Am I being dramatic?

[Paige@TheClinik]

I've been trained in basic mani pedi for almost 2 years, acrylics 6 months and gelish 6 months, 6 months ago I started doing a "model price list" because I had just qualified in acrylics and my boss thought i needed more practise with all nail treatments, I had probably 6 sets of acrylics and more gelish and polish in the space of 5 months many of which even a fellow therapist questioned
Why it was so cheap, I love nail art I practise lots. In the last month we got a new beauty therapist who specialises mainly in waxing at that point we put the nail prices back to normal as I was no longer the only nail tech, I've had no clients since in the last month they have all been given to the new therapist who is lovely, I've tried so hard to get the clients in but I've been struggling then the other skin techs at work today said that they want me to do the mod prices again but only for me because I'm not as good as the other therapist, I'm really upset I've done out of hours work to practise and advertise and I feel a bit belittled. Ill attach some pictures of my work so you can give me constructive criticism on what I should work on.

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

Sorry can only do 1 at a time

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

Another

 

[LolliDolli]

I think they look nice
How long are they lasting?
Did they say why they think the other techs are better than yours?


Laura xx

 

[Twinners]

Sorry can only do 1 at a time

Well for a relative newbie, I think they are beautiful, especially these! If I can turn out enhancements like these in 6 months, I'll be very happy. I'm sorry this is happening to you xx

 

[syncage]

I can see some areas for improvement. Just in neatening up or getting crisper lines with you art.

I would guess though that your boss is meaning you need to get the underlying nail structure & polishing spot on before going to town on the art! For example on the third picture, it is kinda obscured by the glitter but you can see the nail flares out at the side walls. It also looks like in both pictures your cuticles/the skin surrounding your nails is damaged? You need to really care for your hands as they are advertising your work. :Love:If you look carefully at the second picture I can see a few 'lumpy' bits too. Nothing a bit more filing wouldn't correct. I'm just talking about refining things a little. They are by no means bad, and I have seen a lot worse!

As you boss said you need to practise all nail treatments I think that is what she was meaning and not criticising your art. I would sit down with your boss and ask her what areas you think you should concentrate on for improving.

We all need to constantly refine + practise our skills and you are still new to the industry so don't loose heart. If you don't already have it I would highly recommend gigi's book nail class for all aspects from perfect polishing to file control etc. If there is someone at your work who you can work with that would be a plus, or maybe a 121 with an educator to help point you in the right direction and make sure you are practising perfectly would be where I would take it next.

Probably stating the obvious here, but be sure to look at your whole service too including your own appearance, working area, personal skills with the client etc along with retailing and rebooking clients.

 

[margot]

I've been trained in basic mani pedi for almost 2 years, acrylics 6 months and gelish 6 months, 6 months ago I started doing a "model price list" because I had just qualified in acrylics and my boss thought i needed more practise with all nail treatments, I had probably 6 sets of acrylics and more gelish and polish in the space of 5 months many of which even a fellow therapist questioned
Why it was so cheap, I love nail art I practise lots. In the last month we got a new beauty therapist who specialises mainly in waxing at that point we put the nail prices back to normal as I was no longer the only nail tech, I've had no clients since in the last month they have all been given to the new therapist who is lovely, I've tried so hard to get the clients in but I've been struggling then the other skin techs at work today said that they want me to do the mod prices again but only for me because I'm not as good as the other therapist, I'm really upset I've done out of hours work to practise and advertise and I feel a bit belittled. Ill attach some pictures of my work so you can give me constructive criticism on what I should work on.

Hi Paige,

I can empathise with your situation, it is horrid to feel undervalued in the workplace. Looking at your work constrictively I can see some contact with product on cuticle area and your shaping could be improved - but nothing that some tweaking and 'perfect practice' cannot rectify. You may have experienced clients having lifting issues due to both problems? You also need to address this situation with the salon owner, explain that you would rather improve your work than take less money. If there is not enough clients for two nail technicians maybe this also needs addressing - in my opinion it is always better to have a nail specialist as opposed to a beauty therapist dabbling in both fields. Please don't be disheartened - you will feel better once you have discussed the salon owners reasons behind her decision.


Sent from my iPad using SalonGeek mobile app

Cheryl Sait-Parkinson

 

[margot]

I can see some areas for improvement. Just in neatening up or getting crisper lines with you art.

