Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Regina Salon share The Difference between Gel Nails and Gel Polish

The Difference between Gel Nails and Gel Polish:

Gel Nails and Gel Polish, What’s The Difference?

What Are Gel Nails?

Gel nails are an artificial nail enhancement that can be applied over the natural nail, a nail tip or used to sculpt extensions. Artificial Gel Nail Enhancements require regular maintenance fills. Gels are called gels because the product is in a gel form. There are three types of gels. UV, LED and No Light. UV gels are cured in a UV lamp. LED gels are cured in an LED lamp or a UV lamp. No Light Gels have a spray or brush on activator to cure the product.

UV Gel comes in a jar or tube. If it is in a jar it is applied to the nail with a brush. If it is in a tube it can be applied to the nail and spread over the nail with the tip of the tube. Some manicurists put the tube gel in a small dish and then apply the gel to the nail with a brush.

LED Gel comes in a jar and is applied to the nail with a brush. LED Gels can be cured in a LED lamp in 30 seconds or less or cured in a UV lamp for 2 minutes. Cure times will vary by manufacturer.

LED is UV light. The difference between the lamps is the type of bulbs. The UV lamp uses florescent bulbs that are changed after x number of hours of use. X is determined by the manufacturer. LED Lamps have Light Emitting Diodes or LED for short. LED bulbs are not changed, when the lights go out, a new lamp is required. Both lamps emit UV light.

No Light Gel comes in a tube. It is a thick viscosity glue and requires an activator to cure. Activators are available in spray or brush on formulas. Most people are referring to UV or LED gels, not No Light gels, when they say “gels”.

Powder can be added to UV Gel or No Light gel for added strength. Powder is dipped or sprinkled into the gel before curing the gel in the UV light or using the activator. The powder used is a specially formulated powder for use with both types of gel, not the same acrylic polymer powder used in liquid and powder acrylic nails.

Fiberglass can also be used with UV, LED or No Light gels. The manicurist can imbed a strip, or cover the entire nail with, a fiberglass fabric before curing.

What is Gel Polish?

Gel Polish is a colored nail polish in a gel form that cures in a UV or LED lamp. Gel Polish comes in a bottle that resembles a regular polish bottle or, in the case of OPI Soak Off Gel, in a pot. OPI also has a newer formulated Gel Laquer that is in a bottle. Both are soak off gel polishs. Gel Polish is applied over the natural nail and is NOT an artificial nail enhancement. Gel Polish is soaked off with the manufacturer's remover or acetone before each service. It is generally not “filled”.

Here’s Where Things Can Get Tricky

A manicurist can apply a plastic tip to extend a nail or all nails with a Gel Polish overlay. The finished nail will NOT be as strong as a UV Gel nail that is meant to be worn as an enhancement, but it can be done as a temporary fix for a broken nail. Gel polish can also be “filled” to freshen it up. The manicurist can buff the surface of the gel polish to remove the shine, then apply an additional coat of the same color, a different color or just clear top coat. This should not be done more than one time as it makes the nails look very thick.

More tricks up the Gel sleeve are that there are “hard” gels and “soft” gels. All “hard” gels are UV Gel Artificial Nail Enhancements but not all UV Gel Artificial Nail Enhancements are “hard” gels. Another twist, all Gel Polish products are “soft” gels, but not all “soft” gels are Gel Polish. The terms “hard” and “soft” are not a reference to strength or durability. The terms are simple. “Hard” ( non-porous) gels do not soak off in acetone and “soft” ( porous ) gels do soak off in acetone. So you see how all Gel Polishes are “soft” gels? They soak off in acetone.

Now I’ll confuse you some more. There are UV cured, “hard” gel colors that do not soak off in acetone. These are used with “hard” gel artificial nail enhancements and are filed off at the time of a maintenance fill and should not be used on natural nails because they do not soak off with acetone.

An Acrylic Nail With a Gel Overlay is NOT a Gel Nail.

Any salon advertising that they do gel nails, but are actually doing an acrylic nail with a gel overlay are using dishonest business practices. Every layer of gel product that the manicurist applies to the nail must be of a gel consistency and must be cured in the UV lamp, LED lamp or, in the case of a no light gel, activator must be sprayed or brushed on over each layer of gel, or it is NOT a gel nail.

