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TIPS OF THE WEEK 
by Vicki Peters
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TIP OF THE WEEK #6 by Vicki Peters

DISCLAIMER
Any products mentioned in the "Tip Of The Week by Vicki Peters" is not an 
endorsement of any kind.

With the recent post by Nicole NIH68 asking for help refining her nails I 
thought this would make a good tip of the week. After writing last week's tip 
on filing systems this is the perfect follow up.
Below you will find an out line for checking your nails 5 ways. It will help 
you see things you normally don't see by dividing sections of the nails a bit 
more to identify your year areas. Another thing is that we do not do enough 
finish work and the finish work is not the filing at the end, it is finishing 
each step well as you go which will give you a better finish to all your 
nails. Graduating your files and using each file by not missing one single 
spot on each nail a you use it before graduating your grit to the next step 
will also help. This takes practice and again if you ever venture into the 
competition arena you will learn these techniques and get a good critique 
from the judges pointing out where you need work. Nail competition is not 
always about the trophy it is about the learning experience and seeing work 
at a higher level for your self so you know what you want to eventually 
achieve in your salon nails. 

CHECK YOUR NAILS FIVE WAYS:
TOP VIEW
1. Check the overall consistency so nails match as you look down on them.
2. Check the tip shape consistency - are they all the same shape? Remember to 
file a guideline in all the nails for a more consistent shape.
3. Measure the nails for a consistent length. Thumbs and pinkies should be 
in porportion and the same length, the index, middle and ring fingers should 
be the same length as each other. View from the top down as you would look 
at them as you work on them. Do not hold the hand up with nails pointing to 
the ceiling with the palm facing the client or turned around so the palm is 
facing you. It will mess you up. Trust me. No all nails are on the fingers 
in the same place. Measure from the cuticle to the tip by placing both ring 
fingers together then the ring against the middle and index, then compare 
nails on each hand. 

LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE VIEWS
1. Look for straight edges from nail grooves / side walls. Turn the nail 
sideways as you look at both sides of the nails. Make sure the underside of 
the tip extension is straight out, even and smooth. 
2. Are the sides even? Does one side drop more than the other because the tip 
was placed on the nail crooked or the form did not fit properly? There is 
not much you can do once your at this stage. The nails will probably break 
anyway so when you replace it make sure your straight.
3. Does the sides have a finished quality about them? Ask yourself could you 
file the edges more? Maybe a shot with a 3 way on the edges will finish them 
enough.
4. Is the arch located over the stress area on all ten nails. Turn them 
sideways and look at the whole hand and compare. The arch should be the high 
point on the top of the nail and should be centered.
5. Is the tip product too heavy?
6. Is there too much product at the cuticle area making the high point too 
close tot he cuticle?


DOWN THE BARREL OF THE NAIL
1. Look at the quality of the c-curve.
2. Is the convex and concave even with each other. What this means is does 
the top surface of the c-curve match the bottom or underside of the c-curve?
3. Are there too many flat spots on the top of the tip's edge as you look 
down the barrel.
4. Is the tip too thick or too thin? Do they have the same thickness from 
nail to nail?
5. Did the form fit tightly underneath the natural free edge or does it have 
a thickness to it so when it grows out you will have a big ledge? 
6. Is there glue reside underneath the tip where you applied too much and it 
squished out under the nails? (I like to use a thin brush on glue and this 
eliminates that).

FROM THE CLIENT'S PERSPECTIVE
1. Turn the client's hand around and view the top surface of the nails. This 
view will show you flat spots that the client can see from her perspective 
and you cannot see while working on her.
2. Are there any flat spots, dips and bumps on the top surface of the nails?

Vicki Peters 
"When you stop learning your career ends and your job begins"
Visit my new web site: http://vickipeters.com 

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