The nails industry - thoughts on the future please

[Kathryn]

Hi geeks

Sorry... bear with me, this is a long one!

Ok... this is a bit of big ask but I'm just trying to gauge techs’ thoughts on where they think the nails industry is heading and where you would like the industry to be in 10 years say...

I know Foxy recently did a big post on the issue of licensing and there have been several threads about the issue of standards, but there's a few issues I've got buzzing round in my head and I'm interested to hear what you guys think.

Compared to the likes of the industry's greats, I've always said I'm practically in the womb when it comes to my time in nails, but in that time I think the one thing that stands out for me is how insular the industry is. I think the industry is brilliant at communicating to itself, but pretty darn pants at communicating to the 'outside' world.

People are still astounded by the fact that I write for a magazine dedicated entirely to nails, that a 'nails industry' even exists at all, and worse, most of my mates are mystified by the whole concept of getting their nails done (despite my best efforts to show them otherwise). Why isn't having bitten nails as sinful (in beauty terms at least) as having spots? Why isn't having manicured mitts as essential as applying make-up or getting your hair done? I'm living in a dream, la la land I know, but it would be fab if, one day, nails was as important in consumers eyes as hair and beauty regimes and that consumers were really and truly nail savvy…

I think communicating to the consumer is the only way the nails industry can grow…

This is my hope for the future… what’s yours?

If you do want to comment I’d love to publish your views in Professional Nails, so please can you add your full name and business to any reply. You can also email me at [email protected]

Ta muchly and look forward your thoughts...

(and well done if you’ve read this far!!)

Kat
xxxx

Editor
Professional Nails

 

[Kim Lawless]

I totally agree. I think the problem is that it's the products that sell and not the service.

We need to get across how beneficial a manicure on natural nails is and how it can improve the look of their own nails. As most women don't wear enhancements, encouraging natural nail care would be our 'bread and butter'. A bit like the way that most people have a cut & blow dry but you only see ads for colour and treatments in magazines.

We need to keep it real. Instead of 'porn star acrylic nails', lets see more articles on natural nail care and pics of short, manicured and painted natural nails being shown.

 

[jac extreme]

Right there with you kimmi lets see more of these, beautifull and natural.x

i thoght Gigi's pic was of enhancements not natural nails

 

[crystals]

i thoght Gigi's pic was of enhancements not natural nails

oh god jackie now i feel a complete burk, i was thinking more on what kimmi said, of porn star nails, as i prefer them as in gigi's picture. i'll go back to sleep now.xxx

 

[jac extreme]

I could be wrong, but please dont call yourself a berk, do you know what it means in slang :lol:

 

[kittenclaws]

when i started thinking about doing nails i though, go to college learn how to do nails wala all done, boy was i wrong, i never thought the industry was as big as it is and so amny diferent products to choose from, the only time i eally came across nails in mags was "porn star" over the top nasties, the kind that any normal woman would look at and think "how would i clean the loo with them on"
it was only after training and finding this site i reolised how big nails can be, and nnow i am forever telling people about the tush you get in some mags, i have many friends who like reading scratch and pn as it is there only insite in to nails, yet you can buy loads of hair mags n the supermarket, why not nails?
i think the nail industry is comeing in to its own and becoming recognised, slowly the myth about nail techs trashing nails is being ousted by qualified techs leading the way, there will alawys be the ignorant people though,
nails is a growing and strengthening industry and it will continue to grow for as long as ladies have fingernails
blimey ive rambaled,

 

[jac extreme]

DONT WANT TO HYJACK kATHRYNS IMPORTANT THREAD I WILL PM YOU.

 

[naturalnails]

The problem is that manicures are still seen by many as a luxury treatment but we should be lobbying the beauty/consumer magazines to highlight a manicure as important as a facial etc.

The biggest problem with getting nail enhancement services over to the general public seems to be the pathalogical hatred by most beauty editors.

If beauty editors were all given a fantastic, natural looking set of nails by a great technician then they might be more aware of how it should be done rather than only going on heresay on how it shouldnt be done.

Great thread, as always, Kat.

 

[geeg]

i thoght Gigi's pic was of enhancements not natural nails

The nails I did for the image above are enhancements BUT enhancements that look natural (I hope). Even experienced techs were supposed to ask, "are they or aren't they"?? that was my brief for the image.

The public need to be aware that enhancements can look like this ... natural. The more the public think they are going to get 'porn star' nails, the more they will be put off having the service. If they know their nails can look like the ones in the image I think that would entice many to have them done who otherwise might be reluctant.

 

[jac extreme]

They obviously do Gigi, they fooled crystals:lol: I only thought I remembered a thread about the colour you used on the tips.

 

[xtremities]

I agree with Geeg. The nails look so very natural.

Around a year ago I had a gay guy (a real hoot) came to me and asked if I could transform his bitten nails, but he didn't wan't porn star nails.

Well I took this challenge on and do you know what, they are the best nails I have ever done. They are in my gallery under "Alastair".

When I say best, what I mean is the most natural nails I have ever done.

