Do you give nail biters long nails?

[*sarah*]

Hi just had a client this morning who was a nail biter, I asked what shape and lengnth she was looking for and she said square and long, when I put the form on I advised what length I thought she should have, but she wanted longer. So I did them a little longer but not as long as she wanted as they would have looked ridiculous as her nail beds were really short. When I had finished I asked if she was happy with them, she looked a little disappointed I knew it was because they were'nt as long as she had wanted I explanied to her again about the pink/white ratio.
Just wondered if you always give the client what they ask for even if it going to look silly? To be honest I did'nt want someone thinking thats how I do nails, but then thought after maybe I should have just done what she asked what do guys think and do?
xx

 

[Bagpuss]

what can you do really other than advise them...if they insist and think they know better than you the professional then let them have what they want...it'll only cost them more in repairs and prove YOU right in the end.

Luckily i have always managed to convince my nail biters that short is better.

 

[Sassy Hassy]

If someone goes against my professional advice then I just tell them that they will be far more likely to break them and I won't guarantee them staying on ... all breakages must be paid for! It usually makes them see sense!

 

[hayls]

Luckily i have always managed to convince my nail biters that short is better.

I also have convinced 95% of my nail biter clients that shorter is best, but you will always get the odd 1 or 2 that want porn star nails, and unless you do a cutom blend and elongate the nail bed, they look ridiculous, with the pink to white ratio completley off!

Try to convince them and if they still insist on long nails, then you have done your best!

xxx

 

[Lellipop]

The ones who dont listen and are not use to having long nails will be the clients who are forever coming back and moaning about breakages
Some never learn.

 

[tracey louise]

i agree with angie,all you can do is advice them you cant make them have them a way that they dont really want.if you did then they would probably just go somewhere else where they just do whatever they asked for.at the end of the day by you advising and asking questions shows that you care about your customers and that there not just money to you,if that makes sense.they will learn in the end

 

[Prionace]

Ive always managed to convice them, but if i couldn't i would either have them sign a weaver (sp?) releasing me from any responsability of any injury that may ocour or i would turn their business down

 

[melissaq]

I do as the client asks.......but do advise them of what I think while doing them .........but if they insist on long nails..... I remind them of breakage fee's .......I have a sign next to my door as they exit that states......... "I do not guarantee nails beyond my door as what you do outside of my place is unknown".......seems that the biters that insist on having them long call me within the week and want them shortened ........go figure:irked:

 

[1999judy]

I always make sure that nail biters only get quite short nails. The main reason is that they are not used to having nails and find it impossible to do anything if they are long. I know that some clients have been disappointed that they aren't longer but they understand.
I usually say next time we can maybe go a bit longer but just get used to them and see how well you cope.
hth

 

[elizabethnails]

I usually offer short nails but if they want long nails I usually do it, you can not force people.

 

[Susie H]

Havn't done many nail biters but the ones I have done I have only taken the length to the end of the finger, because the one time I did them longer she was back by the end of the day with 3 snapped nails, just had no idea how to cope with them and complained how much the snapped ones hurt. I replaced them free of charge but she had to let me shorten them all. I told her that each time she came for an infill I would let her keep half of the re growth length, she was great for a month and then came back with 2 off and those 2 had been bitten right down:irked: she came once more but after that the bad habit was to hard to resist

 

[becca boo]

I am a nail bitter and I wear my nails a bit longer than my finger tip i could wear nail art under the free edge and it would be seen well, and never have any problems. You cant really know how someone will adjust and I dont like mine very short. I dont have to wear the nails plus others have different taste. If I break one yes I expect to pay for the repair and as long as that is stated who are we to tell anyone how to wear their own nails. Make suggestions yes give advise but I would never tell my client it is going to be this way. Some people like more white they also like it 1/2 way on their nail bed and dont care about ratio even if it does look funny. Anyone can see shape and no matter what design is on them if the nails are nice.

 

[1999judy]

BTW I always tell them at the time that they book the appointment that they won't be really long.
You cannot force people...quite rightly said...but you can offer them the best advice and not just do them long knowing full well that they will have problems.
jmho

 

[Classy Claws]

Short.. they are informed if they have never had long (unbiten nails) before that they need to learn how to use them.. they get to keep all of their own growth and become NNO at their chosen length.. once they can prove they can grow them out they can have them what ever length they wish... I prefer to let their length increase naturally so they 'naturally' get used to using their nails/hands in a different way

 

[blossom]

I actively encourage nail biters to have a short length, maybe just a nno, and get used to the length gradually as they grow up.

