Don't worry about it... and don't feel stupid because unless she has a 'I'm here to steal your professional skills' stamped across her forehead then any one of us would've done the same...

There will always be people like this around.. not just in the nail industry but all other industries too...

It's proper education which separates the professionals and the wannabes...

well i agree with SOOOOO many of you on here! here in Huddersfield we have a number of salons with Asian nail techs which is all fine and well, but most of them can't speak English so i just wonder how the hell have they been trained?
can we report them and if so who too? because i really dont think most of them are trained! and it's not fair! i paid £1300 for a 18 lesson course to get trained and then we have the likes of non trained nail techs out there doing treatments and getting away with it!
i just think it's very silly!
hope your all well?


James

We have a lot of untrained person doing the same thing it happen in the discount salon a lot here in the states we just had a case where the whole salon was untrained one person held a license and the others were just working. the were closed down and fine 10,000 for every unlicensed person that was 12 people without a licensed they wont be reopening anytime soon!

Hi! I agree with all of You,Who do not like untraind nailtechs!
A few things abought chineese salons... I had so many people after them,and clients nails was look sooooo horryble!!Nearly impossimble to repair them!They charge half price too!!!I hate this!People like them bacause is CHEEP!WHY?
/Sorry abought my english = is my 2nd language... :/
I traind in Hungary,it was half year course!!!I had learn a lot,and I do all my best now!
Agnes

Can you report them? Big problem - in an unregulated industry, who to?

Some Local Authorities have by-laws requiring licensing of certain types of salon - but these are often simply a 'send cheque' job; no validation of training or qualification! They would have to conform to H&S and Environmental Health laws by statute, and the Consumer Safety Act - but is your time worth it? If they're that bad they'll probably get a bad reputation and go bust.

Problem is that then everyone is tarred by that brush.

Until there are statute laws requiring prereq qualifications to trade, I think those of you in industry who are responsible, trained, qualified practitioners are at risk.

Regards

PHILIP SWINFORD
Marketing Services Manager
BABTAC

The untrained will come unstuck. I am currently trying to work out who and how to be trained and even after just a little research on the subject of training it has opened my eyes as to all the different things I will need to learn and just how huge a subject it really is. One day the untrained will come up against something they do not know and I just hope that someone doesn't get hurt because of it - its only a matter of time isn't it.

I take my hat off to all you professionally trained people and one day will be able to call myself professionally trained too

Hmm. I don't know if I agree with some of the posts. I think this forum is for those who willingly give knowledge, knowing whom ever uses it uses it for their own purposes. So in other words, if you don't want someone using the knowledge you post here, then don't post it. Forums of all types are for people to learn and gain knowledge. It is unrestricted and there is no requirements. Therefore, I have the opinion that if a newbie is wanting to learn more, and comes here, good for them. It is much better that they get professional advice, than other sources of advice on how to do nails. And you're right, they get the same information here that you will find in training courses. Wouldn't you agree that this forum has covered a thousand times over every bit of info your training course provides? All it takes is a diligent search. What they don't get, is hands on experience and practice that a training course provides.

All of you who spent thousands on your education, of course it would piss you off for someone to gain the same knowledge for free. But that is YOUR problem, not theirs. Yes, everyone doing nails for profit needs professional training, but not everyone has to pay what you did. In other words, you can't base someones level of expertise by $$ spent. Nor can you expect this site, a public forum, to be limited to professionals only. Go elsewhere if you are concerned about that. Otherwise, the more knowledge the better!! Who cares what they are using it for! At least they are using it!

It irritates me that the generaly opinion is that every one can do nails, how hard can it be the word is... Would you go to a hairdresser and let her do your hair, if she have absolute no education??? No.. because we women are so delicate about our hair, sorry that that doen´st goe for the nails too

We have the same problem here in Denmark everybody can open a salon with out any kind of traning, and they use creap products sold from diffrent nailshop on the internet here in Denmark

I think to change this, the only way is if the customers demand trained nailtech´s and would not accept untrained personal, this could changes the way that things are....

i am training with gel and already do acrylic , what i want to know is how these nails must look when they have finished !! they must look terrible !!

I have to say that not all untrained nail techs are terrible. I realise I'm going to get shot down if flames for that comment. There is a lady at my kids school that used to do my nails and she wasn't 'professionally' trained. She used to do an absolutley fantastic job on my nails in fibreglass. They would last me 3 weeks with no lifting at all. She has quite a few clients that have been going back to her for years!

I do agree, training is the best way but some people can do a GREAT job.

