Advice please - natural nails only?

[Essential Treat]

Hi Geeks!

I'm not currently working in nails or beauty, but hoping to have saved enough to start training with CND in Plymouth this autumn.

Although I think what some people can do is amazing, I personally am not a fan of l&p or Gels, as I have had bad experiences in the past as a customer.

Anyway, as a result, I am therefore leaning towards doing the CND Naturally course rather than the Complete. But.....I'm wondering if, by going with my personal prejudices, I will seriously limit my potential to work if I 'only' do natural nails? As it's a big investment (and I'm still trying to convince my husband that it'll be a good investment), I really want to get it right!

Any advice v gratefully received!

Thanks x

[Christine Mary]

I am doing shellac like there's no tomorrow!
I must admit, I prefer the natural nail route, but like to keep my skills going with the L + P too, but I very rarely get asked for it.

I have another business, so I'm not full time nails, but the shellac is just such a good system, and I charge £25.00 and clients just love it.

In fact Iv'e just been playing with layering a few colours, it's just an amazing system, versatile and simple.

I don't advertise, it's purely word of mouth that has delivered a good client base, although it didn't happen in 5 minutes,.........10 maybe!!!

Hope this helps with your decision.

[PixieBeauty]

I would say add enhancements to your service. Most of the enquiries I've had from the Internet (ie not word of mouth but 'cold' leads) have been for enhancements. I think it is an attraction to bring in new customers as there seem to be a lot more places offering natural nail services.

Secondly, your bad experiences are going to fade into the background when you train with CND. They are (IMO) all about looking after the cleint's nails, so their technique, ethos & products are all geared towards not damaging the natural nails at all.

Thirdly, I firstly trained in L&P, but now I mainly do Shellac & it's my favourite service but I have recently added Brisa gel enhancements as I need to be able to fix the odd broken nail for my Shellac clients. They don't want to file their nails right back if they have had a mishap or single weak nail. They expect I can fix it so I brought Brisa in - instead of using L&P as i am mobile, so no vapours from monomer in their home, plus I just prefer gel.

Hth's xxx

[EmJZ]

I personally would offer natural nails and an enhancment of some type...either l&p, gel, or both. Once you are fully trained and understand how to treat the natural nail you should get that your previous experiences were those of an inexperienced tech. You'll know that you won't damage the nail if you're trained properly.

That being said, if you only want to do natural nails...then that's how you would market yourself and business. Meaning those are the clients you would be targeting and attracting to your business. Whatever you believe in and promote is going to be what brings you the clients.

Good luck :)

[RebeccaQ]

Hi, I am currently doing the cnd complete, I have finished the natural nail, enhancement basics and l&p and have gel and rebalancing to do over the next few weeks.

I love this course. I am really glad I chose the complete as it has given me an excellent insight into enhancements (something I have never had) and whether to tip or sculpt (I've been taught both), even if I don't get asked for it, if clients come in then I will have a better idea of what they may have on their nails that I may need to remove or if they have issues with their nails then I will be able to offer clients a treatment that is best suited to them and their nails. As you will find out, cnd is all about customising for your individual clients, whatever treatment they want or need.

I don't know what I'll get asked to do the most, although, Shellac is very popular and I will also be doing the Nailstyle course (shellac nailart) next month too, to enhance and customise my shellac treatment further. EA's are great and so helpful. I think the more knowledge you have the better. But it's not easy, nothing worth having is...but it is challenging and fulfilling...even a little frustrating at times :lol:

Go for it. You won't be disappointed whatever you choose :hug: xx

[Planky1]

I do natural nails only and quite happy with it staying that way (for now anyway) I have been going for around 6 months now with regular enquiries and have only been asked twice about doing enhancements, every other enquiry has been for Shellac and Minx.

So to disagree with the others, I don't think offering enhancements is necessary at all, if anything, it's what makes 'me' different from every other nail tech in my area :) Go for it!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using SalonGeek

[Christine Mary]

I do natural nails only and quite happy with it staying that way (for now anyway) I have been going for around 6 months now with regular enquiries and have only been asked twice about doing enhancements, every other enquiry has been for Shellac and Minx.

So to disagree with the others, I don't think offering enhancements is necessary at all, if anything, it's what makes 'me' different from every other nail tech in my area :) Go for it!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using SalonGeek

Totally agree.

[Boop]

Hi Essential Treat,

I also just do natural nails, I offer 3 different types of manicures -essential, replenishing and rejuvinating(age defying) so there is something for everyone and 2 types of pedicure. I offer callus peel, OPI gelcolor and a nail biters course. I've only been going 2 months (part time) and I'm steady. I've never had people ask for extentions of any type, I'm qualified in acrylic but don't like them either.

I think by offering natural nails only you will attract a different type of client. everyone is catching onto the gel polishes now. xx

[Essential Treat]

Thank you so much for the replies ladies! Still not totally sure what I'll do in the end, but at least thinking about it from a sensible perspective now rather than old prejudices! Very grateful to all if you!! xx

[Rinn]

i don't know why you would limit yourself and turn away business.

start off with natural nails and see how you go.

i'd imagine once you start your training you'll get the bug so to speak and that'll be the beginning of it..

you will probably eat and sleep everything nail related like the rest of us before long.
:wink2:

[Cat.]

