FAQ - Amy Lunde (formerly Anzlovar), Licensed Nail Technician

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Every time I have gotten my nails done, it hurt. Aren't they supposed to?

A. NO! When you receive a nail service, it is NOT supposed to hurt. If something hurts when you are getting your nails done, tell your technician immediately. (S)he should rectify the situation, not laugh it off.

Q. Acrylics destroy your nails, right?

A. They shouldn't. Wearers of MMA will very likely have destroyed nails when the MMA is removed, because of the harsh preparation of the natural nail needed to allow the MMA to adhere. EMA-based acrylic does not need deep etching to adhere to the natural nail. Your nails may be quite flexible when EMA is removed, due to increased moisture content, but this should clear up in a day or two.

Q. Why are you so expensive?

A. I'm not. I am in the average range for pricing when compared to other sanitary, EMA-using, licensed nail technicians. I am not counting discount salons in my comparison, as they are not my competition. They are significantly lower in price for reasons discussed on my MMA and Sanitation pages.

Q. What is a Pink and White Backfill?

A. When you have pink and white enhancements, every other appointment (usually) you should get a backfill. When your nails grow out, there will be an area to fill in the back, by the cuticle, just like on any other enhancements. However, on pink and white enhancements, there will also be noticeable growth where the white acrylic is laid. A backfill fills in both the pink area by the cuticle, and the white area at the free-edge of your nail. The picture on the left shows the two areas that are filled in during a backfill. The area of growth at the free edge is very noticeable. The picture to the right is an example of the completed backfill look.

Q. Do you do Solar Nails?

A. Well, let me define Solar Nails first by what they ACTUALLY are. SolarNail is a liquid and powder (acrylic monomer and polymer) product by Creative Nail Design (CND). It is actually fairly old, and CND has come out with many more advanced products since then. In this definition, NO, I do NOT do Solar Nails. In recent years, many discount salons have taken the term "Solar Nails" to mean simply "Pink and Whites". In this definition, yes, I do "Solar Nails", they just shouldn't be called that. They should be called "Pink and Whites" or "Permanent French" or some other, less confusing moniker. .

Q. I thought you did gels?

A. I did. I no longer do gels. I personally specialize in acrylic nail enhancements, and I like to hone my craft to perfection in one area. I did not like the way gels held up on my clients, and prefer to have clients that are happy with their results.

Important note to those who think they have gels currently: You may or may not actually have gel enhancements. MANY discount salons in the Denver area (and around the country from what I have heard from fellow nail technicians) are doing regular liquid and powder enhancements, applying a gel TOP COAT, and then stating that they are gels! DO NOT BE FOOLED! MOST gels are a product that has a honey-like consistency, applied to the nails and then cured under an ultraviolet light between applications. They also should be odorless. If the person doing your nails dips their brush in a liquid, and then a powder, applies this to your nails and it hardens naturally, more likely than not they are NOT DOING GELS.