Nail Enhancement .. a specialist profession in its own right??

[mum]

Great thread Geeg!

As with any subject, there is no clear cut division.

The world has leant towards specialism in many areas for years and the divisions of specialisms are becoming more obvious as time goes on.

As small as the (physical) area of nails may be there is so much to know. A truly skilled specialist in nails can deal with and improve almost any condition. When Geeg speaks of 'nail enhancer' I think she is including natural nails as well as 'nail enhancements'. A true specialist in all this is a valuable 'comodity'.

I have always firmly believed in the 'stand alone' nail specialist (thanks Geeg for acknowledging this). I also truly believe any association of this profession is closer to the hair specialist than the beauty specialist.

An even stronger opinion of mine is that our industry is in the best position it's ever been in to grow and promote our professional individual status. Unfortunately, the industry itself is what is preventing this from happening.

The unclear demarcation of the specialists are not a problem in my opinion. There will always be those who are multi-skilled and, as long as those who include nail services treat them properly, and not an 'add-on' all will be fine.

Oceana's comment on uniform was misunderstood I think. My nail team do have a 'uniform'. It is professional but has individual style. To me, nail stylists are creative, they are not clinical beauticians. They need to fit in with the environment they work in, look professional but have a real creative appearance.

Hair stylists usually follow a salon code but are allowed their own style. To me, this reflects what a nail stylist should promote.

As Oceana said, we are not selling a dream; we are selling instant gratification but with long term improvement.

I hope, one day, the industry will collectively agree where our future success lies. I feel we are not there yet. Great threads like this can only help.

 

[scattyfox]

Excellent thread Geeg something for us to get our teeth into. Thank you.

I class myself as a nail stylist, technician therapist whatever you want to call it first and foremost. I have taken my education one step at a time and worked at that until it is the best i can do then move onto the next one, all of this has taken dedication and a lot of hard work. I regularly attend training courses so that i can be successful in my chosen field.

I have added a couple of beauty treatments namely spray tanning and soon waxing this is more because of the ethos of the company i am working with and want to be able to offer all the treatments they offer but i am sure i will not be as successful in these fields if i dont give it the same time and energy that i gave to nails.

Nails is my passion and my drive, i specialise in natural nail and no way does this takeaway from the enhacements, i offer custom blending and make it work for me as in nail repairs and how much skill and technique has gone into that absolutely loads. Lots of tears and sweat and sitting up late reading and re-readiny my text books to get the theory right so Ican know the answers, sorry but a beauty therapist only touches the side walls of nails we cover the whole plate.



Lastly i think there is a place for nails with both hair and beauty as it all builds an overall picture for the client, she can go in and have her hair done, her nails done and her waxing etc done all in one place would be even better.

 

[kay welch]

i know when i was at collage the girls doing beauty hardly had any experience with nails where we did just nails they had to fit a lot in to there course.They where well behind us techs they could'nt apply a tip and they where nearly at the end of there nail course before they moved on to the next one funny enough they walk out with a level 3 and me a level 2 hows that.??

 

[1999judy]

Yep. Nails are definately the way forward - in their own right!

 

[lovenails1]

Sometimes I have felt bad that I ONLY offer nails because I see so many other Nail Techs who do Waxing, Makeup or Tanning etc. I read a thread about "what if you could only offer 1 thing" and felt guilty because I only DO offer one thing, Nails. And only Acrylic at that! But I know its what I really only want to do.

I decided early on in my Nails Career that I would concentrate of nails only, I felt that I wanted to perfect them and not be distracted by other stuff to learn. My opinion was to get really good at the one thing and not just average at alot of things, and it has really worked for me, Im really confident in nails and they look great.

My clients come in and cant believe how much I can offer in the way of nails eg, coloured, glitters, Nail art, shapes and sizes etc with nails, you name it and I think it shows that I consider myself as purely a Nail Technician.

PS having said that, now that Im confident in Nails, I feel the time is coming for me to branch out a bit, just for the challenge really.

