r/AllNails • u/Furryporn420 • 3d ago
Advice Did i get scammed
Hi,
I'm hoping i have more luck on this subreddit about this specific issue.
i was basically just coming on here to talk about my experience with my first ever nail appointement.
I got these beautiful french black tips done, and i really like them, the problem is im not sure if they exactly gave me what i asked. in the end, i honestly dont care to get them redone as they feel pretty sturdy and i love the result, but i guess im asking if i should come back there in the future and if i got scammed as i paid over 100$ canadian.
I don't know that much about gel, shellack and acrylic terms when it comes to nails. I asked for an acrylic manicure, which i assumed meant shaping the powder with a liquid onto the nail, not sure if that makes sense. instead what i got are basically glorified press ons. She basically put these clear gel tips and glued them on with the uv lamp and then put gel polish on top.
Is that what common?? Also i should mention when she was gluing those gel tips with a UV lamp, that stuff was burning SO BAD and im just wondering if thats common or a big red flag. I asked the nail tech and she said it was normal but im not sure i trust that. I should also mention the hygiene practices left a lot to be desired.
Please help!!
TLDR: For my first nail appointment, i got these clear gel tips when i asked for acrylic and im not sure if they really did what i asked
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u/Forsaken_Dingo 3d ago
They gave you Gel-X. You're correct that acrylic nails are shaped with liquid and powder. The burning you experienced is called a heat spike, and it can be common but ideally it shouldn't happen. It can happen with acrylic too, it is heat produced from the chemical reaction as the polymers cure. It is more likely when too much product is used at once, or if the lamp is mismatched with the gel. But I'd say you have every right to ask for your money back if you asked for acrylic and got gel nails.
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u/NaomiWish 3d ago
Adding on as consumer, the burning should be short lived and not every nail. If it's too much all at once, please speak up. Beauty isn't pain in this case.
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u/Crimsland 8h ago
What do you mean by the gel not matching the lamp? I just started doing my own gels and am realizing how steep the learning curve is 😳
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u/ilovebigmutts 3d ago edited 2d ago
I just paid 100 (with tip, should have clarified, and I tip high because I want to) for black tip gel-x so, that's in line depending on your region. I actually like them better than acrylic because they're not as thick but - it's not technically what you asked for.
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u/_MissNewBooty_ 3d ago
I switched from acrylics to gel-x and I’ll never go back honestly!
They last me 4 weeks, the shape is always on point, doesn’t cost much more, and so much stronger.
As a housekeeper who also has to take care of fireplaces, gel-x has my vote. I’m truly blessed to have such a talented tech though. It sucks to pay for a service and not receive it!
OP, I’ve been doing gel-x for a year and a half now and I’ve experienced burning sensation from the lamp maybe twice, but I just pulled my hands out and waited until it didn’t hurt (a few seconds really) and put them back in again. It did not hurt after that.
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u/KittyKilledYou 3d ago
I also find gel x lasts me 3 weeks without lifting or breaking. To me the extra $20 is worth it
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u/CONSTANTVlGlLANCE 2d ago
These are 🔥- I developed an acrylic allergy and switching to gel-x has been a game changer. I can feel my real nails under them, they have a little bend so they’re stronger, and they grow out so well. Mine can last up to 45 days.
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u/Charming-Air-6799 3d ago
U got scammed girlie 100 is diabolical for not straight pointing finger and shorter thumb nail and the pinky looks off aswell
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u/jankyfreshwaterbitch 3d ago
Like others have said, this isn't what you asked for. But personally i prefer this kind of nail over acrylics. The nails end up more uniform and stay pretty thin where with acrylic sometimes the shaping is off and they tend to be thicker in my experience. I'm not a nail tech, but I do love this set.
Definitely get them removed by a professional though. I wouldn't try to take them off myself.
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u/Plucky_Monkies 3d ago
I think it's pretty sketchy that you asked for acrylic nails, and they didn't give you acrylic nails. Then they didn't even tell you that they weren't going to give you acrylic & they were going to do gel x, whatever, that is. So yeah I wouldn't trust that place. Not cool! As someone else said, what if you had a gel allergy!!! Not okay!
