Flower Crystal

What is the different between Acrylic powder & Crystal Powder?

I had my nail done lately with crsytal looking base (with extention) and 3D flower on top. All being done with the mix of power + liquid. Can anyone tell me what is the product being used? Is it called acrylic nails or crystal nails?
What About those 3D flower? are they Acrylic too? where can i get the products to make Acrylic Nails?

Crystal nails are simply a clear tip with clear acrylic overlaid on the entire enhancement . So, yes, they are acrylic and nothing out of the ordinary. Don't pay anything extra for these because you would be getting scammed if you did. There is no such acrylic product called 'crystal' powder. It doesn't exist...

Edit: Most, if not all of the 3D flowers I have ever seen have been made from acrylic. Your choices are limited with this because the flowers need to be 'built' up in stages starting with the basic flower shape and then adding layers of additional acrylic to form the leaves and whatever else the tech wants to add to them.
Buying acrylic products is easy. But, if you are not licensed, yiu will have somewhat of a problem buying professional grade nail products - acrylic or gel. But, it's not impossible. I don't recommend doing your own nails unless you've had formal training in it, but I certainly cannot stop you from doing it. Just be careful if you try it on your own. Keep the monomer (the liquid) and the nail prep products away from your skin. Use primer very sparingly. Keep the acrylic away from your cuticles and other surrounding skin as well. Repeated and prolonged exposure to these can result in allergic reactions called contact dermatitis. Usually, once you get this, it lasts a lifetime. That would mean no more acrylic nails - at least in most cases that's what it comes down to. Also, don't remove too much off the top of your nail as many discount salons do. Only a gentle hand filing with a 240 grit file is needed. The purpose is to remove the natural shine of the natural nail - not to make the surface 'roughed' up as many people would tell you is needed for the acrylic to adhere to. That is not true. The shine must be removed, and the nail has to be totally free of any dust, oils, and other things which may prevent the acrylic from forming a bond with your natural nails. This can be done with straight acetone, or you can buy prep products made for this purpose.
If you want to do it on your own, there are several good books available which are used for training nail techs in the basics of nail anatomy and nail care. They cover the application of acrylic nails and gels as well, but not to a great extent. It may be jumping ahead a bit, but here are a few videos which show proper methods of acrylic application. The first one is from a professional nail company called Young Nails. They have excellent products - I use them often. But, they are very strict about selling to only licensed individuals only. Anyway, here are a few videos that you can watch to get the basic idea:

http://www.youngnails.com/g?t=video

http://www.youngnails.com/g?t=stepByStep

(step by step descriptions for various techniques)

http://hooked-on-nails.com/

(Read though the wealth of nail articles here. Very good instructional site).

http://www.nailsplash.com/

(another educational site)

http://www.tammytaylornails.com/Video/Tammy_Taylor_Product_Spotlight_Episodes/Tammy_Taylor_Product_Spotlight_Episodes.htm

(A ton of videos here covering a lot of different topics in nail care and other nail related issues)

http://www.youtube.com/user/doiamailbox

(look through this page. He has lots of great videos available to view. He's very well known, and highly respected within the nail industry. He is a true nail pro. Also, check out his myspace page).

http://www.amazon.com/Miladys-Standard-Nail-Technology-Milady/dp/1562538829

(A good resource book. Used in many nail teaching programs. A bit expensive though, but good.)

Those links should get you an idea of how to do nails properly. I hope they help. As for nail supplies, here are a few links that I THINK are not too picky about selling professioanl products to non-professionals. Like I said, I think they aren't picky, but I am not sure. Give it a try. But, get professional products if at all possible. Avoid going to places like walmart and in drug stores and buying those $8-$15 kits. They aren't good quality at all. If you are going to do it, do it right. Sally Beauty sells a pretty good brand called Aspire:

http://www.sallybeauty.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-SA-Site/default/Search-Show?q=aspire

I have tried this brand a couple times and they aren't bad at all. And you don't need a license to buy these products from them. Just a thought. But no matter what, be prepared to invest a modest sum of money just to get all the products you need to get started. You will probably spend about $75-$100 just for the very basics, if not more. Nail products add up in terms of money invested very, very quickly. Just 8 ounces of monomer costs about $25-$30 by itself. A GOOD brush will cost $35-$45. Also, I suggest buying nail tips and practicing your application techniques on them for a while before trying it on your own nails. Get your liquid/powder ratios down pat. It is a critical component of acrylic nails. Too wet, or too dry of a mixture WILL cause problems. Anyway, here are a few sites that maybe you can buy professional products from?

http://www.nailiteinc.com/

http://www.tammytaylornails.com/Articles/Catalog/cfc.htm

(You need to register on the site to buy products. Just make up a salon name and put it in the blank box when it asks. You MAY have luck buying her products without a license. They are very good, though not one of my favorites. Be aware that once you sign up that they will constantly send you emails trying to sell you more stuff, so you may wan tto use a disposable email address like a hotmail or yahoo account that you setup just for this purpose?).

http://www.premiernailsource.com/catalog.php?category_id=74

http://www.buynail.com/index.asp?ID=6&PageAction=Custom

http://www.idonails.com/

There. That should keep you busy for a while, LOL!
I hope this helps!

