TPTW - great nail techs.... training or natural ability??!

[MissOwen]

So, we all know the better the training the more chance of becoming a good nail technician.

But do you think good training is enough to make a great nail technician? Or do you believe that some artist flare or natural eye for design or shape etc. is required