There are gel top coats that are formulated to be used over acrylic nails to give them that high gloss gel shine. This is a perfectly legitimate nail service as long as it is marketed as an acrylic nail with gel top coat service not marketed as gel nails. “Hard” and “soft” gel color can be applied over acrylic nails as well, but should be marketed as such. Salons who lie to clients about what services they are receiving really burn me up. Salons do usually charge more for acrylic nails with gel color or gel top coat, that is acceptable, even expected, false advertising is not.

The easiest way to determine if you are getting real gel nails is if the gel is in a jar or tube, the gel is odorless and you put your hand in a UV or LED lamp between every coat of gel, not just at the end with the last coat. If the manicurist dips an artist brush in a liquid and then into a powder, the product has a strong odor and air dries (no lamp used between layers) it is an acrylic nail.

One more thing to muddy the water. There is a UV cured acrylic by Star Nail Products. An artist brush is dipped in a liquid, then dipped in a powder and cured in a UV lamp. It is also odorless. It is still an acrylic nail product, not a gel.

In Summation;

Liquid + powder = acrylic
Gel consistency in a jar, bottle or tube + a UV or LED lamp = gel.


 


 

Trusted Marketing Services Trusted Regina Marketing Agency share 6 tips to get on 1st page of Google locally

The Trusted Marketing Services team has skill sets & real-life experiences that other marketing agencies and social media management companies simply do not share.  The Trusted Marketing Team are not nerds….they are entrepreneurs, networkers and marketers, so If you need affordable website solutions,   Social media management or anything to do with advertising and marketing contact them today.

Trusted Marketing Services are your Trusted Regina Marketing Agency  

6 tips to get on 1st page of Google locally:

 

 
“I want to be on the first page of Google” 


This is now the most common response we get at Trusted when we ask people what they want for their marketing goals, and there seems to be confusion amongst local Saskatchewan business owners as to how this actually happens, so we thought we’d lay it out in layman’s terms. 


Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine’s “natural” or un-paid (“organic”) search results.

To be on page 1 of Google for your category of business locally is a great goal, especially as recent stats tell us that over 80% of all click-throughs to websites on Google searches take place on the first page of Google. Not being there means you will miss out on leads, and that means those on the 1st page have a significant competitive advantage. Except how you get on that first page can be tricky, especially if you are in a very competitive category ( Real Estate, Auto Dealers, Mortgage Brokers for example). Here we outline the main points to consider.


1. You need a website – and it needs to be a good one!

Your website is a TOOL, and it should be out there working for your business 24/ 7. It’s not just about the ‘look’ of the site, it’s about how well it works overall for good SEO – you need to consider the navigation ( how easy is for your visitors to get around and find the important information), the keywords ( if you are a Plumber make sure it is on your website often), include the location ( if you are a Plumber in Regina say so ) , choose appropriate images and have good links ( social links, links to other sites that make sense and links to your site from other sites that make sense)

( contact us at Trusted Marketing Services if you want to discuss your website – or lack of.)

2. You need to have a blog

Content marketing is a phrase you may have heard bandied about; in reality it means writing new, quality, relevant content about your company and your category – ideally in a blog on your website on a regular basis – This just keeps your website up to date in the eyes of Google ( as Google determines who gets ranked where it’s important to impress her and do what she values)

(check out our Saskatchewan marketing blog here )

3. You need to be social

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, Google + – pick whats best for your business and build an audience for your content- quality web traffic from your social media to your website is valued by Google and if you are spending all your efforts sending people to your Social media as the final destination you are WRONG – the social should be the tool to help your www. not the other way around! If you don’t take social media seriously and do it well you are really missing out on the chance to connect with your local audience and share your company personality & values.

 

 

 

4. Your overall marketing strategy

Assuming you DO have a strategy? Too many local businesses separate online and offline marketing and this is a big mistake, in today's world in many categories online is MORE important than offline, as consumers shop and make more buying decisions online than in person. Your website should be your best salesperson, it should reflect who you are & what you are doing at all times.

