Artistic nails!

[Deena]

Inspired by a few comments on other threads and my own thoughts recently, what gets your nails noticed please?

We all know how excruciatingly difficult it is to produce a good set of French and yet it surprises me how much more notice is often taken of a set of glitter tips with a 3D flower, for example, and I'm not for one moment suggesting that these don't require said skill and practise, too! :hug:

What is your experience of this? If only the unitiated knew just how much practise and skill goes into a set of pink and whites. How much of your business is taken up wih requests for these, please?

 

[tigi]

well i have done myself a set of red glitter nail tips, and i have had so many people ask me for my number and so far two new clients in the past week!. more than if i have french or naturals. I dont know why, i dont think they are any better than my others, i think it gets my nails noticed.

 

[Deena]

well i have done myself a set of red glitter nail tips, and i have had so many people ask me for my number and so far two new clients in the past week!. more than if i have french or naturals. I dont know why, i dont think they are any better than my others, i think it gets my nails noticed.

I recently sat and did myself a 'Set' of 10 entirely different nails in all manner of hues and combinations. The response to them was amazing and people wanted my number, even though I'm only looking for models to practise on at the moment.

I did one rebalance on them and finally removed them today for a set of French. I was relieved, to be honest, but it got me noticed and more models, which is what I wanted! I told them I wanted to practise my French, but some had to be lured with the promise of glitter on the horizon at a later date. I don't mind this and love both, but it's a bit disappointing that people generally don't seem to appreciate French in the same way? :irked:

 

[sknight]

In my town there are a couple of Nail Bars (with bad rep by the way) and a few very good salons. All of them produce very nice nails but only french (airbrushed on) or natural. I don't see many people with anything different and thats why my nails get noticed more I think. I have recently sent my mum out with a set of Lilac/Blue glitter fades and she has had a lot of attention.

If a client wants a bit of bling on their french nails I usually add some art, rhinestones or a few glitter stripes to give it that edge.

 

[Shellkelly]

I always have different kinds of nail art which I do myself. Because french is so popular, it goes unnoticed. Last week I had leopard spots and this week I've painted my nails half red and half black (diagonally) with silver glitter going through the middle and white flicks on the black side. It's simple to do but looks amazing and stands out a mile.

 

[Vanilla Pod]

never thought of it that way, but yes you are right , we all notice something a bit out of the ordinary.

 

[geeg]

It may get your nails noticed but you have no idea how many customers are 'put off' by it either!!

My clients are noted for saying things like ... "Oh, yes, very nice, but I'd never wear them like that"!

Most every person who is impressed by my work is impressed because my nails look like the 'real thing'. Most want natural or French. Coloured tips and nail art for 99% of clients in a busy salon business (not talking about friends and family or a hobby with 2 clients per week) do not ask for nail art like coloured tips or airbrushing or hand painted or 3D flowers etc. They don't! Allot of research has proved this to be true.

There are the odd exceptions where a person may be known just for nail art where they do well with it and where the 1% go to get it OR maybe your business concentrates on teenagers who like this sort of thing ... GREAT .. but to be realistic nail art can put off more people than it attracts!

 

[sknight]

To be honest I hardly ever get to do any nail art as most want french which I do love doing. I practice nail art and different techniques on my mum as I like to see how it wears. I am alway trying to perfect my french look though as I want people to think its just a polish look on natural nails. Maybe one day I will get that good.

I dont have a salon and may not have as many clients as others but they are all individuals and they all like different looks. Alot of them are french fanatics but I do have alot that like a different style each time.

 

[PeepPaws]

All through Christmas, and the build up to it, I wear glitter's which sell well.
After christmas first thing off was the glitters,, I'd had enough of wearing them and wanted a block colour and shorter nail. I mixed CND purple with a little black and have had them on for about 3 weeks...just painted over them to get me through the weekend.
I will be doing a new set on my tomorrow using the Poppits and making a nice, rich brown set.

I have a mixed bag of glitters, art and french. Some ask for what I've got at the time.....to which, next week I am doing a set of shorter, dark purple nails on some who usually has the Pink and Whites.

Diversity is a good thing...

 

[angel fingers]

i guess i am the ODD exception then.
i'm well known in my area for being able to offer more choice than other places.
i get more referals from clients who have 3d, glitter, handpainted etc than i do for french. i think its simply because they are more eyecatching. i still get referals from the more natural looking sets . i think like others say its just that the more arty ones capture the attention more easily.
but then i guess thats a good thing as your french and natural sets should be more subtle. though i do get ladies who have compared their french sets to clients that i have done and decided to pay me a visit.
i think it pays to be good at all disciplines if you possibly can be because you can provide the right look for all your clients and give yourself more variety in your work life.

