I think that in any profession there will always be cowboys but that is how the true professional will stand out

a 100 grit file on a the natural nail will always be a no no to me

i consider myself to be a fairly new tech as i only qualified in July 2006, whilst my training was good I know that I still have a long way to go.

Just referring to KitKat68's post and Geeg's response, I have to say that despite all the "crappola" it is very refreshing to see ideas put forth and responded to so thoughtfully, respectfully and constructively.
Restores my faith....

KitKat's post shows that some seemingly ridiculous threads do have learning benefits even thought 100 grit and natural nail in one sentence makes us cringe!

Hi, this is only a suggestion and don't know how practical or beneficial it is and I am also new to the site so hope I don't get shot down in flames (only joking) but here goes anyway:-

Is there any mileage in adding more details to 'geek commandment number 19' - thou shalt not give pseudo professional advice and base it purely on the nail aspect of the site. For instance. I shall not ever suggest or recommend anyone to use monomer without polymer. I shall never suggest or recommend anyone use a harsher abrasive on natural nails than a 240 grit file.etc,etc,etc.

This way anyone joining the site who is either self taught or has not had very good training might pick up these points when first joining and can then constructively question what they are doing/ or have been taught and seek to rectify rather than advise others to do it.

Would it then be going too far to chuck them in a 'sin bin' for being naughty! The sin bin could then hold (CLEARLY MARKED )incorrect information that a new person (or anyone) could then read through and use as an educational tool. As it has been said before we can sometimes learn from incorrect information .Speaking from my own way of learning I usually retain the information better if it is something that has been drummed into me that I SHOULD NOT DO, (hope you know what I mean)

i see your point, but it would be a difficult job to decide on whos professional advice is the one to go by. i say this because different [equally well thought of companies] have different guidelines for their techs.

isnt this an interesting discussion , good thread.

Hi, just to clarify I was thinking more along the lines of guidelines set out and approved by the Grand Master himself along with Geeg and the other top profs on the site - surely everyone could rely on their advice!! I didn't mean things that just anyone could post, or add their two pennies worth to, it would have to be advice sanctioned by the top based on FACT.

I think with the reporting system we have and the infraction system, it is possible to be alerted to 'bad' posts so they can be moderated quite quickly. It works very well ... bravo, GMG!!

I agree that a bad post gives us all a chance to educate the facts so that it helps to reinforce the knowledge to new ones many times over.

Some may say, "Oh it's the same old thing again and again," but that is what a teacher does . A true teacher does not get tired of explaining the same thing over and over again ... because our job is to see that the student 'gets it' and to inspire a thirst for more knowledge!!

I think that all those who care on this site do that very well! Hats off to you all.

Thanks for your thoughts on this, Deborino.

Have read this thread from start to finish, several times actually, and would just like to add this..

It seems to me that there appears to be an extremely fine line between giving someone your opinion and giving someone advise.

I sat the other night and watched a 'professional' ADVISE a fairly new geek, how to make their own cuticle oil and TELL them not to buy a certain file because you could buy them cheaper elsewhere without a Logo, .... because, 'we are all out to make money', well I'm sorry but that is her OPINION! and extremely unprofessional in my OPINION.

I advertise myself as an NSI technician, and have an NSI logo sticker in my salon window, I have done ALL my training with NSI, and use only their products (including files and cuticle oil). It is what my clients expect, and they feel safe, knowing that I am trained to use the products, and that I do not let my standards drop for the sake of a few pennies.

I very rarely give advise, and have been corrected when I do. I'm not sure what my level of professionalism would be compared to others, so I keep quiet now, unless i know the FACTS.

I do not think you should keep quiet about anything really.

I think you should preface your comments , as i DO, by saying MY OPINION IS or I THINK, or MY ADVISE TO YOU IS ... and then we all know where we stand.

Personally, if I state a FACT, then I give the reasoning behind the proof of that fact. I never just say, this is the way it is because I say so.

Not sure that the technicians advise had anything to do with professionalism at all and I see no problem with that as she was giving her opinion, which she is entitled to.

I like you prefer to brand my salon as a Creative/CND salon. But there are many techs who use a mixture of products for whatever reason and it does not (in my opinion) make them unprofessional.

I think many people misuse the word professional and unprofessional and it is enlightening to look up the word in the dictionary.

I agree with having a seperate page for the professional techs who has say practised for 10 years and know the industry well. they would only be able to write info on the page to help us new techs. I am new to nails and am always looking for new info and support, from you guys. this forum is great for us new ones but we do not always know if the info is correct as the tutor can not tell us everything when we do the courses, so we learn the basics as I call it then we are on our own. so hopefully this forum will select afew fab techs to keep us newbees on track.

I personally wouldn't want separate pages for nail/salon professionals based on number of years service....10 years being a great nail tech can also be 10 years being a bad nail tech.

I remember watching a lady at a show once going on and on about how she had been in the industry for over 20 years and there was nothing she didn't know about nails....you should have seen her work !!!...she scratched the nail plate up...she splashed monomer about like champagne and the finished result was pants.

I personally think it takes more than the number of years you have been doing nails and more about how long you have been doing nails well.

The only problem with something like this I imagine would be controling who belongs and who doesnt,

people learn at different levels,
So there is nothing to say a tech who has been in the industry for 10 years is more professional, or knows more than someone who has only been in the industry for say 1 year,

Techniques and trends change constantly in this industry as I read the other day, a long time ago it was normal practise for a technician to etch the nail plate with a 100 grit file...whereas these days most of us are shocked to the bones to hear of such a thing being done lol,

So a tech who has been in the in industry since I was born and thinks she knows everything there is to know....could still have her eyes opened a heck of a lot,

Its all about learning the facts...keeping upto date with training and skills....keeping ontop of it all, all of the time,
Yes we may all vary in our techniques, and oppinions etc.... it makes the world go round and keeps these forums going,

I can see where your coming from, But can also see why it wouldnt work to have a seperation like that on the site xx

The whole of the main page forum is the page to do just what you are talking about. This is what we devote ourselves to everyday .. you seldom see me on the chit chat forum do you. So your wish is granted.

By the way ... just because a technician has been doing nails for 10 years does not make them up to date with their information ... there are newer technicians who 'know their onions' far better than many who hve been a part of the industry for far longer.

I have practised beauty therapy over 20 years but newer qualified therapists have certainly taught me a good few things.New techniques, new products ideas etc.
however many years you may have worked doesn't necessarily make anyone good at what they do.
No one is ever going to be that good if they think you know it all and can't be taught anything else.

Well I dont see myself as a professional (well not in the same league as the good ones on here) I hope to be in the future. I would never use any of these techniques on anyone those mentioned sound stupid to me tbh. I worked in a place that lacked hygiene in a few areas and I quit because I didnt want to get into their bad habits and get stuck when I move back to the UK.

I have learned a great deal from this site and I know from the REAL professionals whats right and wrong so a GREAT BIG THANKS to all who have posted educational and work ethics threads.

Thanks
Angela

I think the point of coming here is to learn.
We are all entitled to opinions on many subjects. I often give mine but it is based primarily on facts that have been supplied by many people, some are well known in the industry others, as Gigi says, just know there onions.
Usually if someone has an opinion that I disagree with I will say WHY I disagree and try to back it up with FACTS then hopefully others who read a thread will get a better understanding.
We are ALL here to learn from each other....no-one knows everything about every subject by backing up, for example, product chemistry, Doug Schoons advise is valuable.
And the threads get looked back on over time and people STILL learn from them by the links.
Great thread.