Greta Sim Nails

Is it true?

I’m starting a new series - REAL CLIENTS. REAL NAILS. REAL TIME. ⏱️

I’m a Russian manicure specialist and I’ve been working with clients for over 10 years. And this is what my everyday clients actually look like.

No choosing the easiest nails. No choosing the “best” skin. No only filming the sets I think are social media perfect.

I’m going to show you the before and the final result and how long it took me on my real, everyday clients.

Because the reality is, those “social media perfect” nails (and hands 👀) don’t sit in your chair very often.

As working nail techs, we see everything - different nail beds, different skin types, dry skin, tough skin, sensitive skin, damaged nails, short nails, wide nails and clients that can really challenge your skills.

And after more than 10 years behind the desk, I can tell you - this is normal. This is real salon work.

Social media usually shows us the best work, on the best nails, with the best skin, from the best angle.

I want to show you the other side.Real clients. Real timings. Real results.

Do we need this?👀⏱️

Most of the time I take the length down and shape the nails right at the end, after top coat. This gives you that nice, crisp finish.

Don’t forget to clean underneath the nail after you’ve finished filing too, just to neaten everything up.

The more length you take down at the end, the thicker the free edge will be, so make sure you refine underneath using an under nail cleaning bit. I usually work at around 13,000 RPM.

Why do we remove natural nail from underneath? 👀
To prevent product lifting.

When working with hard products, whether it’s hard gel or hard builder in a bottle, removing natural nail from underneath is a must.

Natural nail is flexible, but hard gel/product isn’t as flexible. So when the natural nail flexes underneath, it automatically starts “separating” from the product, and this is what can cause lifting at the free edge.

So when working with hard products, always remember to remove some of the natural nail from underneath.

And you only need to remove a little bit, you don’t need to keep filing until all the natural nail is gone. Just enough to prevent that natural nail from flexing underneath the product. 🤍

Do you struggle with shaping nails? 👀

My biggest advice, don’t take all the length off before product application.

Before product, just give the nails a quick shape and neaten them up if needed. When filing the sidewalls, place your nail file under the nail not against the side of the nail. This is so important. Then apply your product.

Your finish filing should be your final shaping step, this is when you reduce the length properly, perfect the shape and make everything look clean and even.

One thing I see far too often short nails being made too pointy. On short natural nails, trying to create that very narrow, pointy shape means you end up filing into the natural sidewalls. Over time, you can narrow and weaken the natural nail, which can contribute to side onycholysis, curling and splitting. And once those sidewalls are damaged, you can’t simply put them back.

So remember 👇
Quick shape before product. Perfect shape at the end. And ALWAYS keep your file under the nail when filing those sidewalls. 🤍

Everyone thinks a Russian manicure means perfect skin, perfect cuticles and perfect nails. But that’s social media, not the everyday reality of being a working nail tech. Real clients have real skin.

Some have extremely dry skin. Some have tougher, more challenging cuticles. Different skin conditions, different nail plates, different nail beds, different sensitivities. No two clients are the same.

And the truth is, nobody wants to show the work they’re not 100% happy with. We don’t naturally reach for the camera when we feel like a set isn’t “social media perfect”. We photograph the beautiful hands, the cleanest transformations and the work we’re most proud to put on our feed. I do it too. But as someone who owns a professional nail brand and still works full time with clients, I want to start showing you something different. Iwant to show you what actually sits in my chair every day.

Real clients. Real skin. Real nails. Different challenges. And sometimes results that might not look “perfect” on Instagram but are the best and safest result achievable for that individual client.

Because Russian manicure isn’t about making every client’s hands look identical. It’s about understanding the skin and nails in front of you. Knowing when to do more and, more importantly, when to stop. Adapting your technique and achieving the best possible finish without chasing unrealistic perfection. 8 or 9 times out of 10, we aren’t working on those flawless, photogenic hands we constantly see online.

So from now on, I’m going to show you more of my real day to day life behind the desk, the clients I actually see, the challenges I come across and how I approach each one differently. Because every client has their own version of perfect.

Not social media perfect. Client perfect. 🤍 Do you agree?

Education in the UK nail industry is improving but we still have a long way to go. 💭

There’s more knowledge, better education and higher standards than ever before, but there are still so many areas where nail techs feel unsupported or unsure.

So I want to hear from YOU 👇

As a nail tech working in the industry right now, what are you struggling with the most?

Is it technique? Product knowledge? Nail health? Hygiene? E file work? Pricing? Confidence? Finding clients? Business?

Drop it in the comments, I’d love to know what you feel the industry needs more education and support around. 🖤