Hello I am Carolyn and I am quite new to becoming a nail tec, last October I did a 4 day course at the Herts and Essex Academy and got a Diploma in Nail Technology. As you can all guess since then I have been practising like mad although I learnt a lot on the course I came away with knowledge but needed to build a lot on the skill of doing the nails which I am still doing.
I have got 5 children of all ages so I would like to work from home I have the insurance Beauty Direct and hope this will cover me would anyone who works from home tell me who and what you have to do in order to work from home please.
I must say since my course I have felt really lonley going alone with all this and I am so happy I have found this web site I have spent most of the day looking through it also trying to find out how to use it LOL!!! I did email one person who is in this group as I saw that she worked from home and I am looking forward to hearing from her.
I am going to go back to the Herts and Essex to do my City and Guilds I have to tell them I want to do it within 6 months of doing the course I have just done. Most of the work is done at home I send them in photos of my work, then when I am ready I go to them and do a practical and written work and I hope I pass.
I have lots of questions and really would also like to find a really good product to use I have spent lots of money on items I really seem to not like I really do not want to keep wasting money.
I will leave this message for now but I am pleased to have found you all your site is GREAT!!!!
Carolyn

Welcome to the site Carolyn - you're gonna love it here.

We're a friendly bunch, and are always on hand to give each other a helping hand when it is needed.

Welcome to the site you will be hooked in no time.

Kathyxxxxx

hi there, you will probably gain more knowledge on here than you ever get on a course. the search facility will reveal loads of answers to your questions.its great to come on the site when youre working on your own, its good to know that you are not alone when youre struggling and its great to have some one to share your triumphs with who really understands how much work it takes to become a good nail tech.remember 'practice makes perfect' and patience is a virtue' and you wont go far wrong !

Karen Noodle, What Have You Done To That Cat !!!!!!

LOL!! I was thinking the same!!!

Hi Carolyn,

Welcome to the site, you will find loads of information on the site with regards to what products are good etc.

I use mostly NSI products and find them very good. I don't know if you do this already, but instead of spending loads on products you've never heard of try buying the trial kits, they are a quarter of the price and you can practice as much as you like and see which one works best for you. Most if not all nail companies provide trial kits. And ask any of the Geeks on here for their views on the products, they are very helpful!

Hope this helps!!

Luv

Rose

No need to phone the RSPCA guys, I simply adore cats.

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail, which happened to contain the picture which I am now using for my avatar. It's made me smile, so I thought I would put it to further use.

Hi Carolyn and welcome!

I am new to nails too - this site is a godsend! Lots of supportive people and valuable advice.

Welcome to the site - you surely won't feel lonely anymore! Lots of warm hearts round here, if you know what I mean...

Hi Carolyn and welcome,

Just a couple of questions....

What sort of thing did you cover on your course? I'm a bit concerned that it was only 4 days but they gave you a Diploma??? I say this because ITEC do a nail technology diploma but it takes a year, requires 60 odd hours of supervised tutoring + case studies to complete at home. Most 4 day courses are only an 'introduction' to nails, they show you one system (either L&P, gel or silk/fibreglass), not all 3.
You also say you only need to send them photos of your work? How can they properly judge the quality of work from a photo - this will only show the nail from one angle, they should be looking at the whole nail from all angles to assess apex, c curve, thickness etc. in order to be able to judge your competance & progress. How can they hope to give you proper, constructive feedback from a photo?

I don't mean to sound negative, just a bit worried that you complete this course and it doesn't give you the knowledge you need.

Hi Carolyn,

Welcome to the site! It will be very useful for you to share ideas and pick up tips etc. Having 5 children! Where will you find time to do nail !?!?!? Any way good luck

Jen

Hello Bryony, thanks for your post it was very good to read and yes I know where you are comeing from!

I did Manicure, Pedicure, Acrylic, Gel, Fibre & silk, nail art free and airbrushing in the 4 days I can imagine what you are saying now LOL!!!!

Yes I got a Diploma at the end of the course from the Herts and Essex Academy and I am aloud to use the Guild insurance as I trained with herts and Essex. I have gone with the Beauty Direct as this was another insurance that was noted and they offer the same cover and I did not need all the other benefits the Guild offered as I want to work from home.

I paide £649.00 for the course and then another £150 for products, also I stayed in a b&b which was another £120.00 then £50.00 petrol to get there.

I knew nothing about training and how long it should take I looked at many places like The Essex School of Beauty they did courses that were 5-6 days with a diploma, also the Carlton at Windsor did 4-5 day courses to learn all this so I thought it was normal.

I can also do the City and Guilds now I pay another £50 then they send me assignments to do 3 gel, 3 Acrylic, 3 silk/fibre I send them back with photos. Then once this has been done I pay another £50 and go to Essex and do a practical and written exam. The Carlton offer this with the NVQ but they charge another £200 + for this.

I wanted to do a course all at once as my hubby is in the Army and he was getting leave and it was my chance to go and do something for me! I never knew it was the wrong way to go about it I did look into a lot of places the Herts and Essex is advertised in one of the nail mags but maybe this means nothing.

I did find it a lot to take in in such a small amount of time I used to do hairdressing years ago and was qualified at that so I have no probs when it comes to clients but I must say once I had got home from the course I felt so alone and wondered how they can even be aloud to adervertise courses like this!!!!

The teachers seemed good there were 4 of us doing the course and they were booked up and have 3 or 4 academies in Essex and Herts.

It makes me mad that maybe I have just wasted my money as I went into this wanting to be a good nail technician I would like to know if this is the wrong way to learn nails WHY! is this not stopped letting company's teach this in such a short time I might post this message on its own as well and see what other think.

Thanks for you message anyway you only bought up things I have thought myself.

Take care
Carolyn.

Hello My kids are of all ages one lives away from home now so really only 4 at home it is nice for me to have something for me which I enjoy after all these years! I can work in the evenings for now until the last child is at school!
Thanks for your message
Carolyn.

Thank you all for the great messages nice to know I am welcome it is a great site I can not keep away LOL!!!

I am learning so much just what the doctor ordered

Carolyn xxx