 

[geeg]

I don't disagree about being competent at all disciplines ... I am myself and I'm all for it naturally ... I am also realistic and don't give out advise that can be misleading.

Nail art can put as many people off you as attract them to you ... FACT

Nail art will make up less than 1% of your total business ... proved FACT

Unless you are VERY good at it, and unless you make it a niche market for you in an area where there is a demand for it ... get nail art into perspective and realise that, speaking generally, it will never be your core business.

Frankly, so many here on the site SAY that their nail art is so popular and such a sought after treatment amongst their clientèle ... then explain to me WHERE THE HELL IS IT? Do you see it all around you? Do you see it at all? I don't.

I travel all the time and all over the world and I see oodles of nails on women and I take notice. I NEVER see all this 'ever so popular' nail art that people claim to do.

Polls and industry statistics back up what I am saying. Women generally will not pay the money for the time it takes to perform nail art services on all 10 nails.

I think this is the reason that MinX nail veneers are so popular. It is inexpensive .. the designs are really good and all perfect ... and it lasts for a long time on the nails .. it only takes 10-15 minutes to apply ... and it is commercially viable.

 

[Deena]

Thank you for all your replies so far everyone. What I had in mind when I put this thread up was more for those who are using l&p as opposed to natural nail art with enamels/acrylic paints etc.

I just wonder how many of you who are out there actually working on the public get requests for some of the more 'Involved' and intricate artsy stuff, the type we can see examples of in the galleries? For those of you who do it, how many of your clients actually want it as opposed to admiring it? Is it viable for your business, in view of the extra time taken to do it?

 

[geeg]

Thank you for all your replies so far everyone. What I had in mind when I put this thread up was more for those who are using l&p as opposed to natural nail art with enamels/acrylic paints etc.

I just wonder how many of you who are out there actually working on the public get requests for some of the more 'Involved' and intricate artsy stuff, the type we can see examples of in the galleries? For those of you who do it, how many of your clients actually want it as opposed to admiring it? Is it viable for your business, in view of the extra time taken to do it?

I think I answered all those questions in my above post .. we crossed posts! x

 

[angel fingers]

Thank you for all your replies so far everyone. What I had in mind when I put this thread up was more for those who are using l&p as opposed to natural nail art with enamels/acrylic paints etc.

I just wonder how many of you who are out there actually working on the public get requests for some of the more 'Involved' and intricate artsy stuff, the type we can see examples of in the galleries? For those of you who do it, how many of your clients actually want it as opposed to admiring it? Is it viable for your business, in view of the extra time taken to do it?

around 65-70 % of my clients have something other tthan plain pink and whites or natural.

 

[Deena]

I think I answered all those questions in my above post .. we crossed posts! x

Yes, Geeg, we did and thanks. x This is exactly what I'm driving at and I was interested in peoples' actual experiences of this. Some of the work exhibited on here is absolutely breathtaking in terms of artistry and skill, but is it an eye catching showcase as opposed to a seriously viable part of their businesses? How many people are going to pay what it's actually worth in terms of their time?

 

[Deena]

around 65-70 % of my clients have something other tthan plain pink and whites or natural.

Thanks, angel. When you say your clients want more, can you give us a few examples, please? x

 

[izzidoll]

Good thread!

I agree with a lot on here, especially Angelfingers.

In order to be popular with nail art or specialise in it, you need to be producing first class nails. There is absolutely no point in putting wonderful art on a poorly applied enhancement that will lift!!

I also agree with Geeg,yes, tacky or badly done nail art will put more people off than it attracts, that's a given.

Maybe we buck the trend up here too but the salon attached to Affiniti (Nail & Beauty) has built its clientel and reputation on producing first class nails with COLOUR!!

Yes a lot of people still get french, but it is about a 50-50 split between french/natural and use of colour. Probably even a 60 -40 split in December in the lead uo to christmas for colour.We are the only salon in the area to offer such a wide variety of colours and glitters, and as I said about 50% of the clientel (of all ages and backgrounds)take advantage of this.

Regarding timings etc, it takes the tech's the same amount of time to do a set of glitter tips as it does to do a french ( a smile line is a smile line after all) but there is an extra charge for the colour product. If more than one colour is used, say for a fade, then again there is an extra charge, as this can add to your time.

Black glitter tips were the most popular over the last couple of months, with people opting to keep them even after the party season was over!!

