Hi everyone
Not been on here for ages been off having another baby so verrrrrrry busy, my old user name was mum2one&bump!
I trained back in march, in manicure, acrylic and gel, i will soon be doing my pedicure course and advanced sculpting.

I haven't had much practice what with having a newborn baby but now i've got my evenings back i'm hoping to convince people to be some guinea pigs!
WHen i was learning i had probs with lifting, my tutor couldn't see i was doing anything wrong, she said i was quite good and was supprised i'd never done it before! i use the edge and have heard alot of people have lifting problems with that as its not the best (don't want to blame my tools but may be a factor!)
I've bought a better brush and read through a few posts on here so will hopefully do better with my next set! question being, am i wasting my time carrying on with the edge as i've heard its only good as a training product, but does it hold you back i the long run? should i go straight for a cnd conversion??
I want to get as much practice in as possible and start mobile when my son is older next year sometime-when i feel good enough! I was thinking i could start working as manicure/pedicure and try and get volunteers for me to practice extensions on - paying for materials OR i could advertise as a full nail tech but charge lower prices for say the first 3 months (for example) and then increase them after that so the clients are fully aware that my prices will go up??
Also, what are the best things to have as a mobile tech, at the min i have different cases for different things (one for manicure, one for extensions!) i was looking at getting a trolley case but was advised they are difficult to lug around and often the top falls off!?!?! i will be working part time so if i know what treatments i'm doing i can just take the case i need!?!?
would i need a table? alot of you have said you use clients ironing boards but i'd feel awkward asking?!
Also, i'm looking for some nice nail polishes, i have bought a few of the edge and they are awful, i haven't tried opi but you all rate it but the wholesalers i use don't sell it, where can i buy it wholesale?

Thanks in advance and any further tips are welcome!!

Sam xx

hiya I am kind of in the same position as you i too have just had a baby girl lol, so I now have 2 bundles of joy..I am currently training to be a nail tech, I am attending numerous courses to get the hands on training..I have completed my acrylic extensions diploma, just need to get my manicure/pedicure Gel & nail art which will all be completed by xmas..For the last 6 months I have been practicing on willing family and friends, I have just asked for £5 for a full set of nails while im still learning I intend to be a nail tech on a mobile basis due to family life/kids etc! I was also planning on only charging £20 for a full set of extensions for the 1st few months..some mobile techs near me charge £40 for a full set!! I use the NSI acrylic system and I absolutely love it! The application of l&p is effortless..and filing is minimum afterwards I also love china glaze varnishes..you can get them pretty cheap from sally beauty stores..also I recommend rimmel 60 seconds varnishes..and you can get them dead cheap on ebay I was also thinking about getting a trolley..I have never heard of the top coming off but now I am warey lol! I was planning on buying a fold up manicure table... I think they are around £50 (ebay lol)
Good luck!!

Thanks for your reply
Its hard getting started isin't it? not alot of support out there for newbies!
Theres a solon just up the road from me who charge £20 for a full set haven't been to them so don't know what they are like but that seems very cheap to me for a salon. not sure what i would charge but it would certainly be more than that!
My problem is most people i know have young children and don't want extentions! my sister was my main model that i took to my training course but she made me do them so short it was hardly worth doing them! and even then she picked them off because they were in her way!!
So frustrating because i just wanna get started and work on clients but just not enough hours in the day when you've got babies!
I was considering NSI, just looked on the nail warehouse so will buy an intro kit and see how i go! thanks
The lady in the wholesalers advised me against the trolley not very good sales technique lol would be alot to lug around esp with a table too- i think i will stick to separate cases and take what i need into the clients house instead of everything i own! lol
Good luck with ur training, i can't wait to do my next lot of training! xx

hi there, thought I'd add my two penneth. I'm still training at the moment but am trying to start up with the training I have and add on services as I qualify. I would give sweet squared a ring and speak to them about conversion. The main reason I say this is that you may buy a trial kit of another brand but from what I gather the consistency and application techniques can vary slightly from brand to brand. When you do the conversion the products are included and you are training to use them to their best, you also have the great aftercare to back you up if you have any teething problems. I think for the sake of an extra £50 or so, it can make a massive difference.
in terms of the polishes opi are available in sallys, I haven't tried them, I have got some china glaze and while I love te colours I find it a bit thin, sometimes needing 3 coats which I see as false economy. I'm slowly buying the cnd polishes as most colours only need one coat, they dry very quickly and the effects are fab!! So you're using less product and less time!
I'm still debating the trolley, even though you wheel them you still need to lift it in and out of the car, and probably into clients' homes, up steps etc. So I'm very conscious of the weight issue......I'm thinking separate bags may be better.
Hth, Lou xx
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I too have recently qualified.
My main problem was my friend (who is a beautician) taught me how to do acrylic nail extensions about 4 years ago, so I wasn't qualified from insurance point of view, but practiced lots on close family and friends. I too was using Edge products which lifted quite quickly. I then managed to find a lovely tutor from a beauty school near me who was willing to asses me and she gave me a qualification so now I can work on paying clients. She advised me to change my product which I did and haven't looked back since. I couldn't afford to do a CND conversion course straight away so I bought a new brush, and new L&P from salonserve. Salonserve Home - Great Professional Beauty, Nails and Hair products and supplies
These are the best products I have used so far.
Just thought I'd let you know as this was cheaper for me at the time.

Thanks for your replies, i think i'll just have to try a few brands, i got on better with the brand i used on my course (the name of its gone out of my head at the min!) and my tutor was supprised i had lifting problems, she watched me do a set when i went back for my intermediate course and couldn't see anything wrong with my application, which is why i thought it may be the products, also they don't look very pretty! looking at the nsi range they have better looking products at least
I will buy a trial kit and get some advice from my tutor if i still have problems.
thanks