Excellent thread Marian!

I think more emphasis should be put on extraction ventilation and over-exposure to products. The dangers encountered in not working with proper extraction ventilation and good working methods should be highlighted very strongly. It may be touched on in H&S but I really think this one needs to be drummed into students.

It is interesting too that none of the education centres where I have trained have ever had proper extraction ventilation - even classes with 8+ students. Many a time student used to leave overcome with vapours.

Hi Jac (couldn't resist)

I wish there was! It's such a shame that there are so few good nail teachers in colleges. I think it often happens in beauty courses that the nails unit is taught by a beauty therapist teacher who has no real interest.

Students seem to be passed on their portfolio work but the assessors and both internal and external verifiers don't seem to be able to recognise good and bad nails! I've brought it up so many times but, on paper, those seeing the process through are qualified to do so!

So frustrating! But, in saying that, I've seen horrific pics on here of nails that loads of geeks then post and say how fabulous they are!

Acceptance of what is good and what is unacceptable seems to have a wide range of opinions!!

Sorry Marian..lol

I wish I could say that they are acceptable but the ones I have seen can barely apply and blend a tip let alone do a P&W, its a shame that enhancements are not a course on their own rather than being lumped in with beauty, or maybe a qualified experienced Nail tech should teach that part of the course.
I am talking only about the ones that I have seen straight out of college, I dont mean to offend anybody, its just my opinion.

I don't think you're offending anyone at all! I'm sure many people on here have seen the nails you're talking about.

All courses at college must be taught by someone qualified in that area. Nails units are optional units in the BT qualifications (I think). There is a separate nail services qualification but, in theory, any unit can be taken with any other. So, for example, waxing could be taken with the nails units.

It does seem that good nail technician teachers are hard to find at FE. The industry in general doesn't really support the FE route and good teachers prefer the shorter private courses.

There is an income issue here as private courses pay far more than FE. Plus and very importantly, FE classes tend to be much bigger and with lots of paperwork and rules to follow.

It's a shame for FE who provide widely available funded courses for so many people. It doesn't attract many of the good teachers.

Bit of a vicious circle really

Nails are not actually lumped in with beauty,its the up to the college which addtional units they teach and very few opt for nails because as you say they do not have experienced nail techs to teach it.
Its taught separately as a level 2 then an NVQ level 3 qualification taking a total of 2 years to complete. Most beauty students in my college come back to complete the nail courses in addition to beauty as its not covered in beauty at all.
Problem with experienced nail techs teaching nails is that we have to have the NVQ level 3 in nail services ourselves as well as an assessors award and a foundation degree in teaching, so if we wish college standards to rise WE have to get in their and offer our services and skills- i did- and i can honestly say the standard of skill and talent in my current level 3 group is outstanding, and i am proud.I have seen many girls and boys go on private education courses, and again some are good , some are bad- the fact is the ratio of colleges to private companies is huge.

iI KNOW my students are receiving good education so its unfair to say nails are lumped in with beauty as its not necessarily the case, and YES it is taught separately in some places!!! Give us the chance to move with the changes and if not , do what i have done, get in there and make a difference! For the record, i was privately trained, did my NVQ level 3 in nails, teach 10 hours a week, work in my own nail salon 50plus hours a week and sleep most sundays as a result - if thats not dedication to my industry i dunno what is..

LOl im not offended Jac and im sorry youve seen some rubbish.. but i am trying but i cant teach everywhere.. i need help.. lol

Morning Geeks,

This thread has been so useful as I am just starting out and have been trying to decide where to go for my training...I want this first move to be the best one and I honestly dont know which course is best!!
Anyone help me name a couple good training schools?
Saddlesore xxx

Hi everyone
I've read all your posts with interest. I'm not qualified at all and was going to go to Truro College to do an NVQ level 2 in nail services. To then move on and do level 3. Having read many posts and threads on the subject of courses I have to say CND is becoming more appealing by the day. I'm worried though as someone who has never done anything to do with nails at all what is the correct route to go. I was thinking NVQ level 2 and 3 then look at CND. Does this sound sensible? Or could I just go to CND and do their courses?

You could go straight to CND. The NVQ is a minimum qualification and the CND course will give you that and more. An nvq is not required where you live.

As a very basic requirement, those taking a course in artificial nails must cover:
-understanding of the natural nail (if a manicure qualification is not already achieved)
-anatomy and physiology of the nail unit
-basic chemical processes of the system being studied (1 system only)
-contra indications and contra actions
-tip application
-overlay application (1 system only)
-natural nail overlays
-sculptured nails
-maintenance (infills and rebalances)
-removal

This should all be a mixture of theoretical and practical learning. The practical skills should NEVER be taught theoretically.

Before taking on paying clients the student MUST work with an absolute minimum of 10 'clients' over a period of time.

I have written 2 text books and am the 'nail expert' for Habia. I am not affiliated with any brand. If any one has taken a course that does not include these basics then it is NOT a good enough course. I am happy to discuss this basic requirement with any trainer or Company.

I welcome any comments and suggestions!

So many newcomers to this industry are confused and at a loss to what is right!!

i did my training with the carlton institute and i new nothing about nails but something told me that there was no where near enough information given to me and a 2 day course in gel and acrylic and fibre glass wat a waste of time im retraining and doing it properly this time this list would of been so useful to me when i was first starting out! i still consider myself a newbie and any other info would be great!! xx

I'm planning to write a piece for Scratch based on the replies this thread has generated (not the actual replies but the difficulty in knowing where to start)

Trouble is how does that info get to people who are just starting and don't know where to look?? Any ideas?

Sadly, it won't get to the public through an article in a trade magazine.

I still think your best bet is the internet and most likely THIS SITE. When the people who have already made the mistakes read it in SCRATCH then post the article on here, Marian and we'll make it a 'sticky'. xxx

This is a good thread, could have used it when i was looking at courses, everyone seems to have different opinions.
The course i chose was with pinks academy in Tamworth, i chose it because it breaks each part of this into sections and different courses, manicure, pedicure, one system extension, conversion courses, trouble shooting and infills and advanced sculpting.
I like the idea of this because once i was confident with manicures i went onto extentions and then done a gel conversion, my next one is the sculpting, i think its good to ensure that you are good at the basics before trying to do the works!
I don't understand how anyone can believe that a one week course will teach them all they need to know and will be able to create great nails!!

I want to offer nail extension courses at my salon, but want it to be a thorough course with natioanl recognition. How should I choose an appropriate trainer who is qualified to tutor such a course?

I can confidently say I do cover all of the original points and more on my courses. But nice to hear someone back them up.