Yes, i did feel a little like this, as i read this thread i was shrinking in my seat, but i do understand where all the master geeks are coming from, i trained with EN, i did the Acrylic course and enjoyed it immensely and passed. In the long run i will go for some more training, but i would've never done anyone's nails before i had finished my course, When i got my Acrylic course set i had a manual with it listing all the nail diseases(with pictures) i must've read that entire book hundreds of times, to all the people who have never done any type of training or courses etc and are charging people for nail enhancements, you should really stop and think about all the damage you are causing to people's nails and the diseases you are giving them due to poor hygene. I want to say thankyou to all the people on here who give advise and help out newbie geeks like me.

I have just completed a 20 week acrylic nail evening course at my local college, and I just want to point out that training doesn't have to cost a fortune. The course only cost around £150 and you can get help with it if you receive benefits for being on a low income. I am now competent enough to recognise disorders of the nails, problems with the enhancements and how to safely apply the chemicals that I use etc. I'm by no means perfect, and I dont think I'll ever consider myself to be (I'm a bit of a perfectionist, lol), but I feel confident that I am not a danger to the public.
So to all of those that say they wont train because they cant afford to, there are other, cheaper possibilities besides training with private companies.

Hmmm so am i smart or stupid...see im trained in one subject but not the other yet can do both (hair, nails), Ive done intense research on both and yet i consider myself as neither a hairdresser nor nail technician as im more of a scientist (which means i understand how things ie chemicals you apply to things react and why)...Let me give some examles as to why its wrong to judge..... I have two friends...one has been an apprentice tattooist the other has taught themselves through shear determination....guess what....the one that taught themselves has more knowledge about their craft than the one who payed for his title, he also knows things about his machines the other one doesnt, in fact he's that good that the one who payed is now under the others wings!!!see its not about have i payed for my training, its about having the balls to seek out that one thing you want to perfect and going for it, do you really think that if you dont pay for your title your no good, i beg to differ. Some people are trained to the hilt, but they are still useless, others have spent their time researching the craft they want to perfect before they inflict the world with what ever it is they can do, the way i see it.....Word of mouth will soon rid the stupid from those who know their craft what ever their medium, ( i can airbrush too, but i didnt get anyone to teach me, and oddly enough im pretty good at it) its about having talent, dont get me wrong some who are not trained should have their equipment burned! But at the same time so should some so called proffessionals...........if your good your good if not then eventually you will disappear from your so called choosen art! so really i can see both sides therefore i chose not to judge others........

I vote STUPID!! and Iv been one of them!

This is difficult for me to do, but here goes!

First I would like to explain my back ground and then apologise for being DEFENSIVE in one of my posts which is unlike me

I qualified at college doing the unit 19 NVQ in nail enhancements, then did my conversion course in June 2004 with Creative in acrylic, and loved it soo much I then paid to train with Bio Gels as an alternative (cost about £500) in 2004, then I trained with a reputable company, who used NSI products in nail art which cost me also etc etc. I have spent a lot of time and money in training and products, but then I became allergic in a big big way, and lost a lot of money and gained heartache in the process. I have become angry with myself I guess, because myself is allegic to acrylic. I have tried Brisa gels on myself, but I now know, I have done it the wrong wrong way.

Because I have lost sooo much money (and dont have any at the mo) I was reluctant to pay for a lamp and further training in the Brisa gels until I new I was ok with Brisa. I did buy my trial kit from Creative though, and never off Ebay!

I have only EVER used Brisa on myself, and have found I am allergic to it so thats the end of my dream, I would never do nails on the public without the training etc and never have.

What I have realised is, you are 100 % correct, right, however you put it, in what you say, I should of known better and NOT tried without all the training and lamp even if it would of cost me financially. Im embarrassed for being negative and defending my actions, at the time I thought I was doing nothing wrong, but I was harming my health and I can see that!

Im sorry to you who tried to guide me and I didnt listen

Anyone reading this, should listen, take their advice, and do the correct training and use the right products as you could end up like me, with a full blown allergy and nothng to show for it, Im a prime example of stupidity!

My last thoughts has been and will be TRAINING TRAINING TRAINING!

I also know that when some nail techs have done the correct way of training, it does not equal talent, and I have seen some not so good nails, from trained nail techs. I also think experience and time is a factor. It still is essential however, to know all about diseases and anatomy and contra- indications, to prevent cross infection and damage to a clients nail. such a difficult subject but like I said TRAINING is for me!

But training is about so much more than just 'making you good' at what you do - it covers health and safety, anatomy and physiology, disorders and diseases, over-exposure, etc...... There is so much more to being a hairdresser or nail tech than the basic skills......

I agree that reputation will weed out those with no talent, but what education gives you is the knowledge you're working safely - so you may be rubbish but at least if someone sues your a$$ off you can have be insured..... You can't gain insurance without training, and if you work uninsured then you really aren't very smart.....

Talent alone isn't enough - talent combined with training will take you a long way in whatever field you are in.