How long u been doing this shtick?

[UltraViolet]

I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd add to it.
I got my first set of nails back in 1978. I was a bit of a nail biter and my fiancé's mother, who had been doing nails for several years, kept on saying that I should go to her salon and get a set done. I eventually got a set of sculptured nails and I loved them. I started going every second Saturday for infills and then I'd hang around the salon all day and help out. I was eventually taught how to do them and I started work in her salon in 1979...for a huge $100 per week. Wow.
Over the years I've had several salons of my own and have tried and tested many nail products over the years...some good and some totally crappy. I finally retired in November 1999. Some of my clients were upset because I had some who I'd been doing for 15 - 18 years but I sent them to a few girls I trained, and as far as I know they still go there. I continued to do a few girlfriends nails at home, but that was all. I recently got conned into working 2 1/2 days per week at a friends hairdressing salon. I was getting bored at home anyway and I'm glad I returned as there are a lot of really great products on the market which can help make doing nails a lot of fun.
That's about it from me in Oz. Tune in to the next episode of 'Ultra Violet's Dull Life, part 32: Watching Paint Dry', same bat-time, same bat-channel.

 

[Debs]

I`ve been doing nails for 3 years and 9 months (how sad is that for counting the months) it wasn`t my first love but since falling into it I`ve never thought of anything else, hey, I don`t even have a life!
All I ever wanted to do with my life was be a mum much to my dads dismay, bless him.
I did marry and become a mum very young, marriage didn`t work (now theres a surprise) got married againa and that didn`t work either. I only had 2 children due to those circumstances and as I wanted a large family I went into child-minding and works bars when kids were in bed so I wasn`t missed.
My next passion was for fabric (no not Fabric#). My daughter has been a dancer since the tender age of 4 and the costumes pulled me in such a way, I went to college to learn pattern cutting and went into that BIG TIME. I made the costumes for the shows she did and all her solo competition work and I even had a part-time job in a fabric shop.
In doing so much machining I ended up having a bad back and needed to get out, during this time my daughter was just leaving school too and wasn`t so dependent on me so I needed to rethink my life.
I decided to go into bauty and nails because I thought if I loved to look after kids so much, maybe I should look after adults too. Being a carer didn`t appeal so I casually looked into beauty.
And hear I am, I live, eat and breathe the business and although I prefer nails and do more of them, I do still love the beauty side. I absolutely have a passion for making people feel special and I can`t imagine doing anything else.
Well now I`ve bored you all with my sad life, I`ll leave now and stop waffling

 

[Fab Freak]

Sadly for me only 7 months.

I had long nails since I was about 14 always loved them & looking after them but never thought about joining the industry,untill turned 30. Worked as an account manger for Ad Agency, and just didn't enjoy it any more :| .

Did a course and left this job to work in a 9-5 enviroment to allow me to practice every evening.....I adore doing nails & wish I had discovered it sooner it has unleashed the artist in me...

I want to be looking back in the future and be able to offer all services and do them equally well from a beautiful salon, which is in my dreams at the mo but hopefully will be a reality some day soon. :biggrin:

 

[nailer326]

I'm at the 4 year mark, in June, it will be 4 and a half LOL !

I was a stay at home Mom, which was very important to me. I have always had an obsession with nails. when my kids got older and went to school, My sister, the hairdresser (seems we all have one) told me to go to school for nails. This way I could work with her and have my own schedule that works around the kids ! I couldn't have asked for a better job !!! I socialized, do something i really love, make money from it, and still have time for the family !

 

[ella]

Well about 16 years ago, the girls at school all got into using nail tips. For some reason I had a bit of a flair with applying them and would spend many nights in the dormitories running what was probably the only nail bar in the dormitory of a convent school! I developed many different ways with them, using the glues to build up shape and all sorts of creative things.

From there I found my step mother's friends asking me to do theirs - a great way to enhance my income! (Nail bars had not hit cornwall then)

A few years later, and still using a file, but not on nails - no, this was filing peices of metal flat and square by hand to the accuracy of 2 thousandths of a millimetre!!! I was an engineering artificer in the royal navy and one of the first girls to do so. The others would laugh when I insisted on having my toe nails red even after days of marching round the moors. I would get in trouble for filing my nails at moments of free time in the machine workshop.

without boring you with my whole career, nails was always a hobby for me. And my nails always looked good despite dockyards, computers, production processes, planetariums, consultancy and running my own business.

