Examples of Nails That Screams for an Upskill Part 4

Let’s Talk About the Little Mistakes

Sometimes it’s not a huge disaster - just small things that make a set look off.

Even when nails are done “well enough,” tiny issues can throw off the entire look. Uneven BIAB, over-filed sidewalls, poorly blended tips, or thick spots around the cuticle - these aren’t obvious at first glance, but they affect:

• How the nails feel and wear over time

• How balanced and natural they look

• How long they last without lifting or breaking

• How confident your client feels about them

The problem is, these mistakes are easy to miss if you’re working fast or just following what you’ve seen online. But they are exactly what stops a set from looking professional - and keeps you from taking your skills to the next level.

I’ve got three examples that show these little issues in action:

1️⃣ Colour gel not applied close to the sidewalls, uneven surface with bumpy BIAB, and over-filed sidewalls. The orange nail shows how the grow-out should look. The burgundy nail, I can tell, that the tech used cheaper product - the colour shrank back from sidewalls, and it wasn't fixed. I've been there too. I tried save money wherever I could.... Until I learned the hard way that cheap products cost you more in the end. (extensions were breaking, so I had to fix it more often, gel colours were not pigmented enough....)

2️⃣ Glued tip that isn’t blended, visible through the product - a sign there’s not enough product and no stress point, so it will break. How to fix this? Learn proper structure of the nail, choose right products.

3️⃣ Uneven BIAB application, too much product, over-filed lower arch, thick around cuticles. How to fix this? Apply less or file more, learn about nail shapes.

These mistakes? They are not mysteries - they are rookie mistakes. The kind that happen when you're winging it at home or jumped into a cheap course thinking it will be enough, If you are seeing lifting, uneven texture, bubbly layers, lumpy finish, nails different lengths, bubbly layers ... it is not the gel. It is the technique!

Examples of Nails That Screams for an Upskill Part 4

Before & After: Structure and Thickness

Here are two photos showing the transformation:

Before: Nails too thick, bumpy, and even nails that grow straight look like they’re pointing downward.

After: Nails smoother, thinner, with proper apex and balanced structure.

I've been talking about thickness a lot in my recent blogs because it is huge deal for newer nail techs. Focus on proper structure rather than just making the free edge thick to make nails last.

Why These Little Details Matter

These small imperfections might seem minor - but they stop your nails from looking professional and polished.

✅ Uneven thickness = nails that appear bulky

✅ Poor product placement = weak spots that break easily

✅ Over-filed or under-filed areas = imbalance and bumps

Fixing these comes down to knowing why each step matters and how to control every part of the nail - from cuticle to free edge.

Take Your Nails to the Next Level

These little mistakes aren’t permanent roadblocks - they’re opportunities to improve.

📚 My Upskilling Manuals guide you through correct application, shaping, and structure. (Nailing It - Real Life Skills).

💻 Face-to-face training helps you spot and fix these errors in real time, so every set comes out strong, smooth, and balanced.

Master the details - because it’s the details that separate a good set from a truly professional one.

Maya xx