GREAT!!!

it's true, this kind of threads brings back this little sparkle in the eye

go you, and have a great training with Kim! if I were a beautician I'd book with her too!!

Anyone spotting a theme here in the posts by those that have gone out and taken the plunge and are being successful or on the way to being successful? If not read the highlights above.

• Are they saying ... I only work part time?
• Are they saying, ... my clients have to fit in around me and my life?
• Are they saying ... I only do family and friends and never have any money?
• Are they saying ... where can I find free education or cheap products or point me in the direction of ebay?
• Anyone think that it is a coincidence that these ones are having the success they are in a recession when so many others are crying ... where are the clients?

There are other interesting coincidences too that I will not bother to point out.

There are other interesting coincidences too that I will not bother to point out. [/quote]

hee, hee

I think many neglect to take the "plunge" on anything (not just a nail biz) because theyd on't believe in themselves. Regardless of your training and skill level, you will NOT succeed at anything in life if you don't believe in yourself and what you are doing.

It's a core principle also for being a successful sales person. You can not and will NOT successfully sell anyone on anything if you do not believe in the product, what you are doing, yourself etc...it will show through!

Just my humble two cents!

Two cent of gold!! Absolutely true and a fundamental principle as you so rightly point out.

So another question is , I suppose , is why do people carry on struggling on when they get nothing out of it and are never going to?

Because they haven't heard of the saying "Failure is doing the same thing and expecting different results"?

Kidding aside, I've found that some either (a) lack a support network of friends/family to point out the seemingly obvious and help get them in the right direction...or (b) lack a friend or colleague who could serve as a "mentor" and help them learn from their current mistakes and and move forward more productively and/or (c) (which is actually a close tie for "a") the person enjoys being miserable, whining and complaing and does not really WANT to do better and make the money they desire.

Too many fall into this latter category - too lazy to put in the work, diligence and effort to pursue and achieve their "alleged" goals

ooh i've really enjoyed reading through all of these posts. I myself have had my nails badly damaged in the past with nail enhancements although it was my fault for continuing to go back to the same salon which was run by Chinese men, who used electric files so much my nail beds burnt Knowing now what I wish I'd knew then, they didn't sanitise the hands or tools between clients either...it was in and out with us and at £30 a set of nails they were making a canny profit out of us.

I have just taken the plunge today and contacted sweetsquared to pay a deposit on the foundation l&p and additional brisa course. I wish I'd done it ages ago but funds wouldn't let me I'm waiting impatiently for November when I can go to Newcastle and begin my journey

Loving that one ... I'm going to add that to my signature right now!!! I love the signature I have about perfect practise and this goes right along with it.

What happens here in the UK is that because nails are not a licenced profession yet, so many take it up as a hobby and just never go anywhere with it.

If nails as a profession was viewed as seriously as it is in USA then maybe 'ladies' who want to 'play' would think twice about embarking on a course and have a more serious attitude about it.

He, he, I guess Bono Vox described those people when saying: "You're stuck in the moment, and you can't get out of it..."

I saw so many of them 'stuck' or fail in lack of learning and improving, in greed for money so lowering the quality or booking far too many clients in too little time, in saying - I don't need them, they need me, why don't they tip no more, I can afford to do whomever I chose, I'm just fine working 'off books', I don't need more education, I am the best in what I do, my competition sucks, my old clients are my friends and will love me no matter what so I can make them wait and gossip everyone, bla, whatever...

I really don't mean to insult anyone. I'm just sorry to see all of those who did that - failed and shutting down their salons (or even before they opened them) or doing bad nails one after another and struggling with the same problems all over again. And then again, I'm not sorry, it's their choice.

You've opened a Pandora's box, Geeg, but in a good way. So people see how complex all this really is, that you have to combine great passion for nails, love and respect people, be smart about your $$, realistic about your strengths and weaknesses and acknowledge that nails are not something aside to 'encrease your home budget' nails are not selling plastic pots and carrot grinders! .

LOL, I've only ever seen INSANITY described with that definition!

Very sorry to hear about your bad experience! It's so painful (literally and figuratively) to have to wait out the healing process.

It can be frustrating that bad NSS have made a bad impression for me before I even work. Back in the States, we often had people say that they love our salon because we are so clean and disinfect our implements above and beyond state regulations. We used electric files but did so responsibly and with awareness--like we were taught in our mandatory e-filing course.

