Hand painted nail art - with a message ;-)

[BobSweden]

I haven't posted any images for a while so hopefully the mods will let this one go as the posts about NSS motivated me to do this. Most of you already know Iryna's work anyway.

The last couple of evenings Iryna's been making a few more examples for her display case before we head off to the show in Russia on Monday. Keeps her quiet...

There's often a lot of discussion about NSS or what I prefer to call low-cost salons. If you had a set of these in your window, what impression would this give to potential new customers do you think?

BTW - before discovering nails, Iryna never drew or painted except the useful stuff at school. So don't phased - a year ago she couldn't do this. Right now she is keen to develop her painting skills more and will take another class in the next months. (there's always someone who can teach you something).

Hope you enjoy

Bob

 

[brittone05]

They are stunning - that is the type of thing I would love to learn to do. The fact that you say Iryna has no "art" training as such inspires me all the more as I can't draw terribly well but would love to learn.

Thanks for sharing x

 

[redbeauty]

WOW.....these are beautiful.....I would love to be able to paint like that....I couldn't draw to save myself!

 

[Sandra V.]

Like I said , I can not pick my fav , love them all

 

[xAnnaBannAx]

Why is it you prefer to call an NSS ...a low cost salon...NSS (non-standard salon)...lack of hygiene, sanitation and standards!

 

[Bagpuss]

To be honest the NSS in our town have some amazing art work in their salon windows....some hand painted and some airbrushed...but still very impressive.

I think the proof is in the pudding....I could have the most amazing art work in my window but it says nothing of the actual nails i produce....how long they last...the products i use...my experiance...my standards...

 

[BobSweden]

I prefer to call NSS low cost salons because in the US the term NSS has developed racial overtones.

Bagpuss - are you sure they did it? Because I have seen catalogs from Chinese nail product manufacturers where you can buy nail art tips already made. Someone must be buying these...

==

Folks, our experience is that it does make a difference, and we have several nail tech friends who also put their work in their windows and say the same. Iryna's prices are 30% higher than any other local salon - and she's turning people away.

I have met nearly all her customers - and remember that Swedes are very conservative - and everyone of them considers her a nail specialist because she has skills that no other salon in the area has. Not all buy nail art of course - but because of it and that she makes both excellent and reliable nails, they are willing to pay more.

Most customers couldn't tell a good nail if you poked them in the eye with it. And most are not educated to understand the issues of salon hygene (for which I place the blame at nail product manufacturers who could have done something to educate the consumer and raise the status of nail technicians to that of beauty professionals)

I certainly accept the point often heard that creating good nail art doesn't mean you can make reliable and well designed nails. But - anyone who has studied nail art properly, will be able to make good reliable nails. Good quality nail art is typically done by real enthusiasts who want to stretch their capabilities. They can already make excellent nails - nail art is nothing unless the nail design is excellent.

Most customers understand and appreciate that a person who has taken additional education has passed basic levels and is at a higher level than other nail techs.

The fact is, that the people who say nail art doesn't pay are those that can't do it. I've heard this nonsense from some very experienced and well known nail techs - but how could they possibly know if they haven't the 'product' to sell?

This myth is especially propagated by one major manufacturer who also believes that their nail shape is the only correct one in the market! How very limited we all would be if all nail tech's followed their dogma. It would be like watching pink and white television :lol:

Please everyone don't automatically assume that all low cost salons make low quality nails, use MMA and poor salon hygene. That's not always the case.

At the moment, many are not of a high standard - but remember the lessons of Japanese cars - they were rubbish to begin with, but they learnt over time. As more low cost salons appear, they will have more competition and I can just bet that that will force more and more of them to raise standards because they simply won't be able to drop their prices any more and stay in business.

Perhaps they will charge marginally higher prices, but now the traditional salons will have more 'real' competition - so here's the big question - how will you differentiate what you offer compared to them when that happens?

==
Bagpuss - thanks so much for raising these issues in your post. It gave me the chance to say some things which I truly believe and have been meaning to express here for a while.

 

[ris]

To be honest the NSS in our town have some amazing art work in their salon windows....some hand painted and some airbrushed...but still very impressive.