Then 4 years ago, my dad, his wife & my sister moved to Florida. I flew to see them when my No2 baby was just 6 weeks old for a family christmas. It was then I discovered how much of a business nails was. In Florida EVERYONE has their nails done. I had just sold my business and was thinking about something to keep me busy - but would fit round my littlies. So then I realised what had been staring me in the face for years.

 

[Jennykins]

Hi everyone!

I've been qualified for about 4 years, and still loving every minute!

From a really early age I was into everything to do with beauty (i think thats down to my mum being perfectly groomed at all times!) so it made sense to become a beauty therapist - since qualifying i have now chosen to specialise in the areas which I enjoy most, Nails!

I have also been out to Los Angeles to train in Micropigmentation (again, an ingenious idea from my ma!) so between nails and micrpigmentation i'm kept busy! (and out of trouble!!!)
This site is fantastic! I love it!!!

Jenn

 

[ella]

Hi everyone!



I have also been out to Los Angeles to train in Micropigmentation
Jenn

Please enlighten me - what is this???

 

[Jennykins]

Please enlighten me - what is this???

Hi ella,

thanx for your message, micropigmentation is a form of tattooing - also known as semi permanent make up (or in the US its known as permanent cosmetics)
the procedures include eyebrow definition, eyeliner, eyelash enhancement and lip liner. once placed in the skin the pigment will stay in place for around 5 years. semi permanent body tattoos can also been done using the same method but different pigments specifically for the body.

hope this clears it up a little!

if you have any other questions please feel free to ask as many as you like!
when it comes to nails and spmu (semi permanent make up) i could talk the back legs off a donkey!!!!!

Jenn xx

 

[thenaillounge]

Hi there,

Well I thought I'd better put my tuppence in too. I have been doing the nails thing for aproximately 1 year and a quarter (Never mind the half years, only two months to go till then). I worked in banking since I left school and am now 26 years young. After several stints at getting out of the mundane officey life, I travelled, went into hairdressing, travelled again, back to banking and of course a sad glum look to my face, not to mention the permanent creases on my forhead. Luckily for me, (well it has been the force behind my change in job path) I was diagnosed with an illness known as Fibromyalgia. My doctor would not allow me back to the boerdom of the office and signed me off work for a year. Due to my not being your lazy type of person, I got boered, very boered. And so after reading my monthly mag, I applied to do the home learn courses with Essential Nails.
I have just compleated my fith course with them including airbrushing and sculpturing. Due to the lack of Nail bars in JERSEY, where I am from, I have been doing a touch of mobile work and am becoming in great demand. Doesn't it do your ego some justice! I have decided on the back of this to open my own salon, and have just come back from olympia with loads of enthusiasm. So here I step into the great unknown, and to be honest I am so busy I haven't the time to think of being unwell.
Best of luck to all of you out there



Gina xxx

 

[pinkshell_nails]

Ive been qualified now for almost a year now and absolutely love it. Ive been interested in nails since i was about 16 (im now almost 26), and had both my children before deciding that i would like to do nails as my career. At the same time i trained to be a beauty therapist, but to be quite honest its nails that i have the most passion for,and when i fully qualify in my beauty therapy level 3 in june, i will probably concentrate on nails. I work from home at the moment, my client base is really starting to build up, and i feel really proud of myself!! I just love nails!!!! PS - one day i will be as good as ruth fordman, she is my inspiration, and such a lovely lady who has helped me with loads of dilemmas!. x to you ruth!

Michelle.

 

[Mrs Geek]

would spend many nights in the dormitories running what was probably the only nail bar in the dormitory of a convent school!

ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL - I got a vison of pews with products all over and nuns in their habits with hot pink talons!! Thanks for sharing Ella - what a cool story!!

 

[talented talons]

I have been doing nails (properly) for about 6 months. I originally worked in retail, (borrrriiinnngggggg!!!) Then got into balloon decorating, where i use balloons to enhance a room for a wedding or other type function. Started my own business in it but found it to be very unfulfillling. I have always had an artistic streak, but never had the chance to unleash it.......till now.

I have always done my own nails for as long as i can remember. I started buying those awful nail kits from boots, then found a place which did better products. Only when my mates said would i do theirs did i consider training properly. The fact i was bored at home with my 3 yr old, love her to bits but needed something else, gave me the push to do Nails.

Why i didn't do it before i will neverknow but i absolutly love doing them on other people. I love doing nail art as well, it has definately brought out my artistic side. Well i shut up now i've bored you all to tears...lol:biggrin:

 

[Sherry2k]

Hiya.