Flower Essences - How to Make Them

Although many flower essences may be bought in stock bottles at a store, it is possible to make them from scratch in your own backyard or nearby environs. In fact, this was Dr. Bach's original intent. The materials needed are simple and easily obtainable and it only takes a few hours time. Making a new essence is fun and rewarding.

 

When making an essence, care should be taken to identify the flower as to correct species. References (such as the Peterson Field Guides) are helpful in this. The most common technique for making flower essences is the "sun infusion" method. For this, you need the following in your essence making kit.

Your Essence Making Kit

 

* Warm, sunny weather (spring to late summer). You will need uninterrupted sunshine from early morning to early afternoon (about 3-5 hours, usually). You should pick a place that is protected and somewhat secluded (so the emotional environment is controlled). An occasional cloud is not a problem, but considerably cloudiness (or shadows from trees or buildings) can noticably weaken the remedy.

 

* A glass pan without designs or patterns. It doesn't have to be very big.

 

* Water. Preferably spring water, especially if it's allowed to "charge up" in the sunlight first. If from a natural spring, be sure it is pollution-free! Tap water is not acceptable.

 

* Brandy (about 80 proof) to use as a preservative.

 

* Plants with the appropriate flowers. They should be at the peak of their bloom. Use only healthy looking flowers; avoid any that "feel" wrong intuitively. Don't take too many flowers from a single plant.

 

* Scissors to cut the flowers.

 

* Storage bottles for storing the essence. Should be dark colored to protect the remedy.

 

* A funnel (preferably glass) for pouring liquids.

 

* A big pan or pot for sterilizing all equipment in boiling water. Stainless steel or ceramic is excellent; avoid aluminum or plastic at all steps of the process. All equipment should be sterilized about 20 minutes and air-dried before starting to make the essence.

 

The Sun Infusion Method

 

To make the essence, find "your spot" on that sunny morning near the flowers you will work with. You should be started by 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning, at the latest. As the person's state of mind is considered important to the process, you should make sure the setting is peaceful and protected; your own emotional state should be calm and receptive. Place the pan on the ground and pour in enough water to cover the bottom (it doesn't take much). Quartz crystals may be placed around the pan to focus the energies, but should not be placed in the pan (the remedy would pick up the crystal's energies as well as the flower's).

 

Next, pick the flowers and add them to the glass pan of water. You should "tune into the plant" before cutting any flowers, to sense which ones should be used. Ideally, cut the flowers and let them drop right into the pan, without touching or handling them. If this is infeasible cut them and transfer the flowers immediately to the pan, with a minimum of handling or waiting (no more than a minute or two). Cut enough flowers to cover the bottom of the pan. Choose flowers from a number of plants. And make sure to thank the plants for their gifts afterwards!

 

Return the pan to its "spot" and let it sit in the sun for 3 to 5 hours. It's best to stay with the flowers throughout this stage of the process -- gardening in the backyard is a good way to pass the time and stay in tune with the flowers. Let sit until early afternoon or until the flowers "feel tired" or "ready to wilt." Remove the flowers (preferably with a leaf from the same plant, so you don't touch the flowers or the water) and set them aside. Pour the water from the pan into a storage bottle (using the funnel); add an equal portion of brandy, as a preservative. The bottle should be shaken between your hands for a minute or two to "fix" the remedy.

 

Mixing Stock Bottles

 

The mother essence is rarely used by itself, but is diluted to the stock potency or medicine (dosage) bottle potency. To make a stock bottle, you need:

* One ounce eyedropper bottles, preferably dark colored. Sterilize all bottles!

* A mixture of 1 part brandy, 3 parts water (spring or distilled) for the inert carrier substance.

* 2 to 7 drops of the mother essence.

Put an ounce of the brandy/water in the bottle and add 2 to 7 drops of the mother essence. The exact number of drops is not too important, though some people love to argue about it. The bottle should be shaken in your hands for a minute or two (or until it "feels" done) to potentize the stock bottle. This "dilute and shake" technique is more or less the standard method in homeopathy for potentizing a remedy.

Many gems, minerals, and crystals have healing energies. These energies can be captured and administered by exactly the same techniques as used for flower essences. In fact, the only big change is to substitute "crystal" for "flower" in the instructions for the Sun Infusion method.

 

About the Author

I am involved with a web-site that provides topical information about Flower Essences. Ever wondered what your Celtic Tree Astrology Sign is? Also, go here if you want some lovely (and free!) Screensavers of Happy Animals, Beautiful Flowers, etc.

My hobbies/pastimes/life include Astrology, Music, Reading, Sport, Cycling, Chocolate, My cat and a love for animals...our equals.