I would guess though that your boss is meaning you need to get the underlying nail structure & polishing spot on before going to town on the art! For example on the third picture, it is kinda obscured by the glitter but you can see the nail flares out at the side walls. It also looks like in both pictures your cuticles/the skin surrounding your nails is damaged? You need to really care for your hands as they are advertising your work. :Love:If you look carefully at the second picture I can see a few 'lumpy' bits too. Nothing a bit more filing wouldn't correct. I'm just talking about refining things a little. They are by no means bad, and I have seen a lot worse!

As you boss said you need to practise all nail treatments I think that is what she was meaning and not criticising your art. I would sit down with your boss and ask her what areas you think you should concentrate on for improving.

We all need to constantly refine + practise our skills and you are still new to the industry so don't loose heart. If you don't already have it I would highly recommend gigi's book nail class for all aspects from perfect polishing to file control etc. If there is someone at your work who you can work with that would be a plus, or maybe a 121 with an educator to help point you in the right direction and make sure you are practising perfectly would be where I would take it next.

Probably stating the obvious here, but be sure to look at your whole service too including your own appearance, working area, personal skills with the client etc along with retailing and rebooking clients.

Very eloquently put! I must have been typing at same time


Sent from my iPad using SalonGeek mobile app

Cheryl Sait-Parkinson

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

Sorry these pictures are on my own nails I have very dry skin on my hands and it doesn't help my cuticles, the other girl doesn't do enhancements just gelish and basic mani pedi amongst her NVQ and there isn't another nail
Tech there. I know they aren't perfect but the person saying it says I don't go right to the top with polish, of course because there's cuticle there I don't but she isn't a beautician. I in all honesty don't get enough clients to improve my skills I mainly practise on myself or friends, and even when the model price list was on I didn't get many because of course people presumed I was still training x

 

[LolliDolli]

I always think a 'model price list' is a bad idea. Like you said it just makes me assume your not as good and when they go up they will still be cautious about going to you. Have a word with your boss about this. And your boss should let you practise on her an other employees if she expects you to improve. Try pulling the skin back when you polish so you can get right to the top. But also explain to her that you can't touch the cuticle or paint over it.
She might need a little educating too


Laura xx

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

my nails last about 2 weeks, they think shes better because shes been qualified for 6 years, but she specialises in waxing can i add she doesnt know anything about this and when i asked what she thought of me doing the model price again she thought it was silly. its more another therapist there who does laser she doesnt do beauty, i know theres room for improvement but at full price i only charge £20 for acrylics and £15 for gelish so on model it was half price

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

I can see some areas for improvement. Just in neatening up or getting crisper lines with you art.

I would guess though that your boss is meaning you need to get the underlying nail structure & polishing spot on before going to town on the art! For example on the third picture, it is kinda obscured by the glitter but you can see the nail flares out at the side walls. It also looks like in both pictures your cuticles/the skin surrounding your nails is damaged? You need to really care for your hands as they are advertising your work. :Love:If you look carefully at the second picture I can see a few 'lumpy' bits too. Nothing a bit more filing wouldn't correct. I'm just talking about refining things a little. They are by no means bad, and I have seen a lot worse!

As you boss said you need to practise all nail treatments I think that is what she was meaning and not criticising your art. I would sit down with your boss and ask her what areas you think you should concentrate on for improving.

We all need to constantly refine + practise our skills and you are still new to the industry so don't loose heart. If you don't already have it I would highly recommend gigi's book nail class for all aspects from perfect polishing to file control etc. If there is someone at your work who you can work with that would be a plus, or maybe a 121 with an educator to help point you in the right direction and make sure you are practising perfectly would be where I would take it next.

Probably stating the obvious here, but be sure to look at your whole service too including your own appearance, working area, personal skills with the client etc along with retailing and rebooking clients.

thank you for your advice i will definitely take it on board,

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

I always think a 'model price list' is a bad idea. Like you said it just makes me assume your not as good and when they go up they will still be cautious about going to you. Have a word with your boss about this. And your boss should let you practise on her an other employees if she expects you to improve. Try pulling the skin back when you polish so you can get right to the top. But also explain to her that you can't touch the cuticle or paint over it.
She might need a little educating too


Laura xx

Thank you Laura i will try the pulling the skin back x

 

[syncage]

Trying to pick out something positive + constructive from what your boss is saying, I would advise you should work on 'perfect' cuticle work (strictly speaking there should be no cuticle left on the nail plate, just the eponycium)and then it is easier with your polishing to get the neatest line around the eponynium, with the teeney tinest margin as possible. not easy!

