I'm training at the moment and at times I feel I do alright and other times just want to cry and give up because I feel that I will never reach the level of standard that I want . For me 100% is not enough. I am my own worst critique. I can take one step forward and if one small error occurs then it's two steps back for me.

I had class yesterday and colleagues are starting to notice my handiwork. (A couple of them are already experienced nail techs) and I was approached with the offer of work (this should b e a good sign right?) but straight away I said no because I got scared and felt I wasn't ready even though they said that I can gain more experience at salon while working there and build up my confidence.

It was what I wanted to do after I get qualified. (I wasn't sure about being mobile or working from home) But I feel like I threw an opportunity away.

I know the first step is scary as I am not hiding behind my tutor or practice table at home anymore but I just can't seem to do it

Yes its scary at first when you are just qualified, but i just bit the bullet so to speak and have never looked back. Its the best job ever. Hope you gain some confidence and look to the stars, you will never look back. Good luck

Thank you, I'm loving doing nails and am going to try not let fears spoil it for me. I'm going to be brave and bite the bullet just like you did.

Hi I think most of us feel the same way. I've just finished training and have only had four clients. Each time someone rings for an appointment I almost tell them I am fully booked because I get scared that something is going to go wrong. My nails are far from perfect in my eyes but the clients have all been thrilled with them. Your nails must but be fairly good to have been offered work already.
We are our own worst critiques. Being critical of the nails you produce isnt necessarily a bad thing because it makes us strive to do better next time and to learn more. The biggest boost to my confidence came when someone called and said that they saw someone's nails that I had done and liked them and wanted theirs done the same.
If I hadn't taken the chance, I wouldn't have gotten that
If your nails are good enough for the offer of work to have been made, you should go for it I think confidence will come with experience
Cheers
Karen

Awwwww, I can understand how you feel , I have been there many times. The only way to get over it is go out there and do it. It just goes to show that the person who offered you a job in the salon thought your work was good enough, so it must be. Perhaps you could approach her again and ask if the position is still available? If not I am sure there will be plenty of other opportunties out there for you.

Hiya,
I know exactly how you feel I've been doing my own nails for about 5 yrs now and only qualified last June. I STILL only do my own! I do mums/friends toes with art but that's it.
Everybody at my daughters school is always asking me do do their nails and straight away I make excuses why I can't I cringe when people say "oooh let me see your nails" cos I know what's coming next!! "will you do mine for me"

At the moment I'm happy just doing my own, I'm hoping that one day I'll wake up with enough confidence to start making some money out of this!!

Sorry I can't be anymore help, I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in feeling this way

Whats the point of being fearful? You say by your own admission that you are your worst enemy so do something about it! Go back and go into the salon and get out there, why does something bad have to happen. Change your attitude as it gets you nowhere. Start today realise that things take time and that you are in a learning process, relax and enjoy your journey and hopefully being around other likeminded people will create oppurtunities that will never exist if you dont go for it.

Get out there and do it...... I opened a nail room 2 weeks after finishing training and I havent looked back .....

Clients give me confidence when they tell me ive done a great job !!!

You can do it xx

I think you did throw away a wonderful opportunity .. an opportunity that some would kill for may I say.

You know the phrase ... JUST DO IT.

It is not a lack of confidence you have. It is the fear of failure .. ... but why should you fail? If you keep thinking about failure then that is what will happen. Thinking about it is like asking for it to happen.

Start off by knowing you will be a success and don't even contemplate failure.

It NEVER occurred to me that I would fail at nails and it never occurs to me now that I will fail at anything I work hard to achieve.

I remember when I first started doing nails..I always wanted older ladies so they couldn't see close up-in case they weren't perfect.

Funny? I was scared just like you.

What you need to realize is that you are trained in a specialized field. People WANT you to do their nails for them. THEY don't know how to do them, hell, most people can't even polish their nails properly!

You will gain the confidence once you throw yourself in to it. You will have no choice.

Just do it, don't spend your days wondering "What if....?"

No regrets!

Thank you for your wise and wonderful advice Geeg. I never really thought of it like that but now that you've said it it's got me thinking.
I want to thank all the others too for theirs.

Hi there, I agree with gigi, it is not lack of confidence but fear and really there is nothing to be fearful of. Those people who approached you to work with them already judged you and really liked what they saw. Rember that the clients will see what they like (your work) and make their choices. You must have been confident when you did your nails so that sshould not be an issue. Don't worry about missed opportunities, more is on the way. Goodluck

Wow you were offered a job in a salon and you turned it down? Are you mad !!!! People would kill for that opportunity and you were effectively head hunted for it!

I started in a nail salon and it was the best start anyone could have. Every set I did to start with was critiqued and told where I could improve. I had the chance to work alongside experienced techs and learn from them. I did set after set after set day in day out, no struggling to find people to work on. You really cannot get graetr experience (and you also MAY see things that happen that are absolute shocking eye openers of what NOT to do!!!)

Go back to the salon and ask them if the opening is still there and GO FOR IT! If you get any complaints then you will have a team around you to support you and that support mechanism will help push you further rather than feel you have to throw your brush in.

Be brave, be bold and tell yourself "I can do this".

tell them you were scared but you'd love to work for them...

you cannot miss that chance!
they've seen you work, so they know you're good. remember, if they offer you a job, then it's not because they pity you, it's ebcause they see, throu you, a business opportunity. in other words, you HAVE some POTENTIAL and they+you are gonna explore and exploit it.

I did think I would fail too. before I got the job of my dreams. the guy just told me "if you are interested, email me tomorrow" I did, and I too was scared of not being good enough, and after some time, I realised I was putting myself under pressure, and when I would relax, then my work would be even better.

Trust yourself. no one can do that for you.

Yeah, you're right about the relaxing thing. Sometimes I get so wound up and my hands start trembling so much that I can't hold the brush properly.