New Member Introduction

[kathryn_239]

Hi everyone, My name is Kathryn and i live in Sheffield.

I have done friends and families nails as a hobby for a long time (mainly just a quick file and buff, and some nail polish with gems, and various nail art designs.) I have a very large selection of nail polishes, and nail art bits and bobs however.....

The talent i was lacking was how to do extensions of all types...

I am going on a 2 day intensive course this thursday and friday to learn how to do it. If i pass, i get a qualification that will allow me to get insurance.

I hope to do some part time mobile work, and have some business cards printed up. My business is called 'Kats Claws'.

I am looking forward to getting the qualification so i can officially call myself a nail technician!

Have any of you guys done an intensive course?

The course covers a wide range of topics:

Duration - 2 Days
Course Type - Beginner
Description:
This is a 2 day, intensive, tutor led nail course that will teach you the foundations of nail application using gel, acrylics, silk and fibreglass. It is designed to give you the confidence and ability to apply nail extensions using the different methods available.
On passing the course you will receive an accredited certificate that will enable you to obtain insurance and start your nail career.

Content:
Over the two day course you will cover all of the course content below:

• Nail preparation
  
• Nail disorders and diseases, different types of nail.
  
• Nail tip application and blending.
  
• Resin and uses.
  
• Acrylic liquid and powder overlay systems, infill information.
  
• Silk overlay systems infill information.
  
• Fibre glass overlay systems, infill information. (Infill information is in the manuals and a demonstration will be shown should it occur within the session or upon request)
  
• Gel overlay systems including infill information.

I think it sounds pretty comprehensive.

Also, who should i get quotes for my Public Liability Insurance from? do i need any other insurance? Is there policies i can pay monthly for?

Sorry for the long post and all the questions!

Thanks for reading!

Kathryn

 

[Bev Rose]

Hi Kathryn,
Welcome to the site hun xx

Your course sounds quite busy for a 2 day course.
I'd get in touch with Professional Beauty (http://www.professionalbeauty.co.uk/page.cfm/action=Archive/ArchiveID=9/EntryID=3)
The Guild ( Beauty Guild : Guild of Nail Technicians - Benefits - Beauty Guild) and check with them that your course is properly accredited with them.
The last thing you want to do is pay lots and find it's not what it should be.
Also, doing an intensive course like this cannot possibly cover everything in all the systems. I've been a nail tech for 5 years in acrylics only, and I'm still learning.!

You are going to need lots of practise before you should go out into the big wide world and start getting paying clients. The last thing you want is to start off on the wrong foot & get yourself a bad reputation before you've even got established.
I can understand your eagerness and ours is a fab industry and I love my job! Get some good practise in, and concentrate on one system at a time & master it before trying another. I'm sure you'd rather be an excellent 'acrylic' nail tech than a poor acrylic, gel & fibreglass tech iykwim.
Think of your 2 day course as a taster, then you will be able to see which of the systems you like working with and then go on the do a comprehensive foundation in that system.
Sweet Squared (Sweet Squared) offer excellent training in Acrylic & Gel enhancements,as do EzFlow (Graftons) and NSI.
Plus, have a look at this for other education info..http://www.salongeek.com/education-sites/

I hope you have found this some help hun.

 

[donna'sdelights]

Think Bev has covered education well as for insurance you will find they are all similar on price generally and that it's cheap enough to pay in one go, you should look into cost of business ins on your car if you'll be using it to travel to and from apps and if your stuff will be in the car when your not, and your House ins would need updating to cover your business equipment hth

 

[CatsClaws]

Hiya. Welcome to the site. I love it here and have learned so much from everybody, good luck on your course x
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[kathryn_239]

Hi all! Thanks for your hints and tips!

Pleased to see another 'Cats Claws' on here! luckily, mine is spelt with a 'K', so no confusion hopefully!

Looks like i have a few phonecalls to make, and quotes to get!

I am really looking forward to the course, and i have a few willing victims, er, i mean volunteers... for this weekend!

I would be quite happy concentrating on one technique when i have tried them all at the end of this week. Is gel a favourite of most technicians on here? I have heard lots of stories about silk lifting at the edges etc.

Is there different techniques needed for different types of nails and desired looks etc, or is it down to the client as to which they prefer?

As you can tell, i dont really know much about the extension part! I am fine with the nail art and love creating full nail designs, such as tiger stripes that i have on my own nails at the moment - luckily i'm ambidextrous!
A lot of my friends and family's nails arent long enough to create these designs - hopefully they will be after i've learnt how to do them!

 

[Bev Rose]

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

Sorry - couldn't help myself!:smack:

 

[JenniS]

Hi hun

Welcome to the site. I completed my VTCT Nail Tech qualification earlier this year (I'm still practising on friends, but that's another story). I know that's it's no substitute for a good foundation course, but I bought a really good book that helped me a lot called "The Complete Nail Technician". It has step-by-step picture guides for all the systems and has been really useful to refer back to when my tutor hasn't been available to ask questions (got mine from Amazon online).

I agree that this will probably be a "stepping stone" course for you and you might want to look into doing some further training, but at least your 2-day course will give you a feel for which system you feel more comfortable with and you can go from there.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Jenni
x

 

[kathryn_239]

I have just bought the complete nail technician book from ebay - havent really had chance to have a good look at it yet, but what i have seen, looks really useful - a very worthwhile purchase i think!

I took a design out of there for the tiger stripes i have on my nails at the moment. (Will have to take it off tomorrow night ready for the course - i have long-ish natural nails, and have to cut them all so we can practice on each other on the course.... not looking forward to that bit!)

I hope i am going to learn a decent amount on this course - the more i think about it, the more worried i get. it's only 2 days, and only 10am to 4pm each day. I hope it is worth it... it wasn't cheap!

xx

 

[xXxDaWn-JxXx]

Good luck for your course, let us know how you get on! :green:

D* xXx