My reputation, training and picky clients???

[glitz and glam]

Hey all,

ok so the title is a miss mash coz i couldnt really narrow it to one topic.

hopefully this wont be too long winded but here goes....

I trained as a nail tech last spring. After practising lots on friends and family i sat my exam and passed. i knew this was only the begining and just because ihad the certificate didnt mean my learning would stop there neither did i think i would have to stop perfecting my sets. its been almost a year since i qualified and since then i have put everything into getting my sets to a good standard.
I have worked on smile lines, mix ratio - making it consistant , lifting , prep, timmings and finish.

Now a year on i am going back over my timmings and finish and smile lines as i seem to have become a perfectionist about my work :lol: if youd known me before youd have laughed unorganised was my middle name
(but thats for another day lol )

I built up my confidence and since december i feel like i can produce a good lasting set and rebalances show no tell tell signs so i have done lots of marketing to push my business. i even have one client who has tried several nail techs and was warry of me as i was still new, but loves my work, which really helped.

sorry have waffled but this is the point i need answers too?

when training i did a friend of a friends nails. i had a friend of hers phone up today looking for a nail tech as hers is currently on maternity leave. she told me she was picky and started quizing me about how long id been a nail tech ect. after telling her my name she clicked id done hr friends nails last year (when i was still training) she said shed think about it and get back to me if she wanted to book me.

This has really knocked my confidence as i know my sets are so much better now. i also know word of mouth spreads around here! all my current clients are happy and refering friends but now im worried that the sets i did in the begining are gonna loose me clients, especially ones that know how a good set should look and last.dont get me wrong i think all clients should and should get a look and standard there after.

what should i do? has this happened to anyone else??
not feeling great right now so thanks for reading :cry: x

 

[lu-B-lu]

You really can't please everybody Hun, it seems to me like you've taken a lot of time & effort to perfect your art and get to a stage where you're offering a really good set of nails, you should take alot of confidence from that alone!
This lady is one client that isn't willing to give you the chance to show how you've developed your skills.. Did she know the set she saw were done while you were training?
You have said you already have a few other clients who are more than happy to recomend you to others and so on & so on! Personally, I would put all my energy & efforts into these clients and not worry too much about the one that 'got away'.
You never know she may even see some of the work you're doing now and change her mind!!
So, stop beating yourself up, know your worth & go get 'em!

Lu xx

 

[glitz and glam]

thanks lu,
it bugs me that some people will always judge me on how i did nails when i was training. yes she did know her friends set were done when i was training. i even offered to email her some pictures of recent work id done but she declined the offer.
i just find it hard that im still finding my feet and desperately trying to build a bigger clientel and dont want to be held back. shes in a different area the other side of town to my other clients and feel like ive missed a fab oppertunity to expand into a new circle of people.
hopefully i will get asked to do someone she knows and prove myself like you say.
thanks again, im definatly going to focus on my current clients
chauntelle x

 

[BABSann]

thanks lu,
it bugs me that some people will always judge me on how i did nails when i was training. yes she did know her friends set were done when i was training. i even offered to email her some pictures of recent work id done but she declined the offer.
i just find it hard that im still finding my feet and desperately trying to build a bigger clientel and dont want to be held back. shes in a different area the other side of town to my other clients and feel like ive missed a fab oppertunity to expand into a new circle of people.
hopefully i will get asked to do someone she knows and prove myself like you say.
thanks again, im definatly going to focus on my current clients
chauntelle x

I wouldn't worry too much.We are all the same when we first qualify be it nail tech,beauty therapist or hair dresser,we get better as time goes on(well usually:lolDont let this person knock your confidence,rise above it and hopefully you will do one of her friends or family and they will show her...then lets hope she comes back to you,tries to book an appointment but you're fully booked!!!!xx

 

[Blue Rose]

Sounds to me like you've had a lucky escape. You can bet your bottom dollar that no matter how good your nails are now, she'd find something to complain & nitpick about.

Don't worry about her & just concentrate on those who appreciate what you do

 

[glitz and glam]

thanks guys, think i just needed to hear some words from the wise!
Not sure whats wrong with me at the moment i seem to be really up and down. need to toughen up lol
thanks feeling a bit better now.

 

[BABSann]

thanks guys, think i just needed to hear some words from the wise!
Not sure whats wrong with me at the moment i seem to be really up and down. need to toughen up lol
thanks feeling a bit better now.

Believe me we all get like that at times.You are well rid of a client like that,we will always, always get setbacks in this industry.Working with the public is tough.Most are lovely but you get the odd few who dont think of us as people with feelings,worries and doubts.They get out of bed the wrong side and take it out on everyone and anyone.

Just put it out of your mind and move on hun:hug:

 

[persianista]

I bumped into my ex's mum some time ago. She took great delight in reminding me about how I cut her hair too short while I was a trainee. That was 25 bloody years ago!!!!
Some people are just toxic and best avoided. x
I am NOT the same hairdresser I was at 18, just as you are NOT the same tech now.

 

[essentia]

I bumped into my ex's mum some time ago. She took great delight in reminding me about how I cut her hair too short while I was a trainee. That was 25 bloody years ago!!!!
Some people are just toxic and best avoided. x
I am NOT the same hairdresser I was at 18, just as you are NOT the same tech now.

I smiled when I read this as some people will always brand you as the therapist that did x,y or z!!! If you are serious about your profession, which you sound like you are, you will keep learning and moving on. I have had something similar with a brazilian client who would not remove her Bridget Jones knickers!! Yes the wax did not set and she got hot, how I was supposed to perform a decent wax and get to all the relevant bits I don't know. She was a model and paid model prices but her friend (who never had a bad treatment off me) decided not to return although they were knowing guinea pigs. Of course I learnt from that and have not looked back since and it is now a popular treatment for me. Now I get clients that praise my brazilians so it makes up for the odd one that gets your back up. Don't dwell on this but be thankful for those who love your work.:lol:

 

[allyballybee]

Sounds to me like you've had a lucky escape. You can bet your bottom dollar that no matter how good your nails are now, she'd find something to complain & nitpick about.

Don't worry about her & just concentrate on those who appreciate what you do

You're so right. Some clients we just don't need.

 

[tigi]

Ahhh, yes we have all been there. But the odd client will escape you at the beginning. It's part if the learning process.

You have nothing to prove to her, only to yourself and it sounds like you are doing that every day... Concentrate On your existing clients, give them your very best andthey will be your best Advert.
They will tell their friends etc etc and your reputation will spread.

Stop being so hard on yourself and continue the good work. It sounds like u are dedicated and trying very hard. Don't let anyone take that effort and dedication away from you!

Tigi
xx

 

[glitz and glam]

thanks all. Its nice to know you understand
I was telling my other half about it last night (hes been working loads so havent had time to talk business the last few days!) and he said the same as all of you so i guess i need to carry on doing what im doing and forget about her.
I had one of my lovely clients phone me last night to tell me shes amazed shes gone 3 weeks with no lifting or breakages and that you cant tell obviously where the enhancements met her natural nail, she was so happy she had to send me a picture :lol:. And shes a verry fussy client so much so that i book extra time for her appointments - worth it though when shes recommending me to her friends! So yes i am verry grateful and happy with the clients i have. Gained a new one yesterday from a flyer drop that i started last week. i ordered 3,000 and think ive droped about 300!! lol off to do some more.

Thanks to all of you for your amazing support xx