I need some advice from all you seasoned nail techs!

[SarahRose]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks in advance for reading this, as it's going to be a long one. lol. Ok so here goes. I got my Nail tech license in december of 07 and I started my first job in a salon the beginning of march. When I started, the terms of my employment were that I was to be guaranteed an hourly wage ($8.50) and once I made so much money in service I would receive commision. Well, I have only received com. 2 times. So as you can see, I am not making very good money.

The problem is, 2 weeks ago I didn't go in one day so my hours were less then what I usually work, but I still did a lot of clients. My sevices were only $4.00 short to be at the com. level. Plus I worked less so I figured that what ever came out to be more, my hourly wage or com. is what I would get paid. Nope. She paid me my measly hourly wage and made over 270.00 off of my work that week.

That's how it usually is, she makes atleast 200 a week off of my services. Is the way it's always going to be, working as an employee? Or was she wrong?

Let me add that she doesn't offer acrylics, only gel nails, which I don't do a lot of. I do mostly pedicures and some manicures. I bought my own $400.00 drill to use (i didn't have to, but hers sucked) and I buy a lot of my own stuff because she and I don't like the same products. She's supposed to supply everything except implements. I think she's totally unfair. Everyone that comes into the salon loves me and says I am so good at what I do and working with people that I will go far in this business, but I feel like I could make better money working at Dunkin Donuts! lol. I want to try to get a job somewhere else, but I'm afraid it will always be this way. Any suggestions? What is a fair price to pay to rent a booth? Thanks again ladies! Any advice will be greatly appreciated!! Toodles.

Sarah

 

[tess walters]

I would work for a commission of 50 to 55 percent with her buying the products. I would supply my own empliments and e-file. [unless they were used by other salon professionals that worked there. although I would'nt want anyone using my things!] I would'nt have gone to work for her if I new she did'nt want to buy the products I used. [ I don't know enough about your situation to really comment.] It is hard for an owner to supply each person with thiere own products. If she wants to make money she buys in bulk. That can get quite exspensive. will she pay for a class so you can learn to use the products that she provides? It kind of sounds to me that you don't really like your boss and the way she runs things. Maybe you should explore other options.
Hope this helps.

 

[Bebeautiful]

This is a difficult one and I think your options would be to have an informal discussion with her and let her know your feelings and whether the two of you can come to some sort of amicable agreement, explain to her that you are really enjoying your work and you get on well with the clients and vise versa but you would like her to think about your discussion with her and nsee what she says. Hope this is ok and goodluck :hug::hug:

 

[Saucygirl]

Years ago I worked in a salon and I made $9.00 an hour or 50% commission, whichever was higher that week.

I also made 20% on all retail that I sold.

I brought nothing into the shop, everything was provided.

This is a great thread, I'm interested to see what other nail techs are paid, as I will be on the other end very soon-I'll need to build a staff because the work load seems to be more than I can comfortably handle alone.

Do you have other benefits? Medical, dental etc? What about trading services with other people on the staff? I used to do nails on the esthetician for facials and the stylists for a color and cut....those things were great perks-saved me a ton of money....

 

[SarahRose]

Years ago I worked in a salon and I made $9.00 an hour or 50% commission, whichever was higher that week.

I also made 20% on all retail that I sold.

I brought nothing into the shop, everything was provided.

This is a great thread, I'm interested to see what other nail techs are paid, as I will be on the other end very soon-I'll need to build a staff because the work load seems to be more than I can comfortably handle alone.

Do you have other benefits? Medical, dental etc? What about trading services with other people on the staff? I used to do nails on the esthetician for facials and the stylists for a color and cut....those things were great perks-saved me a ton of money....

I think that would be fair, but she will only pay me my hourly wage if I don't bring in atleast $450.00 in services for the week. No matter how many hours I work. My scheduled hours are 20. The other week I made 446.00 in 18 hours. She paid me my hourly wage. I took home 130.00. (horrible) She offers no benefits at all and the esthetician barely has any work so she's on an on call basis. Plus my boss has me give her pedi's but never offers to do mine. I think I'm just getting bitter, and she's the type that always has to be right, so talking to her gets me nowhere.

Thank goodness I have all you girls to vent to. hehehe. Thanks for all the suggestions and comments so far. keep em coming!