I decided I wanted to do nails when I was in Majorca, sitting on my sister's friends yacht mixing with the elite!!!! Not me at all but great for a day!! There were a couple of girls there who I had been chatting to and one had mentioned that she had a nail enhancement on her toe because it had fallen off due to bruising. I was mesmerised and we started talking about all different kinds of nails systems and I was completely hooked.

I had been a secretary most of my adult life - I'm 35 :cry: but when I was 27 and my son was 11 months old I decided to go back to Hairdressing College.(I tried hairdressing when I was 15 but had too much attitude - no change there then! ha ha). So I completed my Hairdressing and have ran up quite a good clientelle that I do mostly from home but needed something else - another challenge.

I had made up my mind to do nails and wouldn't rest until I did. It took practically a year to get into college in the evenings to do my NVQ. I'm very proud of the fact that I'm a week away from completing this as it has been a struggle. The course was great, I really enjoyed it. The problem was my Mum died in December and it was a really hard time for us all. I missed about 8 weeks worth of training but I'm sure I made up for it at this end.

So nails it is and I'm not stopping there! I want to be the best I can be and do as many CND courses as I can to educate myself. I'm on a mission to go onwards and upwards. I want to learn Gel, Pedicure, Waxing, Tanning, Indian Head Massage - there's no stopping me and once I've made my mind up.......

Anyway, that's my story....... didn't fall asleep did you?

S.x

 

[fidev]

I'm another oldie...20 years this month since I qualified in Beauty therapy, cosmetology and electrology. Gosh.....I never realised......Happy Anniversary to me!!

In those dim and distant days there was no mention of enhancements, aromatherapy or all manner of goodies which are now included in many of the courses!!

However, I did manage to find a Supernail Academy and that was the first nail course I did.......and was hooked from there on in!!

I love my job.........I have never for 1 moment wished I'd done something else! :biggrin:

love Fiona x.

 

[gingernut]

HI there, how long you ask?

10 years this september from trainng in college to now..

Why/How you ask!

This is the best job ever, i work for myself i choose my own hours and holidays and only answer to myself as well as all that i pay my own wages and do my own accounts.... Its so much better relying on yourself alone that way if things go wrong only myself to blame!

The best part is doing something i love as an when suits me and my life..
I have a 5 year old son and work hours that suit which leaves me plenty or free quality time with him..

I Just Love IT!!

 

[Bobs]

After having my daughter 6 1/2 years ago I was at a point in my life where I couldn't face going back to work in an office doing the mundane 9 to 5. My friend happened to mention to me about a nail course at our local college and I thought what the hell it'll get me out of the house if nothing else.

Just over 5 years on I feel that i've found my vocation in life. I get up in the morning and can't wait to get to work. It's such a nice feeling when you actually look forward to going to work (sad as it sounds).

I've always been quite arty and doing nails gives me the chance to endulge myself. I can't imagine ever doing anything else.

Apparently when I was 4 or 5 years old I used to tell everyone that when i grew up I was going to paint long red nails, drive red car and have afternoon tea (in ASDA of all places LOL).

Well i'm 26 now and what do you know i've done 2 out of 3. I'm painting long red nails and got the red car. All I need to do now is find an Asda that does afternoon tea and my life is complete LOL.

 

[luckybird21]

:green: only one year, im a nail baby! mummy said i can have my training wheels taken off soon!

 

[luckybird21]

hey, from the pole it looks like all us iccle baby techs are taking the site over! Watch out all you experienced peeps, we'll be leaving our rattles and dummys everywhere!

 

[Sarah Lou]

Im also a newbie I qualified in beggining of June. Best choice I ever made. I have had loads of jobs in the past retail mostly, I was also one of those annoying people who approach people in the town centre for catalogues, that lasted ummmm 3 days. I have been a mystery shopper, spying on all the shop assistants out there But Being a Nail Technician is amazing. It makes me feel worth something if that makes sense, I love this beacause I am making others happy and that in turn gives me a buzz beyond belief. This industry is growing and growing There is so much more I want to learn to add to my qualifications allready, Im soon to do a creative conversion and hopefully after xmas an airbrushing course, there has been times when I felt like chucking it in because I was having problems with L & P, but doesn't everyone, I percervered and I think that is because of my passion for this industry. I

I LOVE MY JOB

 

[Kirsten]

Hi all...

I have only been a nail tech since this past March and so far i am enjoying it very much. It is so nice to do something i like and get paid for it!
I was a retail manager for 4 years in a sports shop and before that a gym instructor. I decided at the age of 25 i should be doing something i like! Not just something to pay the bills!
So now i am self employed and i work from home. Building up my client base is a slow process but it was definitely the right move for me...i look forward to being busy though!!!

kirsten x