Tammy Taylor's Top 40 Questions and Answers

A-1 No. By applying primer (sparingly) this will kill any bacteria and dry the natural oils on the nail plate. Adding an antiseptic after you etch can cause lifting.

Q-2 What is A-Coat?

A-2 Liquid plastic, ultra violet ray inhibitor, protects product from yellowing. Do not use as a base coat or top coat, use on back of free-edge to keep nail cleaner & stronger/ apply over airbrushing- stops yellowing & chipping. Makes the nails look shiny & natural.

Q-3 How do I remove A-Coat?

A-3 Buff off with file for removing A-Coat quickly. You can also remove A-Coat with our Tammy Taylor’s Peach Polish Remover (acetone base), but this will take a little more time. Time is $$.

Q-4 Can I use nail polish with A-Coat?

A-4 No

Q-5 The bristles on my brush seem very dry. Is there any kind of conditioner I can use on it?

A-5 Brush Cleaner (it has conditioners in it to eliminate dry bristles). Do not use any other brush cleaner, it will yellow Tammy Taylor’s Acrylic.

Q-6 Even though I clean my brush, it still seems to clump with product after I do a few nails. Why?

A-6 You may have contaminated liquid, using too much liquid, or a dirty paper towel that you are cleaning your brush on.

Q-7 Can I use any sculptured nail brush or should I use the Tammy Taylor custom brush for best results?

A-7 The Tammy Taylor brush is designed for Tammy Taylor sculptured nail system. A flat ferrule (silver) that makes it easy to pat & shape the free-edge & long bristles to hold enough liquid & make it easy to stroke.

Q-8 After a while the tips of my clients nails aren’t as white as they were when I first applied the set. How can I keep them white?

A-8 a) Use A-Coat underneath & over the top & do not use color polish. b) When they start growing out, using Tammy Taylor’s drill or 100 grit file, file down the area where the pink has grown onto the free-edge & reapply white product on the free-edge. (If your clients natural nail discolors easily, Thymolize applied under the free-edge daily helps keep it clean.)

Q-9 I painted my clients nails with a light colored polish and the nails have yellowed, what causes this?

A-9 Light colored polishes need more nitrocellulose (this makes the polish shiny & smooth). so it has a smooth consistency & the more nitrocellulose the quicker it turns yellow. (The shinier a top coat, the more nitrocellulose yellowing). Use Z-Coat non yellowing top coat on

Q-10 What causes my nails to yellow when I’m applying product?

A-10 Contaminated liquid, not removing the polish. Note: after cleaning brush in brush cleaner; dip it into liquid & wipe it off, then proceed with your nails.

Q-11 What kind of brush should I use to dust the nails after I have etched?

A-11 A plastic manicuring brush with firm plastic bristles. (Natural bristles-like a make-up brush- have oil in them and will contaminate the nail).

Q-12 What is the best kind of file to use for etching?

A-12 100 grit Tammy Taylor etching, disinfectable mud file with a hard plastic back (protects your nails) to give more control & foam center cushion to help to not cut client.

Q-13 How can I tell if I have etched correctly?

A-13 No shiny spots; white and chalky looking.

Q-14 What is the best shape for a nail?

A-14 Square-Oval. Best looking and strongest style. Filing straight out from nail groove adds a lot of strength to stress area.

Q-15 What is the worst shape for a nail?

A-15 Round-Oval or pointed. Because these are very weak and break easily, any filing that is not straight out from nail groove, like ovaling or pointed, causes weakening at the stress line.

Q-16 How can I put a form on someone with no free-edge (nail biter)?

A-16 Make a free-edge with, the pink product on the skin and then put the form on next to the artificial free-edge. Recommend nail biters to purchase Thymolize to help protect from fungus. Helps to prevent bacteria growth underneath free-edge.

Q-17 After I do a fill it seems like the product becomes gummy. Am I doing something wrong?

A-17 a) The product becomes gummy when you remove the polish with a non-acetone remover. Use Tammy Taylor’s Peach (acetone base) Remover for the best results. b) Product becomes gummy when contaminated liquid is used.

Q-18 What is the shelf life of liquid?

A-18 1 year, as long as not contaminated, and has been kept out of direct sunlight. Recommend cool dark dry place (closet). Keep all products out of reach from children.

Q-l9 If my client is taking medication, will it have any effect on her nails?

A-19 Yes and maybe. Can cause yellowing, brittleness and lifting. These clients will need a new set of nails more often.

Q-20 What is the best thing to use on mold?

A-20 Tammy Taylor “Fresh Nail”.

Q-21 Is there any way to get rid of the stain left on the nail by mold?

A-21 Fresh nail will lighten the stain but nothing will get rid of it, until it grows out.

Q-22 What is the difference between mold and fungus?

A-22 Mold is green to brown in color and on top of the natural nail and underneath the acrylic nail. Fungus is white to light gray and looks like the free-edge is getting longer, but in the opposite direction. The natural nail is lifting off of the nail bed. It is underneath the natural nail where the hyponychium joins to the free-edge. Do not touch fungus, it is contagious.

