My latest Video tutorial

Ahhh finally after what feels like forever I'v got my 3rd Video Tutorial edited and ready to upload. Talk about stressful!! Technology is Evil but I'm feeling kinda chuffed with myself for sticking at it and figuring out ways around Apps crashing, files unable to open in certain formats, limited storage, lack of knowledge and no professional equipment. Thank you so much to eveyone that's put up with me picking their brains this week including my lovely clients. 

It's too late to start a "YouTube" upload  now and I'm shattered so signing off for the night and I will post it first thing in the morning. 

Lots of love 

Kolaine xxx 

Permanent Hair removal - Gone forever

Hi everyone 

Today's Blog is all about permanent methods of hair removal

I'm sure most of you reading this have tried one method of hair removal or another at some point in your life and been frustrated at the persistent regrowth. Whether its hair removal from the legs, bikini or face. waxing, plucking and threading are great hair maintenance methods but the effects are only temporary.

So what next.....

I personally love Electrolysis I've seen it transform peoples lives helping build confidence where for so long they've had none, Iv specialized in Electrolysis since June 2008 when i entered the Sterex Electrology Student of the year competition. To enter i had to build a case study and gain minutes in treatment before sending my Video application off to demonstrate my knowledge and practical technique. I'm so pleased i put in the extra hours at college because it really helped build my confidence and got me ready to work in the industry. I've seen how amazing the results are first hand and would highly recommend anyone who wants to get rid of unwanted hair to try it. One thing i will say is make sure you do your research and pick a repeatable salon/electrologist that specializes specifically in hair removal. lots of students qualify after college with little experience and the last thing you want is to go for your first consultation and leave feeling disappointed. Electrolysis is NOT a 1 treatment wonder. But if you are persistent and have realistic expectations i can guarantee you will get the permanent results you want. 

If your wondering how i got on in the competition I got through to the finals and won my own Electrolysis Machine. 

Laser or Electrolysis 

I've had lots of clients asking me how IPL/laser work and if it's actually worth it. But as it's not something I'm qualified in Iv not really been able to give them any advice. I decided to do some research and came across some awesome information on the Sterex website. So if your thinking of having any kind of permanent hair removal then I hope this link helps 

http://www.sterex.com/what-is-electrolysis

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog it would be great to hear your thoughts on this

Kolaine xxx

Day time make-up tutorial

Disgraceful Acrylic Nails

Hey I hope you enjoyed my last blog. I've spent the past 5 days learning how to use google+, Blogger, iMovie and generally learning how to create interesting content. There are so many things I can't wait to blog about but I'm going to base today's blog on a topic I feel needs to be addressed. 

E-files 

In 2008 I trained as an Acrylic nail technician. If you have read my last blog you will understand how passionate I am about the nail industry and training to become a certified technician was something I couldn't wait to do.

Training

I studied in Brighton for 3 days in total; first learning the theory and science behind Acrylic nails, then practicing tip and sculptured application. I then had a two week gap to build case studies before I could return to demonstrate my competency on day 3 in product application. 

"I passed"

During my training we were shown how to 

• Prepare the nail plate 

• Apply the product

• File and shape

• Rebalance

• Infill  

All of which were done using different grade hand files, never an Electric file/drill. 

Treatment time to begin was 4 hours and over time with lots of practice this was reduced to 1hr 30 minutes which is a normal amount of time to expect to be sat having a set of sculptured acrylic nails applied. 

Outrageous Behaviour 

Over the last 7 years I have had numorous clients come to me that have had acrylic nails done at walk in nail bars usually rushed in and out with in 20-30 minutes to be left with a substantial amount of damage. The natural nails and cuticles are prepared with an electric file to save time usually resulting in a burning sensation, pain and sometimes bleeding to be told that it's normal for that to happen. Once the nails have grown out they are then prepared for infills in the same way resulting in whats call the "ring of fire" red rings all the way up the nail plate showing every infill that's been done.

My Most Recent Example 

On Wed this week (21/1/15) I had a lady come to me with some serious damage. She had been recommended to a nail bar to have her wedding nails done and was left with this damage after just one treatment. 

She didn't know what to do with them and had been covering them up with nail varnish although you could still see the ridges through the polish. She thought this was normal after having a set of Acrylic nails applied!!! 