They may have found those pictures online - 'stolen' them, so to say, from other nail-designers. I've heard stories like that.
More than that not all people are wise enough to remove the original watermarks. :lol:



BobSweden, very pretty nails! Especially because you say there was no particular training. And I like the colours.

 

[Bagpuss]

They may have found those pictures online - 'stolen' them, so to say, from other nail-designers. I've heard stories like that.
More than that not all people are wise enough to remove the original watermarks.

There weren't pictures...they where nail tips just as shown above...all set out on a display stand in the window...:green:

 

[ris]

There weren't pictures...they where nail tips just as shown above...all set out on a display stand in the window...:green:

Sorry, I must have got this one wrong.

Doesn't change the fact that some people do use other people's pictures.
So strange.. What if a client asks for a particlar design...

 

[***juice***]

How long did it take Iryana to do these?

 

[Bagpuss]

I prefer to call NSS low cost salons because in the US the term NSS has developed racial overtones.

Bagpuss - are you sure they did it? Because I have seen catalogs from Chinese nail product manufacturers where you can buy nail art tips already made. Someone must be buying these... I cant be 100% certain no, anymore than you can that it isn't their work....but they would look a little silly advertising something that they couldn't do wouldn't they...and I have seen ladies walking out with such designs on their nails..

==


The fact is, that the people who say nail art doesn't pay are those that can't do it. I've heard this nonsense from some very experienced and well known nail techs - but how could they possibly know if they haven't the 'product' to sell? I cant say i agree with this....its about knowing your market...and my clients want nails that go with every occasion...every outfit and that looks natural....When i first started out i was into the whole nail art thing ... promoted it...wore it...it sat gathering dust...no-one wanted it.

Am I any good at it...i'm ok...not the greatest but then i am a nail technician and not Michelangelo ...:lol:

This myth is especially propagated by one major manufacturer who also believes that their nail shape is the only correct one in the market! How very limited we all would be if all nail tech's followed their dogma. It would be like watching pink and white television :lol:

==
Bagpuss - thanks so much for raising these issues in your post. It gave me the chance to say some things which I truly believe and have been meaning to express here for a while....your very welcome

Your question was...."If you had a set of these in your window, what impression would this give to potential new customers do you think?"....my answer is that they would think..."wow your very artistic ...french/natural please"...like i said...this is MY clients in MY area.

 

[ris]

If I were to choose a design to wear I'd prefer the flamingoes, then the elk (or is it a deer?) and the tiger. I like such colour combinations.
The swan is very pretty colours, too!

 

[geeg]

Your question was...."If you had a set of these in your window, what impression would this give to potential new customers do you think?"....my answer is that they would think..."wow your very artistic ...french/natural please"...like i said...this is MY clients in MY area.

Well not many people know this but I am a trained artist ... my expertise is floral design in miniature and I painted Limoges porcelain for many years and sold to Harrods and Liberty's in London. I can do exquisite nail art in miniature and had many examples in my salons to show people .. nothing way out or whacky just beautiful flowers etc. Once in a while people would pay the price for me to do it (maybe one or two) Once a whole full set (cost 150.00) But usually despite my expertise the clients always wanted me to do FRENCH. So for where I live in any case, I do not agree with Bob on this one. Sure they all love to look at it but they don't want to pay a realistic price for it even if they wanted it. No way.

Unless someone really wants the attention and has the money to pay for the hand done art work .. there isn't much call for it. It's the technicians who want it and who want to wear it, not the paying public. I hear this from thousands of nail artists as you can imagine .. it is not just my opinion. The people who push it are the people who want to sell you the products to do it.

The ones who really get into it get into it to make a name for themselves ... I'm quite convinced of it ... I've seen it a thousand times over the years and then after a year or two someone else comes along with something a little different and they get the limelight for a short while. Hence all the silly nail shapes that we are seeing (and people claiming to have patented the design of all things) that no one is wearing. Cool ... GREAT ... fine .. but don't try to convince me that people want it en mass because they do not. It certainly is no money spinner for the salon.