Theres nothing rong with doing just natural nails at all :) but you may limit yourself client wise, perhaps consider shellac as its no damage to the natural nails and it would probably fit in well.. Personally no way would i do only natural nails anymore l, ive done 10 sets of bio sculp gels, 10 shellac soak offs and reapplys, 2 sets of minx and 1 standard manicure (thats just nail wise i do all beauty t/ments).. So for me it wouldnt work just doing natural nails but maybe see what your potential clients would be interested in.. Dont let a bad experience put you off :) you can learn from it :)

[happyfeet]

Mmmmmm i'm mainly a natural nail geek; shellac, minx, manis and pedis. Recently i undertook an express acrylic product course- one because i wanted it to work alongside shellac (will get to that bit in a minute) and two as a little entry level to see if id want to go down the enhancement route.

Im still practicing the express acrylic (so far so good) and have had a couple of bookings. Do i love enhancing a nail? Well i love the look but bottom line is im slow and know to be a serious contender in the enhancement field i need to train and do an l&p or gel course.

However (and this is where its worked for me) i have a regular shellac lady who two weeks ago broke her nail quite far down, now usually she has average nice length nails but if one breaks we normally even out the rest so she can grow them again, but she has a party this weekend where shed like the length. Her last appointment we agreed that we'd shellac her as usual and let the short nail grow and see it could get to a reasonable length and again file the others to mirror it. I went back today and my poor lady had had 2 more nails snap far down. So what we did was tip the nails that needed it applied the express acrylic, filed then shellaced right over it. End result 10 fingers all the same length and you'd never know her nails werent all natural :)

My point? If i didnt have my express acrylic id have had to send her elsewhere- for either a full set of l&p with polish on or 2 tipped fingers with l&p and shellac over the top- bottom line clients like convenience- why go to two places when you can go to one?

Will i ever go down the full l&p route? I don't know- yes i get calls about 'acrylic' not many but enough for me to keep an eye on. I explain what i offer and how it differs to l&p and gel then its up to them. Personally a lot if the calls i get for enhancements are the what offers have you got brigade so horses for courses. I have to think logically the room i rent, my soon to be home salon don't lend themselves to the odour of l&p but are great for my express nails.

I still see myself as a natural nail girl but with a twist :) my client base is pretty much 30+, seek me out for shellac manis, pedis etc and dont want enhancements. I'm still pouring money into my shellac et al kits and products so for now i'm happy as i am.

Not so much an answer on what to do, more of a take a look at my situation and see what you think.

Don't get me wrong if i was given a grand tomorrow and i could get the models id be off to book an cnd l&p or brisa gel course sharpish- but for now im where im at, happy and dont have the money for this lol.

Hth in some way- sorry for the essay lovey and whatever you decide enjoy youll love cnd!

X x x

[PixieBeauty]

I totally agree with happy feet, Cat & Rinn, looking at it from a business perspective - that's what I was trying to say xx

[nicole333]

Thank you so much for the replies ladies! Still not totally sure what I'll do in the end, but at least thinking about it from a sensible perspective now rather than old prejudices! Very grateful to all if you!! xx


It's great to get different perspectives, it really helps to thrash it out in your own mind doesn't it?

I do natural nails at the moment, but HappyFeet's post has made me feel there is some middle ground for situations that occur such as hers.

If you decide to go with the natural nails only at the moment, I advise you to learn and provide everything available to add on to Shellac or a Gel polish, such as Rockstar, Additives, Mica's, some funky nail art and anything else that makes it fun and interesting on top of being a great product.

I would also offer a Nail wrap, so you are doing everything possible with natural nails to cater for all types and tastes.

[Planky1]

I don't agree about limiting yourself by only offering natural nail services. Like I said in my post above, I have only had 2 enquiries for enhancements since last September when I first started trying to set my business up, yet so many for Shellac. It is what is setting me apart from everyone else in my area and I can't get over how busy I am for just being in business (properly)for just a few months, I'm very lucky and I don't feel in the slightest that I am limiting myself in any way. Most feedback I get is that they love coming somewhere that is natural nails only and that doesn't stink to high heaven of Monomer :wink2: :lol:

[Essential Treat]

Wow! So much great advice - thank you for taking the time, thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences, thank you!! :hug:

I can completely see both sides of the arguement, and although still a bit torn, think that I'll start with the natural and see where it takes me. I'll need to learn how to do the basics in any case, and then when finances allow, learn how to do more and more.

I can totally see myself raving to clients about treatments that I love having as a customer - Shellac, Minx, a great pedi (that makes even my vile feet look presentable!) :eek:

I have so much to learn, but so excited and can't wait to get started.

Thank you again! xx

[xxJackiexx]

I'm only offering natural nail services at the moment and I recently started to rent a room . I'm pretty busy most days purely with Minx , Shellac and crystal pedis .
I have done the L+P foundation with cnd but im not currently offering them as I feel I need more practise and I have no extraction system at the moment in my room . Im going to book the Brisa Gel soon too .

Once Im confident in L+P and gel and have extraction in place I will be adding them as I feel I would appeal to more clients xx

[happyfeet]

Enjoy hun and its a good place to begin and see if you'd like to offer anything else. I guarantee you will rave till the cows come home- i know i do!

Wait till you get to that first appointment the buzz is awesome!

Good luck lovey :)

Ps as well as this site check out cnd.com for videos etc- i did this before i started training (and still do) you'll be even more excited!! X x x