Shellac taking over???

[Murnettie]

I did my CND Foundation course last November I had got some practice during and after but still but my timings are awful sometimes taking 3-4 hours (eek) so its hard to find someone who is willing to sit there for 4 hours lol (their poor back) but now I find that since Shellac has reared its beautiful head NOBODY wants to model for me (I haven't done a set in over a month), they all want shellac (which I am secretly happy with as it takes me a helluva lot less time to do and as I can fit more in, more money) and their own nails are gorgeous afterwards so I don’t really blame them, I have been wearing nothing else but shellac too since it arrived but I don’t think im going to get any practice done now!! I'm wondering if enhancements are going to become obsolete now? ( I know there will be diehards who will want enhancements (not from me though at 4 hours a pop) but I really think everybody I talk to would rather have their own beautiful strong nails rather than enhancements and they get this with shellac.

A shellaced a friend of mine a week and half ago who has really badly bitten nails and now even though the two week period is not quite up the amount of regrowth is huge and she every nearly has nails that reach the end of her nail bed now, another two weeks with shellac and she'll have beautiful nails if she leaves them alone which to date she has been doing, she's very good. She loves it, she has gotten enhancements done before (not by me) when she has wanted a little length but they never lasted long, she cant believe she actually has real nails now as she calls them. How wonderful is that but she said she'd never get enhancements again. I'm thinking that a lot of people will be going down this route. So am a little bummed that I shelled out all that money for my course to be not really using it (and all my products) (not totally bummed as I enjoyed the course too much to consider it wasteful) but im wondering of there are many of you in my position and what you think? Do you think Shellac is taking over?? Are many still doing a lot of enhancments?
XX

 

[user 35377]

Not here! I very rarely work on "Natural" nails anymore, as everyone still has their enhancements on and very seldom even want to try something as "plain" as polish. After months of experimentation, I will be phasing Shellac out of my salon and sticking to the tried and true. As are most of the salons in the bigger towns near me.

 

[Murnettie]

Really?? God isnt it weird how places vary, People only have to see my nails and usually start saying your nails are so shiny are they gel? and when i explain that no they arent, they are my own etc they cant wait to try it. Suppose its probably down to where we live etc but in Dublin its shellac shellac shellac

 

[user 35377]

Yeah, it seems to have found a niche here somewhere, but it is a small one! You would think differently with all of the marketing they have done--but not so.

 

[emma@TheLaurel]

How did you find the CND foundation course? I am thinking of doing it this year. I'm a trained teacher but fancy a change and enhancing nails sounds such a lovely thing to do. I guess I'll go mobile rather than work in a salon.

 

[glitz]

I have found that my Natural Nail client base is on the up, which is what I wanted to achieve with Shellac, I love doing enhancements and have only had 1 client move from enhanced nails to Shellac and she was an occasional client as she is a nail biter and only ever had her nails done in an attempt to grow them, since having Shellac on she is regular with appointments and got lovely growth and loves the ability to change her colours. I have just done her nails this morning a Dashing Diva Shellac Manicure, which I absolutely LOVE makes my French application a dream which I was not particularly keen on previously, they look fab and its more regular income from this client. So I feel that my business is going to grow in the direction where it was previously lacking I only had 3 regular natural nail client in, right now I have 7 Shellac/Dashing Diva ladies, I don't push the Shellac with my enhancement clients as this would not really benefit my business, only if it were a client wanting to get length initially then go back natural then would I recommend Shellac. If you market it right it will just bring in new business.

 

[Chameleon]

I do not think it is a question of demographics,but more a question of what is popular culture.

10 years ago i think people just wanted to have a french manicure look wether it be natural or enhanced,but now the trend is definately more colour.It is now trendy or chic to have the strong colour look,the bolds such as green,blue violet,and alsotaupe colours have been oh so fashionable.

The other point to consider is to what you enjoy doing as a therapist,and there is nothing wrong in promoting what you enjoy and are passionate about.I always hated doing L&P,but loved colour and manicures,so that is what i concentrated on.

I don't think the trends have completely changed though,remember there are so many more women having natural nails,but having a system to back up the clients who want enhanced nails is no bad thing.

