Luxury manicure - how long does it take you?

[JessicaL]

Hi, the salon I work at books out 40 minutes for a luxury manicure, I just don’t feel this is long enough and always feel rushed! Wondering whether to bring it up and see if they will extend the timing, I wondered how long everyone else books out for a luxury manicure with polish please?

Routine is..
File
Cuticles
Scrub & then remove with hot mitts
Masque with heated mitts then remove with hot mitts
Massage
Wipe over nails, buff if required
Paint
Spray with OPI setting spray

I just feel so rushed and I’ve been doing nails 12 years so not a newbie! We get 40 minutes if it’s normal polish and 50 minutes if it’s with gel polish. Thanks x

 

[Lizziefin]

I would allow 1 hour 15 mins. 40 mins is far too rushed for you

 

[RosieR]

Far to fast to be a "luxury" manicure. The whole idea of a luxury manicure is pamper time. I wouldn't go anywhere where I felt rushed and it's a shame that you are in a mad panic with timings.

 

[tog]

I usually take around an hour, sometimes slightly longer.
The last time I had to do a mani in double quick time like you do was in college many years ago, in 30 mins, to pass the end of year City and Guilds exam! And vowed that if I worked for myself I would never do it as quickly, ever. Far too much of a rush job.

 

[Gmarie24]

Hi, the salon I work at books out 40 minutes for a luxury manicure, I just don’t feel this is long enough and always feel rushed! Wondering whether to bring it up and see if they will extend the timing, I wondered how long everyone else books out for a luxury manicure with polish please?

Routine is..
File
Cuticles
Scrub & then remove with hot mitts
Masque with heated mitts then remove with hot mitts
Massage
Wipe over nails, buff if required
Paint
Spray with OPI setting spray

I just feel so rushed and I’ve been doing nails 12 years so not a newbie! We get 40 minutes if it’s normal polish and 50 minutes if it’s with gel polish. Thanks x

We have 45 minutes for a normal manicure. A luxury mani is like an hour and 15 but usually takes an hour. They definitely have their timings all wrong.

 

[GlitterPink]

Hi All, talking about how long it takes to do things... I did my first client pedicure the other day and although we were talking and I had to stop her little one from messing with my equipment, it took 2 hours. I did give a foot massage and did use gel polish... Do you think that would be an acceptable time to take?

 

[Gmarie24]

A pedicure normal or gel should never exceed 1 hour. What is it that’s taking the time?

 

[GlitterPink]

I was really worried of hurting her. I cannot get to grips with the cuticle nippers. They scare me... Also having limited mobility I had to have a couple of breaks to allow me to move around. I have had a stroke so my left hand is much more limited in movement - I'm hoping that the more I do, the better it will be and I will get quicker. Also she hadn't had a pedicure for over a year. They all sound like lame excuses but I'm being honest x

 

[Gmarie24]

I was really worried of hurting her. I cannot get to grips with the cuticle nippers. They scare me... Also having limited mobility I had to have a couple of breaks to allow me to move around. I have had a stroke so my left hand is much more limited in movement - I'm hoping that the more I do, the better it will be and I will get quicker. Also she hadn't had a pedicure for over a year. They all sound like lame excuses but I'm being honest x

Okay well the movement issue makes sense as to why it may take longer. Make sure will the clippers you only really remove whatever is on the nail plate don’t actually cut the cuticle off until you get more confident.

 

[GlitterPink]

I only take of the white bits but if that is close to healthy skin, it makes me nervous x

 

[TheDuchess]

Hi GlitterPink You don’t need to nip cuticles, it makes them regrow horny. You shouldn’t be cutting live skin.

You will definitely improve with practice (I’m a clinical massage therapist and I specialise in rehab from long term couplex issues) but it helps to use the right products. I soak feet in gehwol foot bath solution and I squirt plenty of laufwunder nail and skin softener around the nail which I find helps me to push the cuticles back. I buy these online from myfootcaresupplies.com and I have nice tools which suit my hand.

I have quite a few issues with my body so I have to use my head instead. Think about everything that needs to be done and ask yourself if you are doing it in the most efficient way. Being organised helps. I have a small tray which I put everything that I need on. There isn’t much space so I have a small bowl with cotton pads cut up into 1/4’s, a small glass as my bin. I decant massage creme and scrub into egg cups.

I keep a clock where I can see it discreetly and I check in to make sure I’m not taking too long. Taking feet in and out of the water takes time and gets you wet, so you want to soak both feet, remove polish from foot one, cut toenails and replace in the water, do the same for foot 2 but don’t put it back into the water. Apply cuticle softener, file nails and tidy cuticles, scrub/file the foot replace in the water and rinse. Finish foot one.

You don’t want feet in water for too long, so now clear away your soaking water, stretch your legs and settle down to finish. Your client should already have made her polish selection, so massage foot one, keep it on your lap, separate the toes with tissue, wipe over with polish remover and apply base coat. Repeat with foot 2 and then complete polish application, making sure you have the client’s foot flat for painting.

I find I can usually do a pedi in 40 minutes without being rushed or skimping. If you haven’t got everything that you need to hand or you’re not concentrating to get as much done on a foot in one go you add to the time without adding quality to the client’s experience.