We are always talking about being a full service technician on here....and I think being competent in using colour products is an important part of that.

 

[Deena]

Good thread!

I agree with a lot on here, especially Angelfingers.

In order to be popular with nail art or specialise in it, you need to be producing first class nails. There is absolutely no point in putting wonderful art on a poorly applied enhancement that will lift!!

I also agree with Geeg,yes, tacky or badly done nail art will put more people off than it attracts, that's a given.

Maybe we buck the trend up here too but the salon attached to Affiniti (Nail & Beauty) has built its clientel and reputation on producing first class nails with COLOUR!!

Yes a lot of people still get french, but it is about a 50-50 split between french/natural and use of colour. Probably even a 60 -40 split in December in the lead uo to christmas for colour.We are the only salon in the area to offer such a wide variety of colours and glitters, and as I said about 50% of the clientel (of all ages and backgrounds)take advantage of this.

Regarding timings etc, it takes the tech's the same amount of time to do a set of glitter tips as it does to do a french ( a smile line is a smile line after all) but there is an extra charge for the colour product. If more than one colour is used, say for a fade, then again there is an extra charge, as this can add to your time.

Black glitter tips were the most popular over the last couple of months, with people opting to keep them even after the party season was over!!

We are always talking about being a full service technician on here....and I think being competent in using colour products is an important part of that.

Thanks, Izzi! I entirely take your point about being able to create top notch enhancements in the first place. You can't design on a dodgy canvas! :lol: I also agree about glitter tips, a smile line is a smile line after all. x

Here is the crux of the matter for me, though. When I see really intricate flower designs and the like, both inlaid and 'On top' of the enhancements, as adequately exhibited in the geek gallery, for example, how much demand is there for this type of work? How would it be commercially viable on all ten nails and would it be correct to assume that they are done more as a 'Feature' nail on one or two digits, given the time it would take? I am struggling to imagine a typical client having the disposable income to fund this type of set? Is it, therefore, more of a photographic exercise to demonstrate skill as opposed to a cornerstone of one's business, please? :hug: xx

 

[izzidoll]

Thanks, Izzi! I entirely take your point about being able to create top notch enhancements in the first place. You can't design on a dodgy canvas! :lol: I also agree about glitter tips, a smile line is a smile line after all. x

Here is the crux of the matter for me, though. When I see really intricate flower designs and the like, both inlaid and 'On top' of the enhancements, as adequately exhibited in the geek gallery, for example, how much demand is there for this type of work? How would it be commercially viable on all ten nails and would it be correct to assume that they are done more as a 'Feature' nail on one or two digits, given the time it would take? I am struggling to imagine a typical client having the disposable income to fund this type of set? Is it, therefore, more of a photographic exercise to demonstrate skill as opposed to a cornerstone of one's business, please? :hug: xx

Personally I would only want intricate work done on a feature design on 1 or 2 nails, with the background fades on the others. I remember Purelynailz posted a step by step of a nail she had done, and I actually preferred the nail about 2 steps from the end,befiore the 3d work as the colour fade was fabulous.
Some of the work in galleries etc is extreme, but can be diluted down to make them salon viable.
I also prefer my art work to be embedded as opposed to 'on top' of the nail, as I am very heavy on my nails, and truth be told very clumsy :o:

When applying colour, say in a 2 colour fade, you should be thinking ahead about the first maintenance treatment, and what other colour you could use then to fade into the current colours making the rebalance easier (quicker), but still giving your client a new look.

Regarding the really intricate 3d work, your bread and butter clients may not actually want this on their nails, but if you have examples of it whether on tips or in photographs, then they will see how skillfull you are with your product.
This in turn leads to good word of mouth advertising, as even though they have a natural or french look they will tell other people about how 'their' nail technician can do absolutely anything!!
Also entering mixed media and photographic competitions with this work gets you great PR and advertising again with your clients who will of course tell everyone how 'their' nail tech has won this that and the other!!!

So to answer your question, 3d work may only be a small part of your daily business, but it can be a good marketing tool.

However use of colour powders CAN BE the cornerstone or at least the USP of your business when used as glitter tips and fades.

 

[V2008]

Hi,

I'm quite new to all of this but when I was in college we practically had to beg our clients to have a bit of nail art so we could get assessed on that particular part of the NVQ... Every mani and pedi I done, the client requested the french polish, I personally agree, I love the white tips as they look clean and go with everything!!

Feedback from the younger girls in college about why they didn't choose nail art, glitter etc to the french was that it looks 'tacky', personally I don't agree but can understand their opinion as some of the looks are a bit OTT.

xxx