Stop Guessing... and Go Beyond Prep

Stop Guessing... and Go Beyond Prep

If you've been following me for a while, you've probably noticed I've been talking about nail retention and lifting quite a lot. It's a topic that keeps coming up, whether in my salon, on training days, or in my inbox.

Then one day it hit me...

Why don't I just write a book about it?

Well... I didn't stop at one. I ended up writing two.

The reason is simple. Most nail technicians are never really taught how retention works. We're told to prep better, use a primer, switch brands, or buy another base coat. When the lifting continues, we keep guessing.

But what if lifting isn't caused by poor prep?

What if the product is too rigid for that client's nails? What if the structure isn't supporting the stress area? What if the base coat is applied too thin? What if the natural nail itself is the clue?

And what about primer?

For years we've been told that primer is the answer. If nails don't last, add a primer. If they still don't last, try a different primer.

But primer isn't a magic fix.

In many cases it simply hides the real problem - or adds another variable to the mix. If the product doesn't suit the client, the structure isn't supporting the nail, or the application isn't correct, primer won't magically solve it.

The goal isn't to make the nail stick at all costs.

The goal is to understand why it isn't sticking in the first place.

That's exactly why I decided to split this topic into two books.

Stop Guessing

This is your starting point, and it's completely free.

The goal isn't to teach you how to fix every lifting problem. It's to teach you how to read lifting.

Because lifting leaves clues.

Where it starts, when it happens, whether it's one finger or all ten, how the client wears their nails, the shape of the nail, the product you're using... it all tells a story.

Inside you'll discover:

Why lifting isn't always a prep problem.

The biggest myths still being taught.

Why primer isn't the miracle solution it's often made out to be.

How to identify different types of lifting.

Why changing products every month rarely solves anything.

How to stop guessing and start understanding.

Once you understand why something happened, finding the right solution becomes much easier.

Beyond Prep

If Stop Guessing helps you understand the problem, Beyond Prep is all about finding the solution.

This book goes far beyond prep and explores everything that affects nail retention - from product selection and natural nail anatomy to structure, application, curing, product flexibility, client habits, troubleshooting, and all the little details that are rarely explained in basic training.

I spent years learning these lessons through trial and error because nobody really taught me. My hope is that this book saves you years of frustration.

If you've ever found yourself asking...

Why do my nails lift after a week?

Why does this one client always have lifting while everyone else is fine?

Why do soft gels work on one client but fail on another?

Why do my corners chip?

Why does one finger pop off?

Why do I keep getting free edge lifting?

Why do some clients wear their nails for five weeks while others struggle to make it to three?

Why do blueish nails behave differently?

Why do nail biters seem impossible to retain?

Why do my extensions last on one client but not another?

...then Beyond Prep is written for you.

It's currently in the making, and I have to admit - it's taking much longer than I expected! Every time I think I've covered everything, another topic pops into my head that deserves its own chapter. I don't want this to be just another nail book. I want it to become the guide you reach for whenever you're faced with a retention problem.

I'm hoping to release it this summer, and I honestly can't wait to share it with you.

Be the first to get it

As if you've subscribed to my newsletter, you'll be the first to receive Stop Guessing as soon as it's ready - before anyone else. No wondering if you've missed the launch; it'll land straight in your inbox. Don't forget to join our newsletter.

Until then, thank you for joining me on this journey.

My goal isn't to convince you to buy another product or add another step to your routine. It's to help you understand nail retention on a deeper level, so you can make decisions based on knowledge instead of guesswork.

Because you probably don't need another primer.

You probably don't need another base coat.

You need to understand why.

And once you stop guessing, you'll never look at lifting the same way again.

Maya xx