Hi

I don't come on the site very often, but had to post on this.

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RECIEVED TRAINING BEFORE DOING NAILS PROFESSIONALLY.

I'm not so bothered about these people getting sued, but about the reputation we will all be tarnished with.

Ok, rant over, just realised that this is the first year since I qualified in nails that I haven't been on a training course (or several). I was hoping to be halfway through by master technician courses with Creative by now but saving for the wedding has just made things too tight this year.

So those out there that go under the guise of professional nail technician without training, please quit or get some training. You'll realise that health and safety has far more consideration in nails than you ever thought.

If you're not conviced, at least buy a copy of Doug Schoon's book and read it properly.

I started my training at the local college on a VTCT evening course. Creative had the 1 year rule in place when I started, so I had to wait until I could undertake conversion courses. Economically, the VTCT was great value and covered every system, giving a thorough grounding in the basics but I was still very unconfident in my nails. For attention to detail, tuition quality, and inspiring confidence I firmly believe that Creative are the best.


Orin

I am soooooooooo bloody naive
I didnt think it was possible that there were individuals out there that would possibly even consider doing a treatment on a client that they were not trained in! thats just mad isnt it
I am a beauty therapist so within my training i qualified in manicures and pedicures on the NATURAL nails, I would never consider doing any nail enhancements on clients as I never received the correct training on this and yet after reading this thread I spoke to a few of my local fellow therapists who infact do carry out this as they were trained in mani's and believe that then this gives them the right to do so.
There are even some things that I did receive qualifications for but as I do not feel fully confident to do them on paying clients, I have not included them in my price list. I presumed that this was how everyone was
Like I say im a bit niave

hi
What would everyone class as a "qualified" nail technician then?
Ive done manicure and fibreglass extensions at my local college,
Basic nail art ( college)
Creative liquid and powder foundation
Ezflow gel extensions
Ezflow liquid and powder conversion incl sculpting
Ezflow pedicure
and im booked on a course to do 3d acrylic design
also i will be doing my nvqs l2 and 3
What i really want to know is am i not classed as qualified untill i finish my nvqs ? Im confused after reading some threads on here as some people seem to have " professional" qualifications (nvqs vtct city and guilds)and others have company training ,i have alawys been under the impression that training from the big companys ie creative ezflow opi etc was more in depth and a better option. Although its always been my aim ever since ive got involved with nails to get a " professioal " qualification and now thats all about to happen

Did you learn about nail and skin disease and the underlying muscles in the hands,arms and feet/legs? When you do these qualifications and classes do you have to take written and practical exams to see what you have learned?
Just curious as I have never heard anyone say?

this has hit a raw nerve for all us fully trained techs !!!! i totally agree with stupid as poll result ,The thought of someone suing me for damages for not being trained etc doesnt bare thinking about !
This day and age with no win no fee solicitors willing to have ago to claim on clients behalf surely must make un skilled techs who are doing nails with no insurance etc worry ???
very angry (YES THIS MAKES ME !!!!!! )

XX

i consider you very experienced and have invested loads into your career good for you girl !!
qualified you most definately are

I WOULD NEVER LET AN UNTRAINED TECH TOUCH MY NAILS.

I voted stupid! But, as mentioned above by many peeps, maybe I'm the stupid one for paying out a fortune in course fees, etc, etc, etc, to first of all learn the basics, and then progress. I don't know how everyone else learned, but I did my courses at weekends as I had to work full time to pay my mortgage (decided to take a risk and follow a career I love instead of the daily durge of being a secretary!). But even though I got back late on the weekday evenings I still studied anatomy, H&S and practised everything I had been learning during the weekend!!! What social life?!

Even though I passed all my exams with flying colours I still class myself as a "student" as I continuously crave to do better and better. I believe we're all the worst critics when it comes to our own work!

But, I do read the advice given by other techs. And that advice has come in very useful and I believe to pass on knowledge to others who are struggling is a good and kind thing to do (not trying to sound too mushy here) but who doesn't like to hear about a new tip or hint to do things that little bit better and how many professional techs can say that they don't take that bit of advice on board while looking through the forum?!!!