I’ve had newly qualified students take over 2 hours when they first start doing client pedicures. It’s amazing how the time flies when you aren’t consciously managing yourself.

 

[TheDuchess]

Hi, the salon I work at books out 40 minutes for a luxury manicure, I just don’t feel this is long enough and always feel rushed! Wondering whether to bring it up and see if they will extend the timing, I wondered how long everyone else books out for a luxury manicure with polish please?

Routine is..
File
Cuticles
Scrub & then remove with hot mitts
Masque with heated mitts then remove with hot mitts
Massage
Wipe over nails, buff if required
Paint
Spray with OPI setting spray

I just feel so rushed and I’ve been doing nails 12 years so not a newbie! We get 40 minutes if it’s normal polish and 50 minutes if it’s with gel polish. Thanks x

Hi Jessical I think the problem is more about how much the salon is charging. They may need to add another £10 if they added more time and presumably it’s selling well at its current price point.

Can you adjust the order to make it more efficient? I would scrub and hot mitt one hand then immediately apply mask and slide into a heated mitt, then I’d scrub the other hand, massage then apply mask and heated mitt. I’d then massage the other hand, buff nails and apply base coat before releasing the second hand from the heated mitt.

 

[GlitterPink]

Hi GlitterPink You don’t need to nip cuticles, it makes them regrow horny. You shouldn’t be cutting live skin.

You will definitely improve with practice (I’m a clinical massage therapist and I specialise in rehab from long term couplex issues) but it helps to use the right products. I soak feet in gehwol foot bath solution and I squirt plenty of laufwunder nail and skin softener around the nail which I find helps me to push the cuticles back. I buy these online from myfootcaresupplies.com and I have nice tools which suit my hand.

I have quite a few issues with my body so I have to use my head instead. Think about everything that needs to be done and ask yourself if you are doing it in the most efficient way. Being organised helps. I have a small tray which I put everything that I need on. There isn’t much space so I have a small bowl with cotton pads cut up into 1/4’s, a small glass as my bin. I decant massage creme and scrub into egg cups.

I keep a clock where I can see it discreetly and I check in to make sure I’m not taking too long. Taking feet in and out of the water takes time and gets you wet, so you want to soak both feet, remove polish from foot one, cut toenails and replace in the water, do the same for foot 2 but don’t put it back into the water. Apply cuticle softener, file nails and tidy cuticles, scrub/file the foot replace in the water and rinse. Finish foot one.

You don’t want feet in water for too long, so now clear away your soaking water, stretch your legs and settle down to finish. Your client should already have made her polish selection, so massage foot one, keep it on your lap, separate the toes with tissue, wipe over with polish remover and apply base coat. Repeat with foot 2 and then complete polish application, making sure you have the client’s foot flat for painting.

I find I can usually do a pedi in 40 minutes without being rushed or skimping. If you haven’t got everything that you need to hand or you’re not concentrating to get as much done on a foot in one go you add to the time without adding quality to the client’s experience.

I’ve had newly qualified students take over 2 hours when they first start doing client pedicures. It’s amazing how the time flies when you aren’t consciously managing yourself.

Thank you @TheDuchess I shall take notes from this. It is very helpful, thanks . I don't cut Living tissue and have purchased a pair of Kate Barnes cuticle scissors. They have helped me massively with time as I know they will only cut where I want to. So the shaking has all but gone.
I was thinking of buying a foot stand, do you think this would help?

 

[TheDuchess]

I think set ups are quite personal. I like the look of the REM pedicure chairs with a pull out drawer and a bar foot rest for the client’s feet but I’v3 never actually used one. £1500 is a lot of money to earn back at around £30 a pedi but I’m thinking about it because it’s only £5 x 300 pedis.

At your level of experience I wouldn’t worry about finding the perfect piece of equipment because you’ve got enough to think about practising your routine. Do book in for a pedi at other salons and see how they set up and what sort of equipment they use. Ask the therapists if they like their set up.

Over the years I’ve tried various bits of kit. I really like my belava bowl with its heated, vibrating base, Salonserve has a deal on these at present. They aren’t perfect because they don’t hold much water, are quite noisy and I find the different settings redundant because I always leave mine on the lowest setting. However I love that clients can rest their feet on the base when the water bowl is removed. I also love the Beverley Hills water bath which is cheaper, has integral cord storage and gives a much deeper soak, but I’ve never found the right foot platform to pair with it.

Most foot stands are annoying. Clients don’t like bending their knee so that their foot is flat and they’ll tend to give you the sole of their foot rather than plant their sole firmly on the foot rest. And legs can be heavy, so very often the foot stand can’t hold the height or angle that you’ve set. You’re better off getting their feet comfortably in your lap by sitting them higher than you.

I bought a nice armchair for £400 and changed the feet to raise it higher and I have a comfortable wheeled pedicure stool so I’m sat low. It would be perfect if I built a platform step to raise them up another few inches, but it looks good as it is and I have room under the chair to store my belava base.

 

[GlitterPink]

Morning @TheDuchess, it all makes perfect sense when you say it I've been racking my brain trying to find the right solution and, you're right I need to work on my routine first. Thank you xx