Tammy Taylor's Guide to Learn How To
Apply A Full Set Of Sculptured Nails In Under 1 Hour

Otherwise Known As Her 12 Step System

Dip your brush into liquid, all the way to base of brush. If you want a small ball, drain more liquid from your brush: If you want a large ball, drain less liquid (To drain, WIPE one side of the brush away from you, then drag tip of brush toward you across powder until you see the right size ball. DRAG brush lightly for smaller balls; drag deeper for larger balls.

1. SANITIZE - Tammy Taylor Sanitize is available in 5 fragrances:  Giorgio^TM, Peach, Coconut, Vanilla and Gardenia.  Start every procedure by sanitizing your hands first; then your clients.

2. REMOVE POLISH - Tammy Taylor's Acetone Polish Remover, with conditioners, is available in 4 fragrances:  Peach, Coconut, Vanilla and Gardenia.  Note:  Non-Acetone Polish remover’s can leave acrylic nails yellow and gummy, and are very messy.

3. ETCH - Tammy Taylor's 100 grit Purple Terminator file is the best for etching. NOTE: proper etching will eliminate 75% of lifting issues. Remember, etch only the way the nail grows, from the cuticle to the free edge of the nail, until there is no shine left on the nail. Etching creates little hills and valley's on top of the nail plate, which helps the acrylic 'stick' to the nail plate.

   1.  To further help with lifting, use Tammy Taylor's Pterygium Stone to push back excess cuticle and skin that has grown onto the nail plate.

4. DUST - Remove the particles from the nail plate with a plastic nail brush It is necessary to brush from the cuticle to the free edge, until the nail plate is clean. This also helps eliminate lifting. NOTE: a cosmetic brush can spread germs since it can not be properly disinfected.

5. PRIME - Apply Tammy Taylor's Primer to all 10 nails and let them dry. This will dry out the oils and kill the germs on the nail plate.  NOTE: Tammy's Primer is a Methacrylic acid. A half ounce bottle can primer 1000 nails so a very small amount is needed.  Always keep the primer in a Tammy Taylor Primer Holder.

6. APPLY NAIL FORMS - Tammy's nail forms are available in three different nail bed shapes: Oval, Square and Original. There is also two different designs: Competitive Edge and Custom.

   1. Custom Forms are traditional forms like most other companies. They are good for all-around use. The proper form will help eliminate breaking and cracking of the acrylic. Most nail technicians starting out have plenty of time and use this form type.

   2. Competitive Edge Nails Forms are double thick and don’t crease, for that perfect C-Curve every time, even if you forget to pinch. Their shape makes for an easy perfect fit & does not wobble after applied to finger. The “Competitive Edge” nail form produces stronger nails with an automatic C-Curve, to provide strength, even if you make the acrylic thin. The forms are  perforated for easy separation at the base, for wide fingers & big knuckles, like thumbs, which saves time. Most experienced nail technicians use this type of form as it will knock at least 5 - 10 minutes off a fill or full set.

   From the below picture, you can see the different nail shapes. Pick the form that works the best for the nail.

• Gold forms (Regular) are for regular nails.

• White forms (Oval) are for a narrow natural nail or a nail with a high hyponychium.

• Black forms (Square) are for flat natural nail plates or for a severe C-Curve.

Shown below is proper form application.

7. RE-PRIME - Apply a 2nd coat of primer, to one nail at a time, just before you apply acrylic to that nail. NOTE: if a 2nd coat of primer dries, a 3rd can be applied. Be very careful to only use a tiny amount. Applying acrylic when the nail plate is still wet with primer will help with lifting.

8. APPLY PRODUCT - Product is applied in 4 balls. You 'Pat the White' and 'Stroke the Pink' for all four balls. Make sure the container that holds Tammy's liquid monomer is in a clean container like her Dappen Dish. You should only have enough liquid  in the Dappen Dish for one service. At the end of each day, clean the Dappen Dish and your brush and let air dry overnight.

To further help with product consistency, get Tammy Taylor's Faster Nails with Product Consistency video.

• Ball 1 - This is the largest ball. Place the ball on the nail form, lift your brush and let the product flow. Count 1, 2, 3 and then Pat, Pat, Pat the ball from one side to the other and line up both sides along the nail groove. Make your happy face and then even out the tip. Click here to see a picture of this.

• Ball 2 - Place the 2nd ball halfway down the nail plate. Place the ball and lift your brush and let flow. Count 1, 2, 3. Then stroke it side to side, to center. Click here to see a picture of this.

• Ball 3 - Ball 3 is a small, wet ball and you place it 1/32" from the cuticle. Place the ball, lift your brush and let the product flow. Count 1, 2, 3. Then stroke the ball from side to side to center. Click here to see a picture of this.

• Ball 4 - Ball 4 is to be placed between the 2nd and 3rd balls on the nail plate to help reinforce the stress area and to build up that part of the nail. Remember, place the ball, then lift your brush and let the product flow. Count 1, 2, 3. Then stroke the ball from side to side to center. Click here to see a picture of this.

• After the acrylic is applied, gently pinch the sides of the acrylic to get a C-Curve. For a more dramatic C-Curve, apply more pressure. Click here to see a picture of this.

9.  FILE - File the new acrylic nail in 5 steps, using Tammy Taylor's exclusive 'Horseshow Pattern', which gives that perfect contour. Tammy has many different files to choose from but Tammy's favorite is the 100 grit Purple Terminator file and then the 180 grit Zebra file.

   1. Left side of the nail. Click here to see a picture of this.

   2. Right side of the nail. Click here to see a picture of this.

   3. Nail Tip (free edge). Click here to see a picture of this.

   4. Cuticle and Contour. Click here to see a picture of this.

   5. Client's Angle. Click here to see a picture of this.

10.  BUFF - Apply a drop of Tammy Taylor's Cuticle Oil (available in 8 different scents) to the nail and cuticle. Then buff the nail with Tammy's Clean and Finish File or the Clean and Finish Buffer to smooth the nail and remove any scratches. Shine the nail up with the Super Soft Shiner.

11. WASH - Take your client to the restroom and you both wash your hands to remove all dust and other particles.

12. PROTECT - Apply Tammy Taylor's A-Coat to keep the nails Pink & White and then Z-Coat to protect the A-Coat from various cosmetic oils, soaps and sunscreens. If you are going to use color, apply Z-Coat over polish.

13. BOOK - Before your client leaves, make a follow up appointment for your client in 2 weeks.