I also think that if you always do Forever French Square nails, they do not look natural. I guess the answer is there has to be a choice and if people realise they can have beautiful natural looking enhancements, they will flock to you.

I must admit my most popular service is the forever french. I think it is because that is most widely publicised on t.v. etc.

 

[talented talons]

I agree that we should be working as an industry to educate the public that having your nails done doesn't mean having nails that look like they belong to a porn star or model on a cat walk. We should show them they can have natural looking nails that will look good and be at a practical length.

We should be explaining to the public that the nails that can be produced are meant to enhance the natural look and not make them look like they are enhanced to the point of looking unnatural. There are poeple out there who want the extreme look of very long, white and square shaped nails, as well as the people who want natural looking nails but have just been etended so they are longer than their natural nails.

In ten years i would love to see the myths and lies that are surrounding this industry completely wiped out and replaced by the true facts. I would love to see all the scare mongering in some advertising completely obliterated so that a true quality product will sell itself without feeding the public a load of cods wallop. I know this will take a lot of time and effort on our part, but i think it's well worth doing.

Simply Nails

Wendy

 

[jac extreme]

I think it would be a really good idea to have a nail magazine specifically aimed at the general public, a bit like todays hair mags, with information, articles, nail styles created by different salons and interviews with industry icons.

 

[xtremities]

Wow, what a brilliant idea. My boyfriend is a Journalist and he mentioned to me over a year ago, saying why doesn't someone start a Nail Magazine for the public.

The Industry Nail Magazines are brilliant, but wouldn't it be a great way to educate the public by producing a nail magazine available to everyone.

Maybe some of us on here can start one!!!!!!!

I would love to have a go.

Sam
Nothing But Nails

 

[xtremities]

How about a Nail Web type magazine for the general public. or just a website. So many people use the internet now, it would be a great way to educate the public, could have features, celebrities, gossip, favourite treatments, nail polish colours etc.



Now you have got me going.



Sam

 

[jac extreme]

Me too Sam, what shall we call it? hmmmm get thinking

 

[Nailsinlondon1]

I think in order to get the message NAILS ARE HER across ..... The beauty Mags, Consumer Mags need to be more involved.....
The only time NAILS feature in those Mags is if there is a horror story to tell.....

Open any Fashion Magazine or glossy and Fashion and Hair stand out a mile....
Catwalk models sporting fab fashion...... even the Haircuts, hairstyle and the latests must have hair colouring on models, stars and the like is discussed.....

I bet no one would say to you in astonishment:" Oh Kathryn, so you write for a fashion mag","now is there any news worth writing about"....now why is that ???
Because women get told about Fashion and the latest must have Hair cut, open any mag... from Hello to Womans Own and you can bet there will be a fashion link or a focus on fashion, one way or the other.This is because of the huge exposure Fashion gets and the consumers want to know what the stars are wearing and what the stars are buying..they want to know how to get the look, right down to the accessories i.e handbags, belts aso...because they all want to look like them as damn near as possible and will search high and low in the high street to get this look.....but no one gets to see big time what these famous people are sporting on their nails......

When Nails becomes the must have fashion accessory will the Lady down the road think............ NAILS now I must sport a fab french manicure or OMG what is that nail polish MISS X is sporting there.... looks just so to die for.....

Wouldn't it be a fab step forward for us, if a client would come in to us with a magazine cutting and say, I so want these nails !!!!!!! Nails need to become the hot gossip of the decade........Whether it is the Natural Manicure to die for, or the latest shade to yearn for.....

I know we all mock Porn Stars nails, but hey they do stand out and they do catch the eye and even the most sheltered Lady will know what you talk about then you refer to them!!!!!
But if you refer to Stilettos, Custom blending and Glitter mix they get that vacant look in their eye as they don't know, what we the Nail Technicians are capable of producing......

Let Magazines, no I rephrase that, make them get involved in our world and our world will open up to all...

Ruth Fordham
www.nailsinlondon.com

Just my thoughts on this xxx and its a long one by the look of this post lol.....

 

[jac extreme]

Nails monthly
nails for you
extreme nails (oops sorry thats my salon name tee hee)
nail connection
mad about nails

 

[crystals]

The nails I did for the image above are enhancements BUT enhancements that look natural (I hope). Even experienced techs were supposed to ask, "are they or aren't they"?? that was my brief for the image.

The public need to be aware that enhancements can look like this ... natural. The more the public think they are going to get 'porn star' nails, the more they will be put off having the service. If they know their nails can look like the ones in the image I think that would entice many to have them done who otherwise might be reluctant.

this is exactly what i meant, gigi's picture is spot.

 

[xtremities]

Ok girls, we have something here.

Ruth, your comments are so great. You are so right when you say that magazines are full of what you should be wearing, what hairstyle, colour etc. Maybe it is about time we contacted some of these magazines to see if they would like to do a Nail Division, with some interesting facts, stories, technicians experiences etc. we could even get some of the leading industry figures involved.

Now I am going to speak to my Journalist boyfriend and see if he has any suggestions as to the best way to go about it.

Hey, might even become a Nail Journalist. lol!