The Personal Salon Nail System utilizes newer, safer, non-destructive, and overall more advanced bonding processes than do either acrylics or gel nails. After 7 years of extensive research and development, we have developed a whole new technology. Every current nail product on the market, other than Personal Salon, sticks to your nail with “Mechanical Gripping”. In order to mechanically grip to something really well, you have to squeeze it or deform it in some way (think of putting something in a vice, or a hammering a nail into a wall). Personal Salon’s super-strong polymer Overlays are custom engineered to organically bond, at the molecular level, to the protein in the top layer of your natural nails, without “Mechanical Gripping”. This organic bond is called a “double covalent” bond, and allows the Personal Salon Overlays to connect and add to the structure of natural your nail without deforming your natural nail underneath. Personal Salon Nail System products are safe, non-toxic, and non-irritating.

Yes! In fact, since our Diamond Overlays brilliantly self-level, some of our customers think it is even easier to apply than nail polish! Personal Salon Overlays self-level on application, so you don’t have to fuss with removing brush strokes, or worry about removing lumps. You can even turn your hand over before setting the Overlay and it will flow to a peak at the center, creating an attractive natural arch.

No! Not even close. Personal Salon Diamond Overlays are made of a custom-engineered polymer that is unique to Personal Salon. Our custom designed polymer is many times tougher than acrylics or gel nail products, but still has the best of both worlds. They cure hard enough to have a natural click-click feel, but with a touch of give to keep them from easily chipping or breaking.

Diamond Overlays bond to your natural nail by linking up with the keratin protein in the nail plate, not by acid-etching and mechanical glue-like adhesion that acrylics and gel systems use. The bonding processes are completely different, with protein bonding being safer, stronger, and more durable. The protein bond that forms on your nail is called a "double covalent bond" by chemists, and is one of the strongest bonds known in all of organic chemistry.

Acrylic nails are made from a liquid monomer combined with a powder that chemically reacts together on contact, forming an acrylic paste that air dries. The liquid component is either methyl methacrylate (MMA) or ethyl methacrylate (EMA), both of which are harsh, toxic, dangerous and irritating chemicals. The use of these has been banned in several countries in Europe, and it is only a matter of time before the F.D.A. in the United States follows suit. Worse, the primer that is required to make the acrylic paste stick to your natural nail is one of the harshest and most dangerous acids in the world: Methacrylic acid (MAA). This acid is more acidic than battery acid! Yet, nail techs continue to routinely apply it to millions of women's nails every day across America. In contrast, the Personal Salon Nail System uses none of these chemicals, nothing toxic, nor any other harmful or irritating acrylate monomers. Because of the unique properties of our Protein Bond chemistry, the Personal Salon Nail System does not need to use these nasty chemicals! There are no primers, acids, or harmful acrylates in any of the Personal Salon Organic Bonding Home Nail Care products.

A basic application to your natural nails usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes. If you are using extension forms and/or are creating a French Manicure white tip look, the time will be longer. Because there is far less need for filing and shaping, you save a great deal of time compared to acrylic products in just that area alone. And as with anything, the more you apply it, the easier and faster you will be able to apply it.

Personal Salon’s organic-bonding Diamond Overlays permanently and safely bond to your natural nail. You’ll simply need to reapply when it's time to fill in the new growth. Normal nail growth will require you to reapply the product in about three weeks from your initial application. Maintaining your nails is straightforward and simple. Blending of fill lines is extremely simple. You can touch up individual nails as you want, or do all at the same time.

Personal Salon Diamond Overlays are made from a custom engineered synthesized polymer that is tough, durable, and will easily last longer than the time it takes for your nails to grow out. The bond that connects the Overlay to your natural nail is an organic double covalent bond, which is the strongest and longest lasting bond known in organic chemistry. Your Personal Salon Diamond Overlay nails will last longer than acrylic or gel nails.

Yes! Unlike gel nails, Diamond Overlays bond tack-free under the bonding lamp in about 2-3 minutes. (This can be a little longer in higher humidity areas).

Yes! Absolutely, you can add a layer of nail polish. Polish will last much longer than when applied directly to your natural nail, and just as long, if not longer, as it would if applied on acrylics or gels! The best part is that our system doesn't harm your natural nail and protects your natural nail from the chemicals in nail polish as well! Also, should you desire permanent color; we also have pigmented Diamond Overlays ».

Yes! Relative to acrylics and gels, the Personal Salon nail system is super simple to apply. To extend the length of your nails (i.e. sculpted nails), you simply use an extension form to allow yourself to extend the Overlay out past the edge of your nail. Then after you've finished bonding, trim and shape the nail. Personal Salon Overlays are very strong and durable, so you won't have cracking or chipping problems as you trim and shape. It's very easy!

Yes. Any UV-light bonding lamp typically used in gel nail systems will bond the Personal Salon Diamond Overlays. The Personal Salon bonding lamp is actually quite low in its UV output (6 watts) compared to professional lamps that can go as high as 60 watts in some cases. You can get even quicker bonding results by using a higher wattage UV-light bonding lamp.

When Diamond Overlays change from a liquid phase at application into a hardened polymer shield for your nails under the bonding lamp, this phase change generates heat, and is called an exothermic reaction. Depending on how thick of a coating you have applied, and the specific sensitivity of your nails, you can experience stronger or lesser heat during bonding.

You can watch the application videos » on this website, read the online instruction manual », or contact us » with your questions.

According to professional nail trade magazines, the average cost for a woman to have professional nails applied and maintained is over $600 per year, not including travel time and travel costs. The estimated average cost for using the Personal Salon Nail System is only about one-sixth that amount! Quite the savings, indeed!

Yes, but with a caveat. Professional nail techs are well-trained in acrylics and gel nail systems, and most do an outstanding job. But because of the differences in our new advanced Organic Protein Bonding technology, as compared to typical mechanical gripping, the specific steps that MUST be followed for optimum performance with your Personal Salon Nail System are not known to most nail technicians. Hence, your nail technician needs to be "brought up to speed" in the subtle but important distinctions in application and natural nail preparation that are critical to maximize performance.

Yes, but you will achieve better results with more "virgin" natural nail on which to bond the Protein Bond and Diamond Overlays. It's best to let your old nails grow out until you have around half or more natural nail growth before applying the system.

Please use the contact us form to request a list of specific ingredients. All Personal Salon Nail System products are non-toxic and non-irritating. There are NO Primers, NO Acids, NO Acrylic Monomers (i.e. NO MMA & NO EMA), and No Acrylate Compounds.

Quick Answer: File the Overlay down until you reach the unharmed natural nail beneath.
Long Answer: The Personal Salon Home Nail Care System was designed to add to the structure of your nail without damaging the natural nail beneath. Since Personal Salon Overlay nails add to the structure of your natural nail using an organic protein bond (the strongest bond in organic chemistry, called a "double covalent bond"), chemicals won't easily remove the bond. That is good, because it means your nails aren't going to easily come off in most situations. Thus, to remove the nails, you simply file the Overlay down until you reach your unharmed natural nail beneath. Though Personal Salon Overlays are strong and durable, they can be filed down relatively easily.