Going off the pictures you have given I would say you are pretty much there with getting it close to the eponycium (as you say you can go too far) but the neat crisp edge isn't visible at least in the pictures on here. Some of my fav nail techs specialise in this... darlingdigitsnails, tiptoenails and divinebydesign - you should be able to find them all on facebook to see examples of their work so hopefully you will see what I mean.

Getting close to the eponycium is all well and good, but at least for me it grows out within a few days so you need that crisp beautiful edge as it grows up the nail in order for your manicure to keep looking good!

It may be you are already there, in which case why not polish up some friends and family and show your boss. Ask what else needs improving - it is in both your interests to be able to increase your prices so have a positive attitude and work with her to achieve this. Your passion and determination is shining through in your posts so I know you can get there!

Hand Cream and Nail oil to the max for our own hands, no excuses!! Care for yourself!! xx

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

Trying to pick out something positive + constructive from what your boss is saying, I would advise you should work on 'perfect' cuticle work (strictly speaking there should be no cuticle left on the nail plate, just the eponycium)and then it is easier with your polishing to get the neatest line around the eponynium, with the teeney tinest margin as possible. not easy!

Going off the pictures you have given I would say you are pretty much there with getting it close to the eponycium (as you say you can go too far) but the neat crisp edge isn't visible at least in the pictures on here. Some of my fav nail techs specialise in this... darlingdigitsnails, tiptoenails and divinebydesign - you should be able to find them all on facebook to see examples of their work so hopefully you will see what I mean.

Getting close to the eponycium is all well and good, but at least for me it grows out within a few days so you need that crisp beautiful edge as it grows up the nail in order for your manicure to keep looking good!

It may be you are already there, in which case why not polish up some friends and family and show your boss. Ask what else needs improving - it is in both your interests to be able to increase your prices so have a positive attitude and work with her to achieve this. Your passion and determination is shining through in your posts so I know you can get there!

Hand Cream and Nail oil to the max for our own hands, no excuses!! Care for yourself!! xx

Thank you i will keep practising and i know my hands aren't the best and if my technicians hands were awful i wouldnt expect much myself so ill definitely work on that xx

 

[margot]

Sorry these pictures are on my own nails I have very dry skin on my hands and it doesn't help my cuticles, the other girl doesn't do enhancements just gelish and basic mani pedi amongst her NVQ and there isn't another nail
Tech there. I know they aren't perfect but the person saying it says I don't go right to the top with polish, of course because there's cuticle there I don't but she isn't a beautician. I in all honesty don't get enough clients to improve my skills I mainly practise on myself or friends, and even when the model price list was on I didn't get many because of course people presumed I was still training x

I'm sorry Paige, I hadn't realised these were your own nails! £20 and £15 for acrylic and gelish are too cheap. There is no profit in you working like this and you are also giving the impression your not qualified. You need to get more practice to improve your services. You seem to be in a negative circle - being promoted as a newbie, charging too cheaply and a none nail specific therapist being given the opportunity to build a clientele ??? Perhaps you should explain this to salon owner or rethink your position there. If this is your choice of vocation and your passion - own it! Take back control how you are going yo run yourself as a professional - even if it takes time!


Sent from my iPad using SalonGeek mobile app

Cheryl Sait-Parkinson

 

[LolliDolli]

Thank you Laura i will try the pulling the skin back x

No problem. At 2 weeks I definitely think your work is worth more than that! Especially at half price! £15 for gelish is cheap as it is.
Have a word with your boss about prices. And then just do your best and practise and been better than your best then soon you will be perfect and they can't say a thing
hope it all goes well


Laura xx

 

[Paige@TheClinik]

I've spoken to them this morning and going to practise on another therapist so she can give me advise, rethinking it I did take it to heart I don't think it was a jab at my work but more the boost I needed to neaten up my work thank you for all your advice xx