 

[Murnettie]

I have found that my Natural Nail client base is on the up, which is what I wanted to achieve with Shellac, I love doing enhancements and have only had 1 client move from enhanced nails to Shellac and she was an occasional client as she is a nail biter and only ever had her nails done in an attempt to grow them, since having Shellac on she is regular with appointments and got lovely growth and loves the ability to change her colours. I have just done her nails this morning a Dashing Diva Shellac Manicure, which I absolutely LOVE makes my French application a dream which I was not particularly keen on previously, they look fab and its more regular income from this client. So I feel that my business is going to grow in the direction where it was previously lacking I only had 3 regular natural nail client in, right now I have 7 Shellac/Dashing Diva ladies, I don't push the Shellac with my enhancement clients as this would not really benefit my business, only if it were a client wanting to get length initially then go back natural then would I recommend Shellac. If you market it right it will just bring in new business.

Yeah that makes sense i suppose to not push shellac on ehancement clients, didnt think of it that way, but will all the buzz about it here, I just find people are saying they will try it as they'd love to see their own nails grow instead of enhancments but maybe its because im selling it to them aswell, I get what your saying.

 

[geeg]

I wouldn't place too much stock on what a small operator in a rural town tells you about Shellac ... seems to have been negativity from the word go about CND in general from this poster ..... as I'm sure we have all noticed.

Shellac is sold out all across the USA and was HUGE at the Orlando show at the weekend. Sold out completely in Las Vegas at the show at the end of last month. Shellac is a WINNER big time and Techs are raving about it all over the world so 'consider the source' and the motive behind it (whatever that may be) always when you read a post.

What will take over in your salon is largely due to what YOU promote in your salon. If you are excited about Shellac for your natural nail clients you will do great business with shellac .. If you are afraid to use it because you fear it will take over then you yourself will be the one to phase it out and you will influence your clients not to have it.

We have a bunch of brand new natural nail clients that are adoring Shellac (new business).
We are not really promoting Shellac to our enhancement clients at all. Why would we when polish lasts for so long on enhancements?

We are adding Shellac to our pedicure services as the 'no dry time' is a huge incentive to use it and the clients love that they don't have to sit and wait for polish to dry and can get straight into their shoes without a chance of it smudging! (More new business). We also do 25-30 Minxed toe nails every week.

Frankly anyone who uses their brain and promotes this service to the right group of clients will make shed loads from using Shellac (and Minx for that matter).

 

[ValencianNails]

Consider the number of clients who don't have enhancements and who aren't currently clients of ours, the amount of new business just waiting out there for us is immense!!!

Only a small percentage of women have enhancements, that leaves a HUGE percentage who are potential natural nail clients and who will be wowed by Shellac and the benefits it can give to them!

Even I, here in a very rural town just west of Valencia (Spain), have found new clients for Shellac who weren't my clients previously.
THAT speaks for itself I think! :green:

 

[Murnettie]

What will take over in your salon is largely due to what YOU promote in your salon. If you are excited about Shellac for your natural nail clients you will do great business with shellac .. If you are afraid to use it because you fear it will take over then you yourself will be the one to phase it out and you will influence your clients not to have it.


Yes i see what you mean, i suppose the reason why i dont have any enhancement clients is because due to my timing etc, i have not being promoting them as such and with Shellac i have hence why I have more shellac clients i suppose Duh (slow but i get there eventually!lol)

The one thing i dont think i'll be ever doing is phasing it out, its doing me the world of good! and given what Valencian Nails is saying about the small number of people having enhancments -v- those that dont, (again duh) it makes sense for me really to concentrate on keeping up promoting the shellac and coming back to L&P and Gels a little later until im good enough.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[geeg]

Shellac will prove to be a great source of revenue for you while you are practising your enhancements. Not many have any chance to make much money whilst learning so be happy you can do this!

Best of luck and try to get as many enhancement clients through your hands as you can. You can always enhance the odd nail for Shellac clients if one of their natural nails is much shorter than the others. Doing one perfect nail at a time is a great way to practice and is also less stressful for you when learning too. X

 

[Murnettie]

Never thought of doing the one nail, thats a great idea, thank you!!

 

[An*Gel]

I LOVE Shellac too, but I found it hasn't taken from my enhancement clients at all.

Shellac IS a fabulous product, but my enhancement clients are still happy to stick with the system I've always used (Bio Sculpture and Brisa Gel)

What I HAVE found however, is those clients are now getting their toes Shellacked (usually they'd have gone for enamel)

I have a lot of new clients because of Shellac, that I would never usually get, as they are not interested in enhancements and are fed up with Enamel that chips after a few days and takes ages to dry..... these clients, like me, are in love with Shellac, as it's perfect for them.

