Cuticle Area Lifting - WHY? - and 1/32" of an inch

• When the "natural fingernail" was "Etched", the cuticle skin was also shoved back!
• The fresh fingernail that is now exposed, where the cuticle skin was, is still moist because it has not yet been exposed to the air.  (Note: It will take a day or two for this area of the fingernail to dry and become a firm fingernail.)
• Acrylic will not adhere (stick) to this moist area of the fingernail, even though this area of the fingernail was Etched properly.
• Also note "too thick": Do Not leave the acrylic too thick, at the edge, near the cuticle area.  When the acrylic is too thick around the edge, the acrylic will not flex and will lift.  On Step 9, when filing the Cuticle & Contour area: File acrylic smooth to the natural fingernail, leaving a little "road" between the cuticle skin and the acrylic.  Best file for Cuticle area: Long-Lasting Zebra 180-grit.
• Solution: Do not place the acrylic on this moist area of the fingernail.  Stay away from the cuticle skin at least 1/32 of an inch (about the thickness of 2-3 business cards.
   
• Please take note that on Tammy's "12 Step for Sculptured Nails Application", on Step 8, Ball #3, the words are "Stroke & STAY AWAY from CUTICLE 1/32 of an inch".  And whenever Tammy does a presentation, she always stresses staying away from the cuticle skin with the acrylic.
• Also printed on Tammy's "Practice Sheet", on the picture showing the #3 Ball, item "b.":
  b. apply like nail polish leaving 1/32” space around cuticle.  Again the 1/32" inch spacing is indicated.
• Also see notes on the Pterygium Stone on this page, for more about lifting.
• And see Problem Nails One, in Nail FAQ's by Topic.
   

• Note for comparisons, about "Staying away from the Cuticle": This is critical; at least 1/32 of an inch (0.8 mm, almost 1 mm), about the thickness of 3 business cards, or the thickness of a man’s thumbnail. 

• Note to keep in mind: Please remember that the fingernail plate that was exposed when the fingernail was etched is moist (new) fingernail, and this moist area of this newly exposed fingernail needs to be exposed for at least 2-3 days before it will be dry enough to apply an acrylic nail.  When the Client comes back for a fill; the previously exposed nail is now dry & ready for acrylic; but the newly exposed fingernail that was just etched for the fill, again needs 2-3 days to dry out.

• Summation: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS stay away from the Cuticle Skin 1/32 (0.03125) of an inch or 1 mm, or the thickness of 2-3 business cards.

Lifting & Cuticle notes 1: Product too close to cuticle (acrylic must stay away from cuticle skin at least 1/32" of an inch)  (1/32" of an inch is about the thickness of 2-3 business cards).

Lifting & Cuticle notes 2: Product too thick at cuticle - You must not be able to feel a bump at the cuticle area with your own fingernail.  When the acrylic product is too thick near the cuticle skin; the acrylic will not be flexible and will not bend as the natural fingernail bends.  When the acrylic will not bend or flex, it will have a tendency to lift.
 

When applying acrylic nails, the Technician applying the acrylic MUST Stay Away from the Cuticle Skin, at least 1/32" of an inch (about the thickness of 2-3 business cards).

---

Pterygium Stone

	* Improper Etching.  If the natural nail is not properly etched, the acrylic cannot adhere to the nail.  This causes 75% of all lifting.  The 100-grit Purple Terminator file is the best for etching.  Etch only the way the nail grows – from the cuticle to the free-edge, until there is no shine on the nail-plate.  Etching will create little "hills and valleys" in the natural nail, which the product will flow into.  Acrylic cannot stick to skin, so to further ensure no lifting, use the Pterygium Stone to push back excess cuticle & skin that has grown onto the nail-plate.
Pterygium Stone
Cleaning: Scrub the Pterygium Stone with your plastic manicure brush and Peach Anti-Bacterial Soft Soak.  Then submerge in your First Choice solution or spray the Stone with Disinfect-Disinfect-Disinfect.   Replacing: When the Pterygium Stone finally gets dull & smooth, it would be a good time to replace with a new one.           Eliminate Lifting: Eliminate 99.9% of lifting caused by excessive cuticle on nail-plate by using the Pterygium Stone. This stone removes cuticle even in hard to get areas around the cuticle grove.  No more deformities of the natural nail caused by sharp edged cuticle pushers.   Making the Pterygium Stone last & "Breaking" the Stone: If the Pterygium Stone is dropped on a hard surface, it will probably break in two.  The Stone is still good, but it will be a little shorter.  Actually, you will now have two Pterygium Stones. Note on "Replacing": If you break off a little of the tip area, you can have a fresh "like new" Pterygium Stone.

 

---

Cuticle Skin Clipping! or Cutting!  Whoops...

Do not cut the "cuticle skin" unless it is standing up, and waving at you!  Tammy never recommends cutting the cuticle skin, when it does not need to be cut!

---

Soak off bags: Tammy Taylor Nails no longer handles soak off bags. 
   Reason: Some leaked.
   Solution: You may want to try a name brand "heavy duty" plastic storage bag.  For plastic bag information you may want to contact your local janitorial supply store, or a plastic bag manufacture, for recommendations on a proper plastic bag that can withstand acetone.

Note: The “Ziploc” brand of freezer bags seem to be the strongest, and they are available in most Food Markets.  The “gallon” size seems to be the best size.