FORMS vs. TIPS There is always this question amongst nail technicians. Is it better to use nail forms or tips? Which one lasts longer? Which one damages the nails?
The answer is not that simple. Choosing forms or tips shouldn't affect the health of the nails nore the longevity of the extensions. Both methods are good to master in the salon, because you can offer more customised techniques to your clients.
For example, if you have a client with wide thubnails and your biggest size tip would not fit, then you can pick up a nail form and sculpt on that nail.
Or, if you have a client with deep set nail, and their skin is pushing the form up, no matter how you're trying to customise it, then you can use tips on that person.
Lets look at tips and forms a little closer: • Tips: a piece of plastic
It has to be glued on the nail plate that’s how you create the extension, and acrylic or gel has to be applied on top of it. Yes, the client can feel a sharp feeling on their nail if the tip is not the right size for their natural nails and it can be uncomfortable. This is why using the right size is important, also to blend the tip to the same thicknes as the natural nail, so there's no visible gap (however, you can get away with not blending the tip if you are using acrylic).
It is also useful to make a note to yourself of your client's tip sizes, so when they visit your salon next time, you can pick the perfect size straight away. This helps with your speed too. • Form: a piece of special paper
It has to be placed under the natural nail's free edge, and then the extension is created with gel or acrylic, then the C-curve and apex can be sculpted. When the nail is done the form can be removed. This method is called sculpting.
I've been trained to do nails with tips but I personally don't use them that often. I love to work with forms, because that way I can control how the etensions will be built straight, or slightly tilted down or upwards. Basically you can control what shape you want to create (for example many different types of almond shapes exist now, and all of them requires a different form fitting: modern almond needs a straight form application, classic almond needs to be tilted downwards a little bit, etc.). With tips, you have a shape already created for you, but I found if you file an almond shape from a square tip, the side walls wont be straight, but curving under a bit, which is not a look that I would personally go for.
I believe in quality and beautiful nails and for me, that's the way to get the best results!
It's always good to learn more techniques, but at the end of the day, if you can use one method perfectly, stick to it, but know it inside out!
Let me know if you have more questions about tips and nail forms. :)