( if you are not sure about your marketing strategy contact us for a consultation )

5. Online local directories

Online local directories are important to Google (information is organized in  a logical manner) and I predict they will become more so as more and more websites come online locally- Being listed on a good local online directory ( like www.trustedsaskatoon.com and www.trustedregina.com ) will help your Google rankings as it shows you are recognized locally in your category, also if the online directory is well ranked in your category you benefit from that – you can get on the first page of Google by being on their directory; along with the others in your category of course. ( Trusted Directories have many, many other advantages & benefits over your regular local online directories – contact us to find out more). 

 


6. Google products

Google Adwords, Google Plus, YouTube etc..etc.. Buy them, use them – Google likes when you buy INTO their products.

A word of warning ..DO NOT put all your eggs into the Google Adwords basket to get on the 1st page of Google – this is not a smart long-term marketing decision. Google Adwords cost is going to keep rising as more people enter the auction and you can’t all be on the first page…make ORGANIC your priority ( we know customers prefer organic search results too)

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to allocate time and effort into doing the best job you can online. There is no QUICK fix, this is a race…and it’s not a sprint, it’s a never-ending marathon, and you need to keep running and adapting to the ever-changing conditions or you will fall behind and drop off your prospects and existing customers radars. Don’t be tempted into trying to cheat Google by paying companies to create splash pages, buy backlinks or by falsely boosting your social followers' numbers….. you didn’t become successful in business by cutting corners, it’s the same way online.

EXCELLENCE TAKES EFFORT

Contact us at Trustedmarketingservices.com today, we are your local and international award-winning Trusted Marketing Agency!






 

 

 

Trusted Regina Financial Experts tip on breaking up with your Financial Advisor - Part 1

 Trusted Regina’s Financial experts tip on how to break up with your Financial Advisor - PART 1:


Barry Choi was walking through an underground path in downtown Toronto one winter when he ran into his former financial advisor. 

“Hey, how are you doing?” Mr. Choi said to him. Their relationship had not worked out; but Mr. Choi wanted to be civil, and at first, it was. 

Then his former advisor said, “Just so you know, you ruined my life.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mr. Choi protested. 

“You ruined me,” he continued. “You have to live with it. I hope you go to sleep and you think about me…I hope you die.” 

Breaking up with your financial advisor can be an emotional and stressful event — almost as traumatic as a romantic break-up. The reasons are also somewhat similar: “I’ve found someone else (another advisor). I’ve changed and my needs are different (I’m done with mutual funds). I want to go out there on my own and explore my options (I’m signing up with a discount brokerage).” 

Your relationship with your advisor is highly charged because it is based on that all-important thing: your life savings. But getting out of the relationship needn’t involve any shouting or tears. 

“Initially in the relationship, you put a lot of faith in this person, when it doesn’t work out, trying to communicate with someone that you’ve lost that faith or that it didn’t work out is quite a personal thing,” says Kathy Waite, a fee-only advisor who serves clients in and around Saskatchewan. 

So what happened between Mr. Choi and his financial advisor to merit the vitriol? 

The advisor approached Mr. Choi, a 32-year-old director at a Toronto news station, about six years ago. At the time, they were work colleagues. 

“I figured, ‘Oh, this guy is going to be looking out for me.’ He was a friend to begin with. With the banks, they never follow up with you but with this guy, he was more active.” 

They went over his goals. They talked about his short-term plans of getting engaged and putting a down payment on a home. They did not discuss in detail fees. 

About a year or two later, Mr. Choi was chatting on a discussion board when someone suggested he look into the fees associated with his mutual funds. 

“I called the firm directly and said, ‘What am I paying as far as fees are and if I need to pull this money out, am I being charged for it?’” he says. 

They explained his management expense ratio and his deferred sales charges. “They said, ‘If you want to withdraw, you’ll be paying five to six percent.’” 

“It was a huge hit. I was in total shock.”  

He reached out to his advisor for an explanation and received little response. He then spoke to the advisor’s supervisor. “In the original paperwork, the advisor actually wrote that in the short-term I’d be looking for a home. When I presented that to the manager, he said, ‘If you said ‘short-term,’ why would he put you in any funds with a back-loaded fee?’” 

Mr. Choi transferred his funds out of the company and the company decided to waive the fees. The advisor was eventually let go from the firm. 

