryptosis (ingrown nails)
- Possible causes:
* Tight shoes
* Incorrect shaping of nails
- If there is no infection, we will trim out the ingrown areas.

Onychophagy (nail biting)
- Possible causes:
* Ask the nail biters....
- Acrylic extensions

Onychorrhexis (vertical split in nails)
- Possible causes:
* End result of badly taken care furrows
- Acrylic

Paronychia (swelling and bleeding of flesh around nails)
- Possible causes:
* Poorly taken care of hang nails
* Fungal infection
- pls. see doctor

Pterygium overgrowth (excess cuticles)
- Possible causes:
* neglect and never go mani
- Trim out the dead skin