Here in Liverpool... No one's noticed I disinfect my implements yet. And yesterday some lady came up to me and said, "Is my daughter getting her nails done with you? Good, because Chinese are the best because they have good hands." Of course, I thought of good rebuttals long after she left. I don't WANT to be compared to the competition down the road and I'M NOT CHINESE. Neither are they down the street, I'd bet. I know that's just how Southeast Asians are referred to around here, but it does imply the unfair comparison. I just don't want people to assume I take all crazy shortcuts to boost the profit margin and productivity. At least they give me a chance... Not sure if my clients appreciate it yet (I do take longer than I used to, now that I've started using PREP and properly blending my tips) but I can only hope they notice the difference in service and quality and it will mean something to them. I suppose in some way or another, there will always be expectations and I will always be happy to upset those expectations with great work and quality service AND continuing training to be the best. BOO YA! =)

That probably causes the same bad impression I tried to describe above with serious Nail Techs in the UK! With the added insult of people not looking at this profession with respect. Argh, frustrating! I remember having a "debate" with some strangers in a pub about having a vocational education vs. a university one. Some dude was basically going the stereotypical route, saying VoTechs take the "easy way out" and block themselves into one job for the rest of their lives, while a college education gives you freedom. I told him I have a degree in English Literature, with Honors thank you very much, and I hold a state license in Manicuring and I LOVE my job and find great fulfillment in it because it offers everything I'd originally wanted out of a formal education anyway. He didn't say anything to that, and hopefully he doesn't hold that stereotype anymore. =)

How Rude!

Speaking of RUDE half my class didnt turn up last night - I'm assuming beacuse of the rain and floods I ended up ranting a lil but I was preaching to the converted and the half that turned up this wk was the mostly the same that came last week! How can you pay for training and not turn up beacuse of rain? Some of these girls need their head checked! These are the girls that 'talk nails' all class when they dont know what they're doing, dont do any practical week to week and just likethe sound of being a nail tech and dont really care what it entails - these are the same ones who will cry that I never told/showed them how to backfill or what onycholysis was!! I love doing what I do and when I used to see these know all techs who really know nothing I used to blame their training but really its them! They dont seek the knowledge to make themselves the best.

Sorry if I'm out of line here I just expect a lil more passion from these girls!

well, write down (I'm sure you have a book for it) and mention what you spoke about during that lesson and who missed and if they ask about it just say "let me report you to the lesson of day [insert date here] when we covered the subject"
period. and focus on those who want/deserve it enough...

Hi there

New on here and I am about to do the same thing, did a manicure/pedicure course at a local college followed by an acrylic enhancement course at same place a couple of years ago! Totally disheartened with it as wasn't the quality that i wanted and so lost interest and didn't do anything about it.

Anyway i've decided i am going for it and have booked myself on the CND foundation course in September and am going to rent a room in a hair & beauty salon, any advice would be really appreciated!!

Many thanks Nichola

GIGI - WOW!?! They don't require a license?!?!?! How dangerous! So does one even need to attend a school before setting up shop some place (in a salon or on their own) to be a nail tech?! No wonder the "masses" don't show respect for the profession, though they should. I think licensing though, helps to add a certain legitamcy to the profession. I do make-up and many states do not require a license for that yet. My home state of Maryland does now. I think its a good thing.

I'm really loving this site - it's far more active than some others I've been on. I also love the fact so many are from overseas. We tend to live in our own "bubble" and I think it's great that there's a place to exchange ideas and see what others in the world are doing.

Milshakerr - I'm inclined to agree with you about the negative perception of having a "trade" or "skill". I went through that with some of my friends and mom when I announced that I was moving to NY to atted an Aveda Institute's part-time Cosmetology program. I have a degree in Political Science and worked for a major law firm and as a compliance officer at an Investment Bank in NY. Back in highschool, my mom refused to let me take any type of trade classes, citing that I'm not "dumb" or a "C" student. That has NOTHING to do with it and it galls me how people can so quickly put others in "boxes".

I'm speechless by the story of that woman calling you "Chinese". How racist!!! You are definitely a better woman for taking the high road! Good for you!

RedAdmiral- I'm equally speechless about the classmates not showing up. When I was in "Beauty School" it was a year long program and we were only allowed to miss 5 classes for the ENTIRE YEAR!!! If you missed more than that, you were dismissed, money paid and all!!

there's no license required here either... it's such an annoyance...
I can't wait to come over seas and see these differences many ppl told me about, in the nail world.