Hi geeks, I need your advice please, I'm just starting back up in the nail buisness after having a couple of years break, I am going mobile and have been getting a few customers and everyone is happy with my nails, however I decided to check out the local salons to check out of my prices are ok and if my work is up to standard. The salons I've been to have told me I'm way to slow at doing my L&P and said customers would not sit that long, it's taking me 2 hours so maybe I could get faster, however the girls at the salon are doing L&P in 1hour for £20 with nail art-I could never do this, the nails they have done have been finished to such a bad standard that I would have failed my course if I had created those nails yet everyone is saying how great they are. I feel completely disheartened, for me my overall finish of the nail is more important than the time yet it feels like customers don't care about that. What are your L&P times and am I to slow?, I feel like such a failer at the moment as I thought I was doing so well. Your advice would be much appreciated, thank you x
Firstly Jill,
By no means do you sound like a failure
While it's good to have an idea of what other salons are offering in your area, I wouldnt too much compare yourself to other salons, especially since you mentioned the quality of the work you've seen is poor. I've also seen lots of salons around my area, both NSS and standard salons which although they may be fast, the quality of work suffers for it too.
I would more concentrate on your quality of work, finished product and building rapport with your clients and then when you can, try and improve your times just a bit...but dont pressure yourself too much. Because from what you're saying, the main thing is your clients are happy and like your work, that's why they're coming back to you. If they were concerned about your times or price, they wouldnt come back to you, or they'd complain.
Also if you're just getting back into nails and dont do nails all day every day either, you wont be as fast as perhaps you'd like but that I think will come.
It's not like you're taking 3 hours....just keep the client talking and they wont be watching the clock
I do other beauty services other than Nails and dont do it full-time, so I still take around 1 1/2 hours for refills but I know if I pushed myself my quality of work would suffer. A) I dont want that outcome, and B) I dont want my client to feel rushed at all.
Don't be disheartened, it sounds like you're clients are happy and that's the main thing, the rest of it will come.
All the best!