Why c-curve’s are imperative to a great final nail shape
By Katie Barnes | 09 July 2019 | Expert Advice, Feature
While the c-curve on a nail enhancement has the important role of creating an attractive enhancement and providing strength, it is also responsible for a considerable part of the desired finished free edge shape.
The nail’s c-curve isn’t just found at the natural free edge point; it starts where the natural nail begins to grow and finishes at the free edge of the extension that has been created.
A nail tech measures the c-curve depth by dividing a circle into parts. Half of a circle provides a 50% c-curve. Bring this line down a little and it creates a 60% c-curve. Raise this a little and it creates a 40% c curve and so on. A 100% c-curve will be fully closed underneath.
The c-curve on a nail can be personal preference, with some preferring a softer c-curve and others preferring a deeper c-curve. A salon square nail enhancement can have a c-curve ranging from 25% – 60% whereas a competition nail usually has a 50-55%, and extreme nail shapes range from 60% – 100% c-curve. These rules vary for different shapes.
While a c-curve measurement can vary, it is essential that the curve percentage is exactly the same on all 10 nails to provide a balanced set.
The c-curve is altered for different nail shapes and lengths and can depend on the client’s natural nail. In theory, the longer the nail, the tighter the c-curve should be, therefore ending in a more pointed free edge which provides an elongating and slimming result for the client’s finger.
When creating a nail shape that needs to end in a compete point, the c-curve throughout the whole free edge shape you create is paramount. This comes down to correct form fit. Look at a nail form and decide on the finishing point. Look at the way the form is closed for a shape like this, it should be in the shape of a ‘V’ from the birds eye view and from the natural free edge join and the free edge, the form gets narrower as it reaches the end. However, if the form is not fully closed at the finished point, then a resultant complete point will be impossible to achieve.
For those who find it tricky to perfect the stiletto shape, this is the first element to address. If the end of the nail form is even open by 1% then the product will sit at the sides of the form and the enhancement will be open underneath, resulting in a wider than desired point.
Refer to my previous Scratch Magazine blog on how to create and tailor forms to suit different nail shapes by clicking here.
With correct form fit and tailoring, the c-curve including a 100% closed c-curve can be created.
Love Katie B x
