Books on nails

[max2619]

I was wondering what are the best books i could get on nails, Acrylics, gels, extensions etc? I have recently got into the whole nail hobby and am researching which courses i could take locally as i have little-uns at home. The best of which appears to be at Solana Nail & Beauty Training Academy in my local town (Dereham, Norfolk) . But i was hoping to put a couple of books on my Xmas list that would give me lots of info and the opportunity to practice until i can book myself on a course.
Many Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer any help.

 

[Urban Geek]

When selecting who you train with, remember that you get what you pay for. Do a search on this site under 'training' and you'll find loads of threads on this.

Essential books for me are:

- The Complete Nail Technician (Marian Newman)
- NailClass (Gigi Rouse)
- Nail Structure & Product Chemistry (Doug Schoon)

 

[Gilly T]

I agree with these and have them with the exception of Nailclass... this is going on my christmas list.

Just a quickie though... Encylopedia of Nail is an excellent book but it's by Jacqui Jefford and Anne Swain. The Complete Nail Technician is by Marian Newman but they are both excellent books and I would recommend them both.

ps... Nail structure and product chemistry by Doug Schoon is my latest addition and is probably the best of all IMO.

 

[max2619]

Great, Thanks. Think i will have a busy xmas swotting up and practicing

 

[Bagpuss]

I was wondering what are the best books i could get on nails, Acrylics, gels, extensions etc? I have recently got into the whole nail hobby and am researching which courses i could take locally as i have little-uns at home. The best of which appears to be at Solana Nail & Beauty Training Academy in my local town (Dereham, Norfolk) . But i was hoping to put a couple of books on my Xmas list that would give me lots of info and the opportunity to practice until i can book myself on a course.
Many Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer any help.

I am sure you meant nothing by this but do you mean hobby or industry...what we do is a job, not a hobby...:hug:

 

[max2619]

I did look into CND for a course but there was nothing in my area and i cant get away because of the kids, and with no local college course i am now looking into salon/product company courses.
The salon i mentioned before does offer a CIBTAC qualification.
I'm interested to know if you would reccommend short individual courses in each stage or a combination course ?

 

[max2619]

I meant hobby, as that is all i have done as yet, practicing on myself.
But having gotten totally into it I find i want to take it further and actually get into the industry.
Especially as i am at a cross roads in my life, having given up my job as a dental nurse several years ago to raise my family, who will soon all be in school (my youngest is nearly 2).
I am planning ahead and considering taking the opportunity to get some qualifications so i'm not left at a loose end when they have all disappeared off to school.
As i have no desire to go back to the Dental field, i thought it would be good to follow something i enjoy to do and have enthusiasm for.
It has to start somewhere right?
I certainly didn't mean to cause offence.

 

[geeg]

I meant hobby, as that is all i have done as yet, practicing on myself.
But having gotten totally into it I find i want to take it further and actually get into the industry.
Especially as i am at a cross roads in my life, having given up my job as a dental nurse several years ago to raise my family, who will soon all be in school (my youngest is nearly 2).
I am planning ahead and considering taking the opportunity to get some qualifications so i'm not left at a loose end when they have all disappeared off to school.
As i have no desire to go back to the Dental field, i thought it would be good to follow something i enjoy to do and have enthusiasm for.
It has to start somewhere right?
I certainly didn't mean to cause offence.

You have to remember that the biggest problem in our industry is the people who do nails as a hobby with no training ... getting hold of 'professional use only' products and causing damage both to nails and to the reputation of the rest of us who have worked hard to attain the levels of knowledge and skill needed in this profession. Hobby techs are the single biggest destroyers of the professional image of nail artists today.

So forgive if some of us seem touchy on the subject of hobby vs. profession. The very word HOBBY rings alarm bells in most of us. You didn't offend, but the advice any of us would give to you is to get the best training you can (not just what is convenient) and for that you may have to make sacrifices. Bad training is worse than no training in my opinion. Great education is not always on your doorstep (rarely is it on your doorstep in fact). I personally have travelled all over the world for training and I had 5 children (and a supportive husband it has to be said)!!

So good luck and I hope you get it Right from the start instead of the long way around through one mistake after another.

 

[Exquisite Touch]

My job isnt a Hobby its an obsession........ a way of life :Grope:. A passion that grows day by day

 

[max2619]

An obsession has to start somewhere as does a job, at this moment my obsession is untrained and not a job. But i'm working towards changing this.

 

[beautynails]

I think the best book you could buy in your situation (looking to train),would be
-Nail Structure & Product Chemistry (Doug Schoon)
It would give you a great head start on all the anatomy stuff you need to learn before you start. He also has the most amazing way of making the chemistry understandable.

 

[costa carolina]

I can only echo what GiGi says about training. For me, I can honestly say that if you are serious about making a career out of nails, and want to be the best you possibly can, it is SO worth putting in the effort, cost and sacrifice at the earliest possible stage. The easy option is seldom the best as with most things in life!

By starting off with the best training (for me, Creative) you will save money in the long run because you will not feel the need to attend every other course you come across. You will be starting off with the best and will not spend years in the wilderness doing this course and that, and feeling that you are not quite "getting it". A good teacher is an absolute must, just because someone can "do" nails themselves does not automatically make them a good teacher. Teaching is a completely separate skill. I know Creative put their potential Educators through a very intense Boot Camp to ensure just that. Plus a good, reputable company will offer you excellent, accessable, ongoing support.

So, if you are passionate about nails, invest in your future with both time and money, and your rewards will be reaped for many happy years to come.

(no I dont have shares in Creative! Its just feel that they are doing a fantastic job, to me they have it nailed)

I wish you lots of success on your road to perfection

 

[SelenaP]

i must admit i travelled a fair distance, paid a great deal of money & it took time to get to be a master nail tech & it was thouroughly worth it! don't just go by the cheapest or the nearest, plenty of research - & everyone on here will give you the best advise cos everyones been there & knows what theyre talking about - not just cos theyre after your money like a lot of these training in one day efforts! that will be a major waste of your time an money! an get a nail trainer & practice too! practice practice practice!

 

[angel fingers]

i would say you will recieve excellent training with solana as the trainer there is very skilled. not only that she is a brilliant people person, kind and helpful and very approachable. she'll put you at your ease and you'll perform to the best of your potential.

 

[max2619]

I do understand what a lot of you are telling me about getting the right training, right from the start. CND for me at this point in my life is just not an option, I can't go away to train just now, maybe in 2/3 years time but right now i can't leave my little ones.
So rather than just sit and twiddle my thumbs i really want to make a start.
Although i realise the best training is unlikely to be found on my doorstep, the training academy i am interested in (Solana) does appear to have excellent feedback from the geeks here that have been on it, and the prospectus looks very good . From what i have heard the tutors sound like they are good at what they do.
As it happens when i was doing my research on training i was not actually looking at the most local or conveniant, i was just looking within Norfolk, I'm prepared to drive some distance i just can't be away over night.
On finding Solana which sounded very good to me, I found it has several training facilities across the country and also in Europe, the one i was interested in was at Norwich 20 miles from me, i then discovered that their headquatres just happened to be 5 miles up the road.
Sounds too good to be true, but everyone that has actually been there, only have good to say.
So i think i am going to bite the bullet and hope for the best.