“It’s an industry that works very much on referrals. That’s how advisors get their clients, [they’re] friends of friends,” Ms. Waite says. “I’ve had clients who are not happy but [their advisor is] a friend of [their] son’s. That has been a real problem. How do you have a dispute with someone who is an acquaintance or a friend?” 

Even if your advisor isn’t a personal friend, money is a sensitive issue. And money issues can seem complex to the average person. If clients go in unprepared and try to discuss their concerns, they may get blasted with “a load of jargon and leave defeated and belittled,” Ms. Waite says.

“Have some confidence and know your facts. You have rights. No one cares about your money more than you do. You don’t have to apologize for not being happy.” 

That being said, there is a good way and a bad way to approach your advisor with concerns. No one is recommending you recreate the court scene from A Few Good Men (“I want the truth!” “You can’t handle the truth!”). 

“I’d go in and try and have a dialogue. Let’s treat each other with respect,” Ms. Waite says. 

“Unfortunately, what I hear is, the majority of times, the advisors go on the defensive. They’re used to telling people what to do. If you turn around and question that, don’t be surprised if they’re not comfortable with what you’re saying.” 

If the talk doesn’t work out, put it in writing. Pen a polite letter — state the issues, your evidence and a deadline for a response — and stick it in the mail. “[Also say,] ‘I’m willing to work with you to find an amicable resolution but I will escalate it.’ You have to be willing to say who you will escalate it to,” she adds. 

Escalate the issue in writing with the firm; they have 90 days to respond to a complaint with its final decision, according to Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC). If you are not satisfied with the way the firm handled your case, you can contact a regulatory agency or seek arbitration or legal recourse (which could be costly). 

To report a suspected regulatory violation, you can reach out to IIROC or the Mutual Funds Dealers Association; they investigate complaints and dole out disciplinary action, including fines and suspensions. 

 

Stay tuned for Part 2!!!

 

 

Trusted Regina’s Finance Experts - why not give them a call to see how they can work for you!

 

 

Trusted Regina Printers tip on wedding invites

Top 10 Tips For Navigating Your Wedding Invites

You've heard it before but it really is true: Your invites set the tone for your wedding and it sets the expectations as well. They are the first glimpse your guests will receive of this special day that you and your betrothed are slaving over to create a perfect reflection of your love and commitment. Don't skimp out on the most important preview of this spectacular day.

The world of paper and invitation etiquette is vast and varied, traditions and trends certainly change, but my custom invitation boutique, Lion in the Sun, coordinates invitations for hundreds of couples each year, so I've compiled a list of some common miscalculations and my favorite secret stationer tips to help guide you through the process.

 

1. Be sure to send an invite if you've sent a save the date: The save the date is a courteous heads-up about your wedding date, but it is not an invitation. Keep careful track of who you send save the dates to and make sure they all receive an invitation. I have heard a lot couples tell me that their invitation quantity is going down after they receive responses to the save the date, because some people can't attend. Nothing is more confusing or heartbreaking than receiving a save the date and then never receiving an official invitation. Also, make sure to send an invitation to guests that cannot attend. Not sending an invitation implies the guest is no longer invited.

2. Be timely and create a sense of urgency: Technically, invitations should be mailed 6-8 weeks prior to a wedding. In these busy times 10 weeks has become the norm. However, more than that is too early and can backfire. Instead of making sure people respond promptly, this tactic actually causes most people to put the invitation on the "to-do later" list. Also be careful not to confuse your need for deadlines on the room blocks with the final head count for the caterer. You don't need an official head count until about a month before the wedding for the caterer, seating chart and rentals. It is your guests' responsibility to make travel arrangements and hotel accommodations, so try not to stress too much about that in terms of timing for your replies.

3. Think Ahead: depending on your invitation choices, you may need as much as two months more for design and printing time, so be sure not to cut it too close. Ordering your invites early really saves on stress and money for rush fees and expedited shipping. In the long run, if you can, it is really worth it not to put off printing until the last minute. Also consider all of your components when ordering your invitations. Work with your stationer to maximize your $$. For instance, if your are ordering from a larger printing company we recommend ordering announcements, maps, thank you notes and even placecards at the same time if you can. You save money on proofs and then you also save on one-time shipping for all parts.