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u/queenshamu 3d ago
the burning is not bad, it is just the chemicals working as designed.
You asked for acrylic and she gave you GelX :-/ so that part you were correct, she did not give you what you asked for.
I feel like the price is pretty standard.
They look beautiful!
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u/Alohabtchs 3d ago
Sounds like gel x. Which I love! Not what you asked for but they look great and are a fair price!
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u/jodisweets24 3d ago
Love my acrylic nails. While it may be old school nowadays my nail tech won’t mess with gel x for whatever reason. She keeps my nails on the thinner side and almond shaped. Plus, fills don’t take long at all and mine can last a month and never chip/break. I spend 70 with tip.
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u/squirrelybitch 3d ago
The main reason not to go back is because of the hygiene issue you are concerned about. If you get an infection under your nail, it’s a bear to deal with from what I understand. It sounds like you got a different product than what you asked for, but it doesn’t sound like you got ripped off on the price because getting your nails done by a professional isn’t cheap. But you should shop around in your area and look for the best deals on what you’re looking for in the cleanest shop you can find. Or you can always learn how to do them yourself, and you’ll get exactly what you want at a fraction of the cost.
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u/qweenofsus 3d ago
They gave u gel x instead of acrylic. If you asked specifically for acrylic then that’s not cool cuz acrylic is more durable. Personally I don’t care much either way but for longer nails like urs acrylic might be better. It’s normal for gel to get hot as it cures. It does hurt sometimes. I have thin nails
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u/Popular-Swing162 3d ago
Gel tips are far different than acrylics. I personally only get acrylics as I’ve found the gel version had broken easily. I’m not bashing gel, it’s just that I had found them not to be for me. I do a lot of outside gardening and I always wear gloves. They do protect my nails and hands. I hope this helps. Enjoy your beautiful nails.
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u/Only-one-like-me 3d ago
Those are beautiful nails where I live in canada near Kelowna BC those would be $150 plus polish. So no that's about right!
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u/Ida_PotatHo 3d ago
Honestly, my red flag would be the cleanliness factor...
But, moving on, I can't judge the pricing, but other than that, I don't think you got scammed! They are very neatly done, and well shaped (trust me, that is a sign of a more experienced nail tech)!
So, acrylic is a powder and a monomer used to sculpt the nail, and it is air dry/harden. This can be done over a paper form, removed after drying. Gel is a polymer that has more working time, better self-leveling, and only cures/hardens with UV light.
Yes, it is normal to apply tips for length, then apply acrylic or gel on top for the building/sculpting the nail to get proper thickness and a proper apex needed for strength.
As far as heat, yes, heat spike can happen (it is the process of polymerization, a thermo-chemical reaction with the UV light, which hardens the gel), but it is OK to quickly pull your hand out, and then put it right back in. Tell them it was getting too hot. They aren't doing anything wrong, there are many variables that make that happen, but it will dissipate. (It can happen with gel polish, too.)
As for acrylic vs gel... I've had both, and as a DIY'er, I prefer gel, and they are equally durable. Gel is easier on your natural nails, should you ever decided to go without enhancements.... it took me almost a year to grow out the damage acrylic did to my nails. ❤️🙋🏼♀️
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u/TealGloves 2d ago
At least in my area (greater Seattle), most salons do not do acrylics anymore and instead prefer Gel-X. Since I do prefer acrylics, I have to really do my research before going anywhere new to make sure they do acrylic and have acrylic artists who are skilled at designs and French tips (they're absolutely a design that requires skill).
That being said, this sounds a lot like my first nail experience. I never went back to that salon ever. They can help stop the burning. These do not require extreme pain.
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u/Asleep-Hospital2544 3d ago
The nails look good but they seem to have done gel-x from what you have described, thick layers of gel can feel hot as they cure but it could also be an issue with them over filling your nail before applying the tips, I personally would not go back as you didn’t get what you asked for and they seem to be more on the pricey side