Q-23 How should I handle something that looks like and may be fungus?

A-23 You should not touch the fungus, it is contagious! Use Tammy Taylor Thymolize 3 to 5 times daily for 2 weeks or more, around cuticle and under the free-edge. Using Thymolize daily can prevent fungus. Be sure not to touch the nozzle of the bottle to the finger. Drop it into the area needed.

Q-24 How serious should fungus get before I tell my client to see a doctor for treatment?

A-24 After 2 weeks of Thymolize and the nail plate has not started to reattach to the nail bed, ask your client to see a doctor and soak off her acrylic nails. Do not recommend anyone-the client should go to her own physician. Make sure you have the client sign a document that states you suggested this.

Q-25 Do acrylic nails harm the natural nail?

A-25 Yes and no. Yes, because chemicals can damage (polish, remover, etc...) But not just acrylic. 99% of the damage is caused by not applying acrylics properly. Application up-keep and removal.

Q-26 What do I do when the pink on my clients nails start to grow out?

A-26 File pink and white and reapply white, file with your 100 grit mud file or use our Tammy Taylor Drill (the area where the pink has grown out on the free-edge) very thin and then reapply white product.

Q-27 My powder has clumps in it, should I still use it?

A-27 Yes and no. Do not use it while it is hard (clumps) but if you pour it into a clean dry plastic bag and smash it really good, pour it back into your jar and use it, it should be ok. If it has a brownish or yellowish cast on top, remove this first with a spoon.

Q-28 Is there any difference between the powders besides the color?

A-28 No. Any of the Tammy Taylor powders, you can mix and use with each other.

Q-29 What is the shelf life of powder?

A-29 1 year as long as not contaminated. After a long period of storage, open lid and check for a brownish or yellowish color cast. Remove with a spoon, then check color again and try a few balls on your practice sheet for consistency.

Q-30 I’m just starting out and I don’t know what to set my prices at. How much should I charge?

A-30 Charge what you would be willing to pay yourself for a full set ,fill, etc... Gear pricing to your area and clientele.

Q-31 I’ve had a few clients that have had inflamed, red, itchy cuticles, (when I apply the product), Do they have an allergy to the product?

A-31 No. It is not called an allergy, it is a chemical reaction to primer, so be very careful and use very sparingly. When you get primer on the skin, if the client is sensitive, the cuticles can get red, itchy, and inflamed. Flush the affected area with cold water for 15 minutes or until the burning stops. Then you must re-prepare the nail.

Q-32 My primer was delivered to my salon and it was frozen. Will this have any effect on the nails?

A-32 No. but you must thaw first. Thaw by holding bottle with the lid on in your hands. Do ‘tot take off lid while frozen or your primer brush bristles will fail out. DO NOT MICROWAVE!!!

Q-33 I’ve heard that primer isn’t good for the natural nail. Is it necessary to prime twice?

A-33 Yes, it is necessary to prime twice for the sculptured nails to adhere properly. A sculptured nail that pops off (lifts) will take layers of the natural nail with it, which causes much more damage that 2 coats of primer. Etch and prime properly for minimal lifting.

Q-34 I spilled my bottle of primer on myself, What can I (do) use to stop the burning?

A-34 Remove clothes from affected area. Flush area with cold water for 15 minutes or until burning stops completely. Put on different clothes and buy and “primer holder”.

Q-35 Do I apply the product (acrylic) the same on a fill as I would on a full set?

A-35 Yes and no. Yes, do the steps exactly the same, etch, dust, prime, file, etc... But use only the #3 and #4 balls when applying the product to the nail.

Q-36 How often should my client get a new set?

A-36 Every 3 to 6 months your client will need to soak off her old nails with pure acetone and then have a brand new set applied, because, product will get old after a few months of wear and tear. They get brittle, yellow and start lifting.

Q-37 Should I give my client a manicure before I apply her full set of sculptured nails?

A-37 No manicures before, because cuticles may be sensitive and the forms won’t stick. But you can do a manicure afterwards. Do a fill one week and a manicure the next week.

Q-38 My work area isn’t very large and the other girls can’t tolerate the smell. What can I do to eliminate this problem?

A-38 Odor can be controlled by (a) use a small dish with enough liquid to do 3-5 nails. (b) use a clean paper towel for every client and throw it away immediately after applying acrylic nails. (c) throw away all used paper towels and old liquid into a sealed container and empty every night before you leave work. Using an air purifier helps with perm and nail smells too.

Q-39 Does the temperature affect the way the product goes on?

A-39 When the liquid is cold use less liquid. When it is hot use more liquid because it dries much quicker. You should keep your liquid adjusted to room temperature for best results.

Q-40 After I put a nail on my client, she says her finger is getting hot. What can I do to stop the burning?

A-40 Yes, apply the product thinner and a little bit slower so the heat of the chemicals getting hard won’t heat up the nail bed.