Repair job 

I removed her cuticles and decided that shellac would be the best option to give her nails the strength they needed to grow out. We decided on a french finish. It will take roughly 6 months for her nails to grow enough to get rid of the damage. 

This picture shows how they looked once I had properly manicured them.

Regrowth program 

It's going to take time but I'm pleased she didn't get sucked into the vicious cycle of going back every 2-3 weeks leaving no option but to return because of the damaged and needing to cover them up. It infuriates me that people get away with doing this calling themselves professionals. 

"Make sure you research where you're going and know exactly what you want before booking an appointment with some "Rogue Trader".

I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic I know some people use E-Files to rebalance once product has built up over a few treatments. I just disagree with them being used to strip layers from the natural nail plate.

Kolaine 

WOW my first EVER blog!!

My passion for the Nail and Beauty industry started at a really young age. I think I was about 8 when I first started to experiment with different nail designs. Me and my sister would paint each other's nails and use biro's as dotting tools to create 3D polka dot effects. "It took aaaaaaages to dry but felt really cool" As a kid my mum used to get her nails done at a local salon. I would often go with her to appointments and watch intensely as her nail technician created beautiful nail extentions. I loved every stage from the minute we walked through the door. Watching the technician carefully apply the forms was fascinating. 

Fourteen and full of it

My 14th birthday I was allowed my first set of Acrylic nails. I went to back to school after the summer holidays and couldn't wait to show my friends. I had started asking family members to buy me the Rio nail art sets for Christmas and birthdays. I would sit for hours painting fake nails finding inspiration on the Internet and generally teaching myself along the way. By this point my friends had started having extensions done and soon they were asking me to do their designs and paying me for my creativity!! 

College days 

In 2005 I left school with very few grades. I found school frustrating and struggled all the way through. I knew what I wanted to do for a very long time and couldn't wait to get out and peruse my career in the Nail and Beauty industry. Although looking back I wish I had gained better grades but there were a number of reasons I hadn't. "I'll divulge that in another blog". I studied NVQ levels 1,2 and 3 in General Beauty, qualifying in the summer of 2008. During that time I'd secured myself a job in a local salon called Relaxed and waxed covering shifts and working evenings as well as maintaining a job in "The Body Shop" for a year and 8 months. 

Revalation

Once I had gained my level 3 qualification I left college and took on the full time position as Beauty Therapist at Relaxed and Waxed. I continued to gain additional qualifications in lots of areas of Beauty and Teaching including: 

• Spray tanning 

• Red vein advanced Electrolysis 

• Acrylic nail enhancements 

• Dermalogica's on going skin care specialist courses

• Advanced intimate waxing 

• PTLLS

• LVL lash lifting

 In 2009 we introduced CND's Shellac to our treatment list. It was then that I was able to take my passion for Nail Art to the next level. I was able to apply shellac as a solid base colour to the nail before adding intricate nail designs with either Shellac, Polish or Acrylic paint. I could correct any mistakes without ruining the whole nail saving me hours of time before setting the design under the shellac top coat to guarantee long lasting beautiful nails.

(some of my first ever shellac nails with nail art)

My Aim

Over the last 17 years I have tried and perfected a number of amazing techniques and I want to share them with as many of you as possible. I plan to document different areas of my work including step by steps tutorials and video to help demonstrate ways in which you can achieve similar results. I'm not saying I know everything, there are always ways in which you can continue to develop your knowledge and skills and i would love to know how you have mastered different techniques. The Beauty Industry is constantly evolving and if there is anything I would like to say to anyone starting out it would be:

1. Get ahead of the game - use the Internet to your advantage. There is a wealth of information you can obtain at the click of a button that will help expand your knowledge to become an expert in whatever area of beauty/business you have decided to specialize.
2. Gain legitimate qualifications - ensure that whoever you decided to do training with can provide you with guaranteed insurable certificates. 
3.  Believe in yourself - nobody becomes and expert over night but by practicing and researching you will gain the confidence you need to become a professional.  
4. Ask your self - one thing I ask myself during every single treatment is "would I be happy to leave a salon with this level of service myself" 
5. Constant self development - you can become anything you want to if you put your mind to it set ,your self little goals like "learning how to engage with people  successfully through your business Facebook page or developing your customer service skills. 

obviously there is a whole load or other elements i haven't been able to cover in this small introduction but that's why i'm now "A Blogger"

Thank you for taking the time to read my first blog and feel free to comment

Kolaine