But for the girlies who are working on paying clients without any training - GET YOURSELF TRAINED PROPERLY BEFORE YOU DO SERIOUS DAMAGE!!

Anyway, I'm off my soapbox - that's my opinion .... for what its worth!

Yeh learnt about nail and skin disorders and all the bones and muscles etc and when i did my college course we had a written and practical the same for the creative foundation we had to pass the written to get the certificate .

how did your friend know how to open a nail bar after 2 days training?
don't you need a bit more experience to have your own shop? x

i've just started my vtct level 2 manicure and pedicure and my vtct level 2 nail technology (enhancements) and we have to learn all about stuff like that and all the health and safety aspects before doing any practical x

Hi all.

I'm an UNTRAINED DIYer

For about 10 years, I have done my nails myself by either using stuff bought from Boots, Sally's or on-line. I've had my fair share of accidents; I've got my fingers stuck together and suffered burns when wrapping my nails with fibre glass resin and also contracted the green lurgies on my nails. I've tried the acrylic technique on myself and hated it.

I now use gel and can sculpt and do pink and white on my own long nails (because I am rubbish at painting french manicure). With all this said, I would be extremely reluctant to do anyone else's nails - simply because I do not want to put anyone else at risk! I have been asked before but have said no due to worries of something going wrong, questions being asked and having to discuss payment (not something I'd like to do, esp when I have no quals to back myself up).

I only do my own nails because I hate going to salons where people treat you like cattle by shipping you in and out and charge you for gel when they are clearly using acrylic with a layer of gel on top. Along side that, there is nothing worse than someone chewing up your cuticles, slicing you with and e-file and still charging you £30 for a full set of DODGY gels.

While I have no doubt that I would be more than capable of creating nail enhancements for myself and others, I believe that training is imperative. The only reason why I haven't done it yet has been due to not knowing which course to do. There are so many and I'm not as rich as I would like to be. I would not feel comfortable working on anyone without having been taught by a professional first. I have the utmost respect for those who have made the effort to gain their qualifications.

So until I know where I need to start and can find reasonably priced courses in London (that fits in with my full-time career), I will only work on myself - I don't want to be sued!!!!

Well done to you for having such a reponsible attitude! Unfortunately there are too many places that will take your money and churn out shoddy nails, and I don't blame you for looking for an alternative.

It sounds like with some training you could be fantastic tech, and you are lucky that one of Creative's finest educators Ketan Patel is based in London...... After training comes insurance and then paying customers......

Stupid.
I have only had a quick browse through this post so sorry to repeat!
Has anyone had people come to them who admit to have taught themselves without any professional training??
I had a lady once, she needed a soak off and new pink & white set. The set she had on WERE HORRIBLE & FALLING APART! She told me straight away she had been doing them herself and we went through the normal conversation of how you should have training and she agreed with everything etc. She even said she had done other people, & she was such a lovely lady!
But... she came to me, i think, 4 times and then had some emergency and said she would not be back for a month..... It's been 4 months and I haven't heard from her.
Now that I read this, I FEEL STUPID! Maybe she was just watching how I do nails PROPERLY and what the difference was with her and me......... After a new set, an infill, a rebalance & an infill again.... maybe she had nothing else to gain from me!!
Obviously i'm speculating, she might have a genuine reason nto to come back... but it makes me think considering she was self taught.... do you guys still do nails on these people who claim to be self taught??? I never imagined she might go off after learning something (that's if she has!) She was just so lovely and genuine and it seemed she saw the error of her ways!!!
xxx

Yep... I had one client who had a set of fibreglass T+O 3 years ago, I noticed how she was watching my every move and asking rather in depth questions, turns out that she'd bought all of the products she thought she needed to do her own nails and unbeknown to me I was there to be her 'teacher'.
I didn't see her again until the latter end of last year, she admitted to me that she couldn't handle doing her own nails and marvels at the way I file and buff her enhancements, always asking me "how can you do it so fast?" etc etc, we laugh about it now because she knows the pitfalls etc and is a regular 2 weekly rebalance client