 

[Nailsinlondon1]

What a fantastic thread.....
I am a stand alone Nail Stylist thats all i know and care about and to be honest that is all I have time for....
I wouldn't know one end of a wax pot and spatula if it bit me in the bum.....I wanted to be known as a Nail specialist and have made a name for that in the city.....I have struggled long and hard, to make my Nail Station a reputable one and one that pays me what I am worth, I honestly don't think I could have done this if I had to add other treatments to it.....now I am not saying this is wrong,bills have to be paid, but I know it just wouldn't work for me and it would take me away form what I love most and that is NAILS.....

 

[ariaaland]

I see Nail Enhancement as a profession in its own right and far more like the hair industry than the beauty industry.

My opinion is that Nail Enhancement should not be thought of as an 'add on' service to beauty because it is far too skilled a job to be merely an 'add on' service. If you don't use it you loose it! Too much time on beauty services and loose the nail skills .... too much time on nail services ... and loose the beauty skills. Nail enhancement is a specialist job .. I believe in the 'Jack of all trades and Master of none' philosophy.

Lack of respect for the skill of the really excellent nail technician is one of the things That personally bugs me!!!

How do you see it?

hey there gigi how are you? well i totally agree with you.. here in jamaica nail techs are seen as a profession only people who non educated or "dunce" get into. its seen as something you do when you cant find anything else to do.. even though its popluar and lots of people do nails i think they are seen as totally inferior and are looked down on as being airheads and not an important contributor to the economy. thats why to tell the truth (dont get mad at me please:smack i hesitate to tell people what i do now as they will certainly look at it as being a long way down from where i sued to be .. that of an administrative assiatnt in one of jamaica's largest financial institutions.. some have said i am worthless to do this some say i should have continued my degree and done my masters.. they all sorts of things so that has kinda helped to make me feel inadequate in my profession.. i know i should not feel bad.. but it happens. i hope it changes for the better though. the only time a nail tech is considered somebody is when she actually OWNS her own top class salon not just any old salon but top class and posh where all the big wigs come to only then will she get respect...otherwise :irked:

regards
max

 

[Sparklepink]

I see Nail Enhancement as a profession in its own right and far more like the hair industry than the beauty industry.

My opinion is that Nail Enhancement should not be thought of as an 'add on' service to beauty because it is far too skilled a job to be merely an 'add on' service. If you don't use it you loose it! Too much time on beauty services and loose the nail skills .... too much time on nail services ... and loose the beauty skills. Nail enhancement is a specialist job .. I believe in the 'Jack of all trades and Master of none' philosophy.

Lack of respect for the skill of the really excellent nail technician is one of the things That personally bugs me!!!

How do you see it?

i have to agree with everything....
i am a nail tech.... i my have done beauty training way back at college but like i say to everyone i specialised in nails which i love and when it came to opening up my salon last year i wanted to offer only nails i feel i sholdnt have to have 'add on' services the only additional thing i do is teach nails but that again in all nails.......

i often talk to my beauty therapist about the nail treatments she offers in the salon that she works in and she doesnt see her self as a nail tech and i know she has repect for what we do...its refreshing to know that someone in a similar indusrty understands... altho Sarah is a rarity .... i just hope that everyone felt the same but i guess that we can try to educate the consumer and im sure that as our indusrty is growning it will improve and that ppl will nolonger see nails as the add on ....

great thread btw

Jess
xox

 

[naturalnails]

I am a nails only therapist. I do not have any interest in doing other beauty as I also agree with the Jack of all Trades phrase.

However, I have seen a slight slump in business over the last 6 months and I think it is because some people like the easy option of having a one stop shop - they have a facial, waxing and oh yes I will have my nails done too. If they have always done it this way then they dont necessarily know that they might not be getting the best nails (not saying I am the best by any means).

Most of my clients are nails only clients, as in, they dont have regular facials, or waxing etc.