Usually, a client will like whatever YOU have on your nails, so if you wear Shellac, you'll sell it.. no questions.

Your course was NOT a waste of time..... you just need to practice as much as you can.... maybe get a nail trainer hand

 

[MissOwen]

I wouldn't place too much stock on what a small operator in a rural town tells you about Shellac ... seems to have been negativity from the word go about CND in general from this poster ..... as I'm sure we have all noticed.

Shellac is a WINNER big time and Techs are raving about it all over the world so 'consider the source' and the motive behind it (whatever that may be) always when you read a post.

I think this is a little harsh just because someone has said they dont have many natural nails clients and wont be using shellac because of that.

I dont know the person who posted so cant be sure of her 'motives' but surely everyone is intitled to give an opinion even if it doesnt please all.



Personally, i havent tried Shellac but it sounds like a fantastic product to bring new clients to your business and i agree with Angel that a nail trainer hand might be a good thing to help you, its no replacement for practicing on people but does give you a way to practice things like product control and filing techniques without having a time limit xxx

 

[user 35377]

Thank you Miss Owen, I don't have an "agenda" and I don't feel that I am "against" CND. It's the product line I learned on and started the biz with over 20 years ago. I just don't think that it is the "be all, end all" of products available. And I may live in a small rural area now, but that is just in the last 5 years. I am originally from a major metro area with a pop of over 3 million and have seen things come and go. I am still in contact with more than 30 techs from that area and am just seeing that there is not really difference with the people's desires from there to here. Like I mentioned before, I bought into the hype and bought the complete salon kit for Shellac as soon as it was available. Tried it on my nails immediately, put an ad in the local paper and showed it off to everybody I saw. But most people looked at my nails and said "but that looks like polish" and "where is the bling?". And now I am having a hard time getting it on anybody. So I will continue to offer it until my supply is gone and then I am done.

 

[marion]

c-c... we must keep in mind that whilst being a wonderful forum, it is backed by a CND company, and a lot of the advice is coming from CND users. (Maybe its not always unbiased)

 

[geeg]

Simplest thing in the world to make Shellac BLING (as if it needs more with that shine) as Holly has shown in her videos.

As to your first posts .. everyone does not wear enhancements (far far from it) in fact 85% of women DO NOT wear enhancements and they are the ones we are anting to attract into the salon for Shellac ... lordy its all about attracting new business not changing your same old clients to shellac. Who wants to do that? Your same old same old want what they've GOT .. A simple concept to help the salon owners grab some of that 85% who WANT manicures plus lasting polish and do not want enhancements. Not a hard concept to grasp.

I am an American ( in case you were unaware) And I know very well what goes on generally with nails in the USA ... and it ain't all BLING ... and it's not all enhancements either. There is a huge market for manicures and they are begging for Shellac and are very excited about it.

 

[user 35377]

c-c... we must keep in mind that whilst being a wonderful forum, it is backed by a CND company, and a lot of the advice is coming from CND users. (Maybe its not always unbiased)

Haha! It's never unbiased--as I was told by others--it really should be named CND Geek! Too funny.
Like I said, I am not a product basher, just sharing my personal experiences with it in my particular 8 State area. I am not personally seeing this product become a "wave of the future" in my 8 State area. Simple statement, nothing more. We have all the same marketing that everyone else does, it's just not catching on here. It may over the summer months as pedis increase--who knows!?! I do have nat nail clients, but they all want extensive handpainted art--I don't even remember the last time I opened a polish bottle--of ANY kind!

 

[ValencianNails]

c-c... we must keep in mind that whilst being a wonderful forum, it is backed by a CND company, and a lot of the advice is coming from CND users. (Maybe its not always unbiased)

Haha! It's never unbiased--as I was told by others--it really should be named CND Geek! Too funny.

It isn't backed by a CND company... Samuel started the site after using it as a way of updating family on what he was up to, it evolved into what it is today way before Sweet Squared was 'born', let alone thought of!!! He pays for the running of the site out of his own pocket and with the help of Premium Geek memberships, advertisers and Event subscriptions... and they don't cover all of the running costs!

If you'd like to have a 'proper look' at the products that members of the site use you'll not only see that they use CND, but also EZFlow, NSI, ibd, BioSculpture, Calgel, Odyssey, NfuOh... to name but a few (in no particular order), and that doesn't include the Skin and Hair Geeks!

Is it the fault of Salon Geek that a lot of the members use the market leader in nail products?
No!

Take a wider look instead of being so insular and jumping to conclusions.