 4. Count Carefully: Be sure to count mailing addresses -- not invited guests! Remember, many guests are invited as couples or as a family. If you have 150 total invited guests, you may only need 100 invitations. Add approximately 10 to 15 extras for last minute guest-list additions. If you have to reprint additional invitations after the order is completed, the printing company will treat it as a new order and it can be very costly. It is always safer (and much less expensive) to have a few left over!

5. Consider different printing options: While letterpress is all the rage it can be an expensive process. Thermography is a modern alternative for attaining the raised printed effect of engraving and is generally half the price. This is achieved with a heat process which causes powdered ink to expand, resulting in a raised letter with a beautiful sheen. Flat or off-set or digital printing is a photo process resulting in a modern, sleek look. Generally this process is about the same price as thermography, but with digital printing you can print multiple colors at no additional coast. For those looking for a more matte or contemporary feel, flat-printing may be the alternative you are looking for. It also works well for reproducing photograph half-tones, sketches and maps.

6. Save with creative reply cards: Reply postcards are a really popular and great way to save money. They can be well designed with a vintage emblem to look like an old postcard or leave the back blank for your guests to decorate and with a note to send back a "creative reply". Another great way to save money is a tri-fold invite with perforated reply postcard that your guest tears off and sends back. Your invitation can then have one continuous detailed design and lots of information across three panels on each side, but by printing just one piece it cuts down costly components. Just remember that the postcards will not arrive back to you pristine. The USPS can give postcards a beating.

7. Develop a secret code for replies: Some people are so excited to send their reply card back that they forget to write their name on it or their writing is illegible. A great fix is to number your reply cards so that when someone rsvp's with no name you'll know who it is. The most discreet way to do this is to write a small number in pencil on the backside of the rsvp card and keep a corresponding list of guest names and numbers so you can check them off as you receive them. You may be surprised at how many guests forget to write their own names on the rsvp cards!

8. Avoid using address labels: Try not to, you really don't want your wedding invitations to look like a corporate mailer. There are several ways to address your invitations without turning them into something that looks like an office mass mailing. Lion in the Sun offers hand calligraphy as well as computer-printed calligraphy services. But my best suggestion is to hand write them yourself or consider asking someone in your family or your bridal party to address the envelopes for you. You can always order extra envelopes just in case, and who doesn't love to see a hand-addressed envelope waiting for them in their mailbox? It feels really personal.

9. Don't lick one hundred envelopes: The safest way to seal your invitations is to use a glue stick. If you use a water sponge, you risk getting important cards wet and wiping the adhesive away. We provide glue sticks to our clients so there are no accidents a la Seinfeld or paper-cut tongues. Don't lick -- use a glue stick! 

10. Be neurotic about postage and mailing: Make sure that your invite has the correct postage. Nothing replaces a conversation with the Post Office. Have it examined and weighed, buy proper postage -- don't save money here! Be careful about addressing: light colors and elaborate calligraphy can interfere with mailing. Also be sure to mail one to yourself before the rest go out. This will confirm that you used proper postage and give you a keepsake with a postmark from your local post-office.

Trusted Regina COMMERCIAL Real Estate tip How to Purchase Commercial Real Estate - Part 2

 How to Purchase Commercial Real Estate: PART 2 

Purchasing Commercial Real Estate: Assembling a Team of Experts
As a small business owner, you're most likely not a commercial real estate expert. That's why it's important to surround yourself with the right team of experts. They can help you determine the right time to buy or sell, the right locations to consider, and the nuts and bolts of closing the deal. Here are some of the experts you may consider contacting:

  •  Accountant: An accountant can help you figure out what your business can afford and analyze the tax and operating budget benefits.

  • Lawyer: A lawyer can help you complete the transaction, negotiating with the seller and lender on your behalf.

  • Commerical Broker: A real estate broker can help you identify potential properties and what you can afford.

  • Mortgage Broker: A lender or mortgage broker will help you sort through financing options, from bank loans to those guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, such as the Certified Development Company (CDC) 504 Program, used to finance primarily real estate or equipment.

 

 

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S & E Trusted Online Directories Inc
TrustedRegina.com
310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

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