How do you decide whether to replace a nail

[blossom]

How do you decide, when doing a rebalance, whether to file off some lifting or whether to soak that nail off and re-do? Is it when there is, say, over 30% lifting?

Sometimes I see clients leaning over while I wrap foil around an acetone soaked pad on their nail and they say "does that one have to come off? Couldn't you file that part away?" (This translates, obviously, as "Can't you just bodge it so I don't have to pay for a new nail?")

Most of my clients don't get much lifting, but on the ones that do, they can get it quite badly. Now, as you might remember if you've heard me whingeing on about lifting before, most of this is caused because they are VERY NAUGHTY clients and don't use their oil, won't wear gloves, lay bricks at the weekends :irked: or bleach their dishcloths using their fingers to swish it round. But whatever causes it, it's still there. But especially if they're not following my recommendations, I think it serves them right if they have to pay to have replacements lol!

So at what point do you think it's not worth filing the lifting away?

Another thing I'm wondering is this: do you charge for a replacement natural nail overlay, or do you only charge if you tip or sculpt a replacement nail? For me, if I remove all the product and start again, even if it's just on their own nail, I make an extra charge (not as much as if I tipped) and I also differentiate between replacement nails as to whether they are natural or French. So when someone asks "how much is a replacement nail" it's a bit like asking how long is a piece of string lol!!

What do you do?

 

[Urban Geek]

My full sets are £40 plain (replacement nail £4), pink & white £45 (replacement nail £4.50). I charge the same for tips or sculpts. I charge the same for a replacement nail whether or not I have buffed the product off or soaked it off.

When rebalance, I do what is necessary to make the nails look their best again.

I usually include one or two breakages within my rebalance charges but for those naughty clients who don't try their best to look after their nails, I would charge for each repair.

 

[Bev Rose]

I understand where you are coming from Blossom.

If i start to file the lift and it the shows to be way too far across the nail (as in coming from the sidewalls), then I tend to soak the whole thing off, because it will come back to haunt you if you don't get it all off!
I would charge pro-rata my full set rate (P&W's @ £40 a set = 1 nail @ £4).

If the lift is coming down from zone 3, due to a trauma and I can see an obvious stop point, then I file the lift off & reapply as normal and dont charge for this as it's only part of zone 3.

I have changed my prices recently and have included 1 free nail/repair for a 2 week infill & 2 free repairs for a 4 week infil & rebalance.

I would like to also point out, as you did, that lifting is not commonplace on my clients nails - only those who love to trash them and challenge me! As in, decorating, moving house, gardening with no gloves, etc etc all the usual.

 

[Emma Bagnall]

i'm with chris on this, if its a regular who looks after there nails i dont charge them to repair or replace during a fill. but if its a serial picker client, who doesnt look after them i charge to discourage them from doing it! i would never bodge a nail to please the clients purse, its your reputation when they show them to people. its there choice to not wear gloves and use there nails as tools.i charge differently though its £3.50 for a replacement i sometimes just charge a couple of pound if its a repair.

 

[blossom]

Thanks for your replies, it's interesting to hear what other folk do :hug: