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What is a stencil?
It's a paper or plastic form that's placed under the edge of the nail to serve as a guide for extending the nail.
It allows you to follow the natural shape of the nail, unlike nail tips which are pre-formed and do not always correspond to the shape of the natural nail (too flat, too domed, too curved, etc.).
I always prefer using nail forms because they suit all nail shapes.
What is a capsule?
It is a pre-formed plastic or gel nail that is glued to the end of the natural nail to lengthen it before covering it with gel or resin.
In the case of American (or gel-x) nail extensions, the capsule completely covers the nail; it is thicker, so no resin or gel is added on top, but just semi-permanent varnish.
What is the American pose?
Also called Gel-x,
It is a full capsule that is glued onto the nail using a gel base similar to semi-permanent bases but thicker .
It's best reserved for temporary applications, even though it lasts 3 weeks.
It can be removed with acetone, just like semi-permanent makeup.
This type of application does not refill; it is not a false nail application.
If your nail base is short and you want a lot of length, you should avoid this method.
Gel or resin?
They are both equally good.
Some people tolerate one style of dress better than the other.
We cannot know in advance
The resin can be removed with acetone.
The gel can be removed by filing.
Neither one is more damaging than the other, as the nail preparation is the same.
I prepare the nails with a file to avoid removing too much material from the natural nail.
Filling
Gel or acrylic nail refills should ideally be done every 3 weeks, but up to 4 weeks if regrowth is slow.
The risk of waiting longer is that the installation will become more fragile and breakage or detachment will occur more quickly during the next filling .
What is TPO?
It's a photoinitiator, a product used to catalyze gel or semi-permanent nail polish.
It has been banned in the EU since 01/09/25 based on tests that did not correspond at all to its use in nail salons.
massive doses administered orally to male rats ended up making them sterile, hence the ban for us.
BUT....
Dentists still have the right to use them in your mouth.
Contrary to what has been said in the media, TPO is neither carcinogenic nor cancerous.
That was never even considered.
(It's the old habit of thinking: it's forbidden, therefore it's carcinogenic).
The dose administered to the rats corresponds to the ingestion of 50 jars of 50g gel, it is absolutely ENORMOUS.
The advantage of TPO is that it provides good catalysis of the products to avoid the risk of allergies.
It is only prohibited in the European Union; everywhere else in the world it is ok to use it.
Knowing that the dose of TPO in a nail product is 1 to 3% maximum 5%.
Obviously we have no choice so we comply with the rule even though, like many EU directives, it is more than absurd and unjustified.
I bite my nails
In the case of bitten nails, it is perfectly possible to apply nails
In this case I recommend resin
harder and easier to sculpt on a very short base
Furthermore, since bitten nails are more sensitive, the discomfort of gel heating up in the lamp is avoided because the resin air-dries.
If the base is very short, we won't make it too long at the start to avoid delamination.
Why doesn't it stay on me?
If the nails are too soft, the semi-permanent polish may peel off.
It is a flexible product; bending the nail can cause it to pop off.
In this case, the natural nail needs to be stiffened with a harder base and the problem disappears.
There are other causes such as drug treatments , hormonal imbalances, pregnancy, intense stress or depression, intense fatigue or after anesthesia, some dietary supplements for skin hydration could have effects on adhesion but I have never encountered this particular case.
Some dietary supplements may potentially affect adhesion, especially those with a hydrating purpose or containing oils and omegas.
I have never seen this particular case, but it exists.
These factors can affect the adhesion of the product to the nail, whether it is semi-permanent, gel, or resin.
This varies depending on the person and their nail type; some will have no problem even if they are in one of the situations mentioned.
Nails and pregnancy or drug treatments
If you want false nails and you are pregnant, you should know that hormones can disrupt the hold.
Similarly, taking certain medications that affect hormones can disrupt the adhesion of nail extensions.
This varies from person to person.
from one treatment to another,
We cannot know that in advance.
Taking antidepressants or antibiotics can also play a role, as can the after-effects of general anesthesia.
As for semi-permanent makeup, there is no problem with it lasting during pregnancy or treatment, but in some cases it remains a possibility.
Regarding the risks of products during pregnancy
My products comply with CE standards.
Some will say there is no risk, others will forbid all nail polish during pregnancy
It is up to you to assess the risk-benefit ratio with your doctor.
How to remove semi-permanent nail polish yourself
You will need aluminum foil, cotton wool, and pure acetone.
Then apply oil to rehydrate the nail.
Cut strips of aluminum foil 15 cm wide, then cut them into three pieces; prepare as many pieces as there are nails to be removed.
Use a file to roughen the surface of the semi-permanent nail polish.
Then make little foil packets with a cotton ball soaked in acetone on each finger to be applied.
(as in the photo in my semi-permanent section)
Leave on for 10 minutes
The varnish will then begin to chip and peel off; you can help it along with a small boxwood stick.
If not everything has come out, put the foil packet back on.
Once the product is removed, moisturize with the oil by gently massaging the nail.
Are semi-permanent UV lamps risky?
Some studies tend to try to prove that exposure to UV lamps is harmful...
When we delve deeper into the study, we see that this is more relevant to people with very fair skin who use semi-permanent makeup year-round.
The frequency is not specified.
It should also be noted that these products and materials are intended for professionals and that the fact that the DIY trend encourages people to acquire equipment and use it without training can lead to problems (just like hair products) .
Other studies say the complete opposite,
We switched from UV lamps to LEDs.
For your information, a nail lamp uses between 36 and 56 watts, while tanning salon lamps use a minimum of 4500 watts.
Using LED lamps, which have a shorter curing time, limits the exposure time to 5 to 6 minutes for a semi-permanent polish application.
10 to 15 for a UV gel application
If you have fair skin and these studies worry you, they recommend applying sunscreen 20 minutes before the appointment.
It is entirely possible to do it
But I doubt everyone puts cream on their hands before going out on a sunny day, and it's even worse because the UV dose is much higher.
As usual, we are victims of a witch hunt.
Personally, I get my information from Douglas Schoon, a scientist who works for the American brand Creative and who regularly provides information on the risks and proper use of nail products.
Here is the translation of an article by D Schoon dating from May 2015
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