 

[naildoctor]

I think it's time to explore other options. If you want to stay there, do you think she'll let you do acrylics? Or fiberglass? If it's the smell that bothers her(acrylic)then maybe you could use odorless. If I were you, I would try to attend as many continuing education classes as I could. That will help you have the confidence you'll need when you move on to another salon. As for rent, it just depends on your town. Check the classifieds. But you need a clientele to rent sucessfully. Hope this helps!

P. S. You might want to keep track of how much you make so you don't lose out by just a few dollars. Throw the 4.00 in yourself and just call it a nail repair!
Brooke

 

[Snuggles]

i am in a similar situation where i work.
i work in a hairdressers where i do the nails and beauty treatments and the beauty therapist commision is the same as the hairdressers which i think is unfair as there treatments are way more expensive than ours.
an example is they charge £32 for a haircut which takes 30-45 mins in that time us beauty therapist may make 21 in eyebrow shapes or short treatments like that. so we never make comission and the hairdressers always brag about how much they get.
we even told them about it and they said what can we do about it be more busier, but we cant do 2 eyebrow shapes at one time, does not come across professional to the client if we are not spending time with them and making the treatment more pleasurable.

 

[SarahRose]

I think it's time to explore other options. If you want to stay there, do you think she'll let you do acrylics? Or fiberglass? If it's the smell that bothers her(acrylic)then maybe you could use odorless. If I were you, I would try to attend as many continuing education classes as I could. That will help you have the confidence you'll need when you move on to another salon. As for rent, it just depends on your town. Check the classifieds. But you need a clientele to rent sucessfully. Hope this helps!

P. S. You might want to keep track of how much you make so you don't lose out by just a few dollars. Throw the 4.00 in yourself and just call it a nail repair!
Brooke

no, she won't let me do acrylics, odorless or not. I wish! She doesn't even like acrylic.
It's funny because she's been being so nice to me lately. I think she feels bad and knows she's wrong. I think maybe if I talk to her and tell her that I don't think the way she pays me is fair and that if we can't come to a better agreement, then I am just going to have to leave, she will probably fix things. I hope so anyway. Like I said the clients love me and just yesterday one of her regular clients told her that I am great, and that I am the best worker she's ever had. (the lady's been with her 6 years) So that should tell her something. I would want to keep the good help happy and treat them fairly. I don't know. That's how I feel, but who knows when your a salon owner. but thanks for the advice and I am definately going to keep taking classes and stuff. I need more confidence!!

Oh and great idea with the nail repair, I should have thought about that! lol.

 

[tess walters]

You need to feel good about your profession and the money you make. I would sit the boss down and give her several examples of how you are never going to be able to make what a hairdresser brings in versus what you can make in the best sinario. If she doesn't make it fair, I would look for a place that will. Hiar salons are looking for good nail techs. I feel that if I ever moved to another town, I could go wherever I wanted and interview them for a job! I need to find the best place for me. I don't let the owner interview me. If you go somewhere where they have no nail tech, They will just about give you what you want! All a salon owner is looking for is a presentable person that can do a mani, pedi, and some form of artificial nail. But even if you don't have the skills to do an artifical nail yet, tell them that your last boss would'nt let you and that you felt that she was holding you back and that is one reason you wanted to move on. And that you are willing to enroll in some classes so you can be the best nail tech in town. Also find a salon that will advertise you.

 

[mdskora]

Hi Sarah,

I am in Australia and things are quiet different here... I trade my rent in the salon to do the laundry for my boss... I do his wifes nails and we have a book.. I write down her nails and waxing costs and he does the same for my hair colours and cuts... works out very very well.. we never worry who is in front as it always catches up in the end..
I really feel for you in the spot you are in.... i must say that i don't think there is enough money in nails to "share"..
Can you just rent a table in a salon ?.. your clients love you and I am sure that they will follow you where ever you go... We have hundreds of Nail Tech's who just work from home.. I am not up with all your laws etc in the US... I sure hope that you get this sorted.. you are working hard for little return.. please let me know how you get along..
Mel

 

[naildoctor]

Dear Sarahrose,
Your boss should want to keep you around. You posess something that is so hard to find these days-a great attitude! I hope that you will sit down with her and give her the chance to work out a better plan. I'm concerned, though. Summer will be over soon, and there goes a large part of your business! So best of luck to you!
Brooke