 

[brittone05]

Bit off topic but could we see pics of your artwork Geeg pleaseeee - it sounds amazing

 

[BobSweden]

I have not said that nail art replaces French. That would be silly. I also think it's not sensible for a nail tech who has not developed their French skills to a high level to even start with nail art. Too many nail techs come out of school, spend a lot of money on nail art materials and then get distracted by wanting to do nail art and not perfecting the craft that will make their basic income.

I have also not said to expect many customers to pay for it. That's missing my point. Some customers will. From the our experience and that of some of our contacts both here and in the US, a maximum of 30% will pay for nail art. In the US especially, nail art on toes is a good earner for many nail techs - that's because the client can hide it while looking professional in her business suit.

I find it strange to argue this nail art issue, when Minx is promoted like crazy on this site. What is Minx but pre-packaged nail art for people who can't make good nail art? Or is only one-colour Minx OK, but the patterns a waste of time? :lol:

For any business to be successful (and I'm sure Geeg will agree here), a company has to differentiate itself from the competition - so it looks different to the eyes of the customer. "Me-too" companies aren't successful and don't make as much profits as those companies that create an image of being a specialist. As just one example - look at Starbucks - it's not an ordinary café is it? It specialises and because it delivers on that image people are happy to spend much more money on a coffee than in a standard cafe.

Don't think all people count their pennies before buying. Some people, just want to give themselves a treat because they work hard (perhaps too much) so there is a market out there for people who create a high image as a nail technician and deliver an outstanding service.

Nail art is one way to create an image. As Geeg correctly said, a number of people have trodden this path. There's nothing wrong with that - it's been tried and tested to work ;-) Another way, which I also strongly encourage (as I am sure Geeg does too) is competition success. Entering comps is the best way to improve your speed and skills, and when you get placed your reputation will increase which means you can charge more for your services.

In Russia, even CND is big into nail art . They are also successful in nail art competitions and even won a couple of years ago at Nailympics. Contrary to popular opinion, not all Russians wear nail art, the majority have French - but again, nail techs have learnt that the wider and deeper their skills then the more they will earn because their image stands out from the competition.

Hope that I have managed to express my ideas better this time

 

[geeg]

Bit off topic but could we see pics of your artwork Geeg pleaseeee - it sounds amazing

Unless you wish to see pictures of teapots and limoges boxes and thimbles etc! :lol: I've always sold exclusive one off signed pieces and don't have many of my own. I rarely do it anymore. No time. I did specially commissioned pieces that I painted and fired and guilded myself. Lots of hours of work and really at the end of the day very little money for it if you count the hours spent doing it .... which is one reason I know that hand painted art work unless it is simple and quick to do does not sell in the salon.

Why is Minx so popular??? Because it is quick, simple, perfect and affordable. There are not many people who are actually really talented artists ... at least with Minx the artwork is done for you and you know it will be consistent and perfect on all 10 nails.

 

[BobSweden]

I agree - Minx is a good way to offer something different and differentiate yourself from competitors :hug:

Best to sell it for toes though.

 

[geeg]

I agree - Minx is a good way to offer something different and differentiate yourself from competitors :Grope:

Best to sell it for toes though.

I sell Minx mainly for toes and when someone wants their nails done really special for a party or occasion on their fingernails (most clients have not had a problem with affording this kind of art for a special occasion). What is 20-25 pounds for 10 perfect accessories that will stand out at a party or a special night out? It's not like spending 150.00 for hand painted nail art on all 10 fingers that may not be appropriate for work the following week.

I am very up front about the wearability of Minx on nails for everyday ... it is true that unless you encase Minx on fingernails with a coat of gel or l&P, the longevity is completely down to how much the client uses her fingers and hands.

Minx lasted me on my nails for almost 3 weeks (18 days to be exact) but although I do allot of work with my hands, I do use them naturally in a gentle manner. Others dont.

All it takes is to be up front with clients with truthful information but the price is so reasonable for the effect you get, that clients haven't really hesitated to have them done and they leave with no unrealistic expectations.

It's no different with enhanced nails. Enhancments on toenails last longer than on fingernails nails as well .. bound to do if you think about it aren't they?

 

[angel fingers]

what kind of nail art costs £150?
and how long would it take to do?