Starting out as a nail tech

[emjay14]

Apologies if this is the wrong section, I didn't want to post under a section marked "professionals" when I am currently anything but.

I am a male starting a nail technician course in about 3 weeks time. I've spent my whole life hiding my true self because I guess society made me feel some of the things I love are too feminine or whatever but recently I've been adopting a "screw it, I've only got one life" attitude. I now take an adult ballet class, I wear the makeup I want to wear, I get my nails done, and I'm a lot happier for it.

I've always loved all things nails, and secretly wanted to be able to do it properly myself, and when I saw the course advertised I thought why the hell not? Best case it's a great success and I have a future career I think I will love, worst case it doesn't work out quite like that but I'll have learned some new skills.

Anyway, enough rambling (sorry I do that a lot) I just wanted to ask a few questions.

- how easy is it for a male to get into the industry? I know it shouldn't make a blind bit of difference, but am I likely to experience any judgement due to my gender?

-as part of my preparation, I've been keeping an eye out for vacancies for nail technicians. Very premature I know but I like to know what to expect... A lot of them seem to want experience. Obviously I have none. How do you bridge that gap from getting qualified to being able to work in salons as that's where I see myself wanting to work rather than mobile?

-and lastly, anyone in the Plymouth area fancy a free manicure/full set etc soon to help build my portfolio [emoji13]

Thanks in advance for any advice, and also mods feel free to move to the relevant section if this is the wrong place for this topic thanks

 

[rachirv]

Firstly I would just like to say well done you! I bet it feels amazing to finally be yourself.

I know a lot of male therapists, and there a lot on here too, and I personally would have no problems at all with having a male therapist do any of my treatments.

Could you maybe go into some salons and ask for some work experience? Shadowing a nail tech for a week maybe? Just so you can get a feel of it, and it's all things you can add to you experience.

Once you've done your training, just practise practise and practise to build your confidence and experience, and make sure to take lots of pictures of your work too, so that you can show clients, and so that you can see your own progress too.

I wish you all the luck in the world x

 

[emjay14]

Thank you so much [emoji4] yeah asking for some salon experience might be a good plan actually.

I just want to get started now. Haha

 

[sammi010]

Practice Practice Practice, to start out you might have to offer freebies or discounts to build up your portfolio which will help you get a position in a salon.

No one bats an eyelid at a male hairdresser, infact some people prefer them!

Good luck, you sound really enthusiastic, use that to your advantage. Not local so can't help but try local FB buy and sell groups etc.to ask for models.

 

[emjay14]

Hi everyone. Sorry for the bump.

I started the course just over 3 weeks ago and I love love LOVE it! So glad I went for it.

Been struggling with a few techniques and stuff, but that's to be expected early on I guess, and I've just this minute had a little practice on myself and finally done a set of acrylics I'm actually reasonably happy with so I'm getting there for sure

All the girls on my course are lovely. I'm popping round to one of there's tommorow so we can practice on each other. My tutor is absolutely brilliant as well. Had a lovely chat with her on Sunday.

She asked me about how I was enjoying it, and why I wanted to do the course at this point in my life, so I explained to her that I'm transgender and had always wanted to do nails, but when I was younger always felt I had to do typical "boy things" (not that boys can't do nails of course!) and that recently I had just decided to be myself and do what makes me happy. She was really fab about it all and so supportive.

So yeah... Thanks again for the advice, just thought I'd give a little update and maybe if there's anyone else out there like me thinking about it, who are unsure, I say go for it. I'm a rubbish morning person and yet I look forward to getting out of bed at 7 to go to college

 

[Jambo x]

Well done you! I wouldn't mind if a male done my nails as long as I loved them I wouldn't care!

May not be your thing at all but I know there is a big gap in the market for trans waxing - too many feel too uncomfortable to go to a 'girly' salon and get waxed, especially in intimate areas, I've just passed full body and came across Jack Dunn on you tube who specialises in male only waxing and he also runs training courses, could be worth taking at peak!

The sky is your limit! Heck you could do a make up course and teach other transgenders how to properly apply / contour , hide stubble etc!

X

 

[leanne7685]

I have my nails done by a male him and he's wife own the salon also there is another salon in my town centre where a man and woman own and work there and I have to say he is amazing the work he does is second to none he's free hand painting and designs and jaw dropping every female in my town knows him or will know of him male or female has nothing to do with it it's the work you produce

 

[S&G Beauty Bar]

Congratulations on being yourself and following your dreams!!

I think Jambo is right, the sky is your limit xx

 

[emjay14]

Thanks everyone

It's funny you should mention a makeup course actually Jambo... The company I am doing the course with have always done personal trainer and massage courses but are expanding due to their success. This particular course is there first ever nail course, and it has been mentioned that they are planning to expand to a add a makeup course shortly after this one finishes, so I am already considering it

I've just done another full set on my friend, and I'm so chuffed with my improvement. They're still not amazing, but much better than what I was achieving at college over the weekend, and I think the thing that really made me chuffed is I asked my friend if I could do them, then promised to remove them as they probably wouldn't be very good, but when I had finished she insisted she wanted to keep them for her night out tommorow so they just have been at least ok x