Jamberry Application Tips


I've got two tutorials for you, depending on your attention span. At the top is a slide show with quick tips. Under that is the same photos but with step by step commentary on my experience applying Jamberry

Remember these are my real nails - and I am notoriously hard on them. I've never really taken care of my hands. I was more of a once or twice a year manicure gal...right before CTMH convention in the summer or maybe for my hubby's holiday party. I just couldn't see the point when I was just gonna ruin them in a day or two!  I'm so thankful that now I have Jamberry for fun, affordable, adorable nails that I can do myself when it's convenient for me and my family. Now, let's get our Jamberry on, ladies!

Supplies Needed
  • Nail Shields
  • Sharp Nail scissors
  • Nail File
  • Buffer (Fine for natural nails, coarser for acrylic)
  • Orange Stick or Rubber Tipped Cuticle Pusher
  • Nail Polish Remover or Rubbing Alcohol
  • Heat Source - Hair Dryer, Rice Bag, or this Lasko Heater
  • Tweezers (Optional)


1. File your tips and push back your cuticles. If you have oily nails and the Jams aren't sticking, you can wash with Dawn dish soap before applying to help the Jams stick.
 

2. Clean your prepped nails with polish remover or rubbing alcohol to dehydrate the nail bed a bit and remove filing dust. Some gals wash their hands with Dawn before applying. I haven't had to do that. I do use 100% acetone to clean them. Some gals prefer alcohol wipes. I also like to paint on an Orly Nail dehydrator I found at Sally Beauty supply, but it isn't necessary, I just like to be thorough (except when I'm lazy and skip that step!).


3. Size the Jams on the sheet against your nails for find the right width. Cut that Jam in half to do both corresponding naiuls out of the one Jamberry shield (i.e. both pinter fingers...) I get a complete mani/pedi from just 1/2 a sheet! Don't forget you can trim the sides if needed to fit on your nailbeds, as the Jamberry material is totally customizable. The shields should NOT touch the sides/bottom of your nailbeds - if it's touching the skin you won't get a good seal and they will peel off prematurely.

4. Use tweezers to save your fingers if you have some. Heat each shield with your preferred heat source until it's floppy. The softer and floppier, the better your application will go. For me that's about 3 seconds using my stand up heater. Stick the Jam on and smooth it out. Add more gentle heat to the shield on your finger and continue to smooth if needed. I like to use a rubber tipped cuticle pusher to help with this. Reheat as needed to get the smooth application you want, though the tip in #5 below often takes care of any smoothing issues!

Note - I love to use a heater (like the one in the Jamberry catalog) 
so I can work with two hands the whole time and not have to balance my hair dryer on the counter. Some gals prefer the quieter rice bag method. You make a rice bag by sewing a little pouch out of material and filling it with a few spoonfuls of rice. Sew it shut, nuke it for 30-45 seconds, and you can use that as your heat source to apply the shields quietly while watching TV with the hubster - no noise, no smell! Well, there's no smell either way with Jams - my hubby just really hates the smell of nail polish.





5. Gently heat the tip again and pull/stretch the excess material at the tip to tightly adhere the tip of the shield to your nail. I stretch it in the center as shown, and on each side to be sure I'm good and stuck down all the way across the tip. Double check the sides and keep heating and gently stretching until you are happy with the smoothness. Let that cool before trimming in step 6. I often apply all my fingers on one hand then go back to trim and file as they have cooled.

6. Trim the excess with sharp scissors very close, right along your tips. Use a file to smooth the edges if needed, using a downwards motion, not back and forth.


Wait an hour or so before applying Cuticle oil or submerging your hands in the dishwater for a huge amount of time so the bond has a chance to really set. They are "dry" immediately of course...and I'm honestly not so good with the waiting period sometimes, but it's what's recommended. I'm not so good with remembering the cuticle oil either, but I'm getting better, because applying it helps keep your nails healthy under the Jams.


To remove the shields I just reheat them a little bit, break the shield bond with my fingertip, and slowly peel them off. Sometimes there's leftover adhesive, so I'll clean my fingers with the polish remover and go again! They say if the shields aren't coming off you can soak in some acetone before removing, but I've never had that problem. Other gals prefer to soak them off in a little olive oil bath for hydration, though then you'll need to wait until the next day to reapply. I find that the Jams stay on until I feel like peeling them off, easy peasy! 

I was slower my first time, but now I can do both hands in about 15 minutes. The more you practice the easier it gets!




1 comment:

Elizabeth Parker said...

I appreciate the helpful tips!

Jamberry works well for me because the individual nail strips are a little wider than Kiss. That means us gals with (even slightly) larger hands can still us them. Elizabeth

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