Sometimes a nail biter will book for a new set for a wedding etc, and want long nails. I ask on the phone if they are a biter and try to talk them into having the nails done a few weeks before the wedding, normally they are ok with this but sometimes they just think you are after making a few extra quid by doing that, or sometimes they leave it too late and so book just before the event. In a case such as this I would give them slightly longer nails (with the free edge never longer than half the length of the natural nail bed) and as peeps have said already, make them aware they are more likely to get breakages and that these will have to be paid for.

 

[Cathie!]

I never do a biter beyond the pad of the finger, there's no point as they are going to break or damage them. We all have to be realistic.

I always use tips too for major biters ....I'm sure others will disagree, but trying to sculpt a nail which is halfway down the bed, when I can apply a tip more easily is more beneficial to me and the client.

Sculpting new sidewalls in conjunction with a custom blend takes a lot of time and how many clients are going to pay the going rate for that? I would have to charge at least £60 my normal full set is £35.

 

[Classy Claws]

I always use tips too for major biters ....I'm sure others will disagree, but trying to sculpt a nail which is halfway down the bed, when I can apply a tip more easily is more beneficial to me and the client.

Sculpting new sidewalls in conjunction with a custom blend takes a lot of time and how many clients are going to pay the going rate for that? I would have to charge at least £60 my normal full set is £35.

It does depend on what your more comfortable with thou... it takes me 1.15 to sculpt a full set on a major biter, it honestly takes no longer than tipping.. and personally I get a better result ... but I love sculpting and am very comfortable with it.

 

[Cathie!]

It does depend on what your more comfortable with thou... it takes me 1.15 to sculpt a full set on a major biter, it honestly takes no longer than tipping.. and personally I get a better result ... but I love sculpting and am very comfortable with it.

Fair play, if I ever get to the South Pole I'll have to sit in and watch cos I couldn't do it and believe I have tried!

 

[littlegrohl]

This is right up my alley.. because its something i have been grappling with over the last few days..
On tuesday last i had a woman walk in with the WORST nails i have done yet.. She was a reformen nail biter and she also had a compulsion to pick not only her cuticle/epichonicium area but also her hands and arms.. LOVELY LOVELY lady who had obviously put alot of effort into getting over her OCD...
She explained to me that she hated her hands.. and as a treat for herself she had saved her money and wanted to get nails done.. she saw a prefab tiger nail i had on my thumb and said that is EXACTLY what she wanted.. ((i wasnt offering them to my clients as im not used to working them.. and they are bloody expensive))
So i said that as a "favour" to me, i would put them on and she would only pay cost.. ((I really took to this lady as she is like me.. single mum.. low income.. ra ra ra))
anyway.. when we got to the length i said that i would definately go for a shorter lenghth.. ((without thinking i assumed she would take my advice)) but no.. she wanted them not long but very long.. ((if i had known i would have tried to extend the nail bed.. or at least taken the well out of the tip))
What could i do? say no!?
I have posted a pic.. as i said i would and she was perfectly happy for me to use it as part of my own photo/record keeping..
I am unhappy because i know i could have done better.. and i feel that had i taken the time to ask first about length/lifestyle.. i would have done things differently..

Using the tips on her was a mistake.. on my part.. from the minute i put them on i knew i was in trouble with a few things.. BUT she has never felt more happier.. sent me a message saying a huge thanks.. that as she was driving she kept staring at her hands.. her confidence had quite obviously peaked and she left with a massive smile!!
I take satisfaction in the fact that although i am not 100% happy.. ((I really am just starting out anyway and know i never will be 100% happy)) She is over the moon.. and knows that if she has any trouble i am a phone call away.. ill prob never see her again but i did my job in the end i suppose...
Its about them not me.. i can only advise!


sheesh i do go on!! :smack:

 

[Classy Claws]

Fair play, if I ever get to the South Pole I'll have to sit in and watch cos I couldn't do it and believe I have tried!

Pack your woolies.. its cold down here!