 

[MINKUS]

well i am predominantly nails....but i saw a market within my existing client base to 'offer' other treatments....if i have em in my salon and they are going to go else where and have say an eyelash tint and eye brow tint and shape...which i do lots of i dont see anything wrong with thinking to myself.....

ive just sat and done a rebalance for an hour and charged £20....

and i can do

an eyelash tint, eyebrow tint and brow shape in the next 15 mins and earn myself £19.50 ....call me daft but i see that as good business sense MUCH AS I LOVE NAILS :green: !

amb xx

 

[barbienails]

I personally see every "Beauty treatment" as much priority and specialised as the other. I have trained in everything from eyebrow shaping waxing right through to body waxing, body electricals I feel like I have trained aswell in one as the other and found out as much out of one professional treatment to another. I do think nail extensions are an very important part of our industry and is totally recognised with the profession more now than ever and being as popular with our clientelle as ever.
I must admit I can do and earn more doing 5 eyebrow waxes in an hour than doing a set of nails in 2hrs but how often do you get 5 eyebrow waxs in an hour! I agree with Amb there is a market for more than just nails and thats why I do everything I'm qualified in and "I can" why cut my bow on just the one profession!

 

[beautynails]

Nail tecnisions do deserve to be recognised in their own right. I am both a nail tech anf beauty therapist, & have now starting calling myself a Nail & Beauty Therapist. Nails have very little to do with beauty therapy & although they complement each other well, nail enhancements require alot of thraing & practice. I have always believed they should not be taught as a component of beauty therapy.

I trained in nails first. Then did my beauty therapy diploma a few years later, I chose to still do the Enhancement component because it didn't make any difference price wise & I thought it would update my knowledge.

I was completely disgusted in the training that was given & the girls I spent time with often told me they leant more from me then they did from the teacher.

I actually taught one of the girls how to do infills because it wasn't taught properly.

And when people asked about gels they were told so much crap it makes me sick. The demonstration on them was even worse.

I believe if you want to create beautiful nails train with specialists, forget the beauty schools.

Just to add on to that rant I resently had to fill out a form for my daughter school where they were trying to gauge education levels of parents, I was ranked with factory workers only one step up from being unemployed.

 

[perthchik2002]

I see Nail Enhancement as a profession in its own right and far more like the hair industry than the beauty industry.

My opinion is that Nail Enhancement should not be thought of as an 'add on' service to beauty because it is far too skilled a job to be merely an 'add on' service. If you don't use it you loose it! Too much time on beauty services and loose the nail skills .... too much time on nail services ... and loose the beauty skills. Nail enhancement is a specialist job .. I believe in the 'Jack of all trades and Master of none' philosophy.

Lack of respect for the skill of the really excellent nail technician is one of the things That personally bugs me!!!

How do you see it?

I have this problem all the time with employers wanting a beauty therapist/nail technician when they are asking for staff. I tell them all the time that if they get a good nail technician in the salon they wont have any time spare to do any beauty therapy & vice versa but do you think they listen.........NO! I started off as a Beauty Therapist 23 years ago, then decided to specialise in Nails 20 years & haven't looked back since!

 

[samija]

Totally agree! Nails are a world unto their own. Sound over the top, i know but i think the nail industry is really beginning to 'come out' so to speak. It is a specialist field and with the products available now reflects the creative aspect. That's why i think a name change would be a healthy buisiness approach too. Do people want a 'cask of wine' (factory line nails etc.) or do they want a bottle of Grange (i wish). That's why a name change would be healthy, from the business aspect, promoting what your business offers that others can't. What they are paying for and why etc.

 

[Ruby]

I I have seen so many women with nail enhancments which have been done by beauty therapists,
I believe that Nail enhancements should be a totally seperate course and not part of beauty therapist training, unless their training was more in depth.

I have been a Beauty Therapist and Nail Specialist for 9 years, I have had a successful Beauty and Nail Studio for that time and my business is still very much growing .I update my Beauty and Nail skills at least 4 times a year and I love expanding on my skills .(I don't feel that anyone can know enough about Beauty/Nails) My Beauty and Nail Specialist skills training were and still are seperate.
Beauty Therapist Training is still a seperate course to Nails in college as far as I Know.



Ruby

 

[Sassy Hassy]

I agree with Lovenails, I felt I needed a new challenge to add to may nails, so I guess I see beauty as the add on service and not the other way round lol! I guess as well because my idea of having a salon failed and I had so much expensive equipment I thought I ought to do something with it. I have spent a fortune on excellent training and contimue to expand my knowledge.

My clients know I try and give my best for nails and they trust me, and now they are finding the same when they have beauty treatments with me, I always try and give a little extra that most people take shortcuts because they don't have the passion and drive that I have to be the best. if I can't be the best then I won't do it (hence why I won't compete, if I can't win then what's the point? But that's a different subject altogether!!!)

I also agree with Amber that I can take at least £30 an hour with beauty, whereas with nails it's about £20. It's not all about the money, but hell it sure helps! It just shows that we (or rather some) in the nail industry are selling ourselves very short and keeping the industry just above factory workers as Beauty Nails put.

Nail technology is a level 3 qualification, waxing, facials, pedicures and the likes are a level 2, so a level 2 person is making MORE money than a level 3!!!! So why do we keep undercharging and undercutting the next person? Why are so many undervaluing their own industry? Like Mum says the whole industry needs to get its act together as frankly we are shooting ourselves in the foot right now. Cec has always said that we should put out charges up, and I fully agree, but again I think that is food for thought for another thread!

Sorry geeg, hope those comments didn't go too far off your original topic.

 

[kadie]

Gigi i couldn't agree more. to be perfectly honest, when i first decided i wanted to be a nail tech i didn't realise it'd be this hard. there is loads to learn and a lot to practise. it's on my mind 24/7. However, i wouldn't want it any other way. i'm happier than i've been for ages, i really love getting better and better all the time and i want to work at becoming a bloody fantastic nail tech! one day i would like to do holistic therapies but that will have to take a back seat until i am ready ( and have the time to continually keep up my nail technique)

 

[Vetty]

I decided up front that I wanted to learn nails and only nails, so set out to train with the best and to be seen as a consumate professional. I'm mobile, but have a strong visual identity - I look professional (and I totally agree with Oceana about looking professional but ditching the formal uniforms!).

I will not be a jack of all trades, and I want to offer a complete range of nail services (offer l+p and Brisa at the mo) and be an expert in my field.....

 

[The Beauty Zoo]

Well my two 'penneth worth is....I am first and foremost a Nail Technician. That is what I do. And I love it!!!!!

I am also a qualified Beauty Specialist but when I discovered nails that took a back burner, so to speak.

I have not done beauty treatments, apart from on myself and a few friends, since the day I qualified as I discovered my passion was nails

I am now in the process of opening my own salon (read my journal!!!!LOL!!!) and I am going to HAVE to offer beauty treatments.....just the basics ie. waxing, tinting, tanning etc. This is because I realise that I am going to have bills to pay, I have mouths to feed etc and I need to ensure that that happens.

I am going to employ a Beautician to carry out these treatments but if the time comes that I have to refresh then I will.....for the above reasons.

XXXXX

 

[Nafia]

I see Nail Enhancement as a profession in its own right and far more like the hair industry than the beauty industry.

My opinion is that Nail Enhancement should not be thought of as an 'add on' service to beauty because it is far too skilled a job to be merely an 'add on' service. If you don't use it you loose it! Too much time on beauty services and loose the nail skills .... too much time on nail services ... and loose the beauty skills. Nail enhancement is a specialist job .. I believe in the 'Jack of all trades and Master of none' philosophy.

Lack of respect for the skill of the really excellent nail technician is one of the things That personally bugs me!!!

How do you see it?

it is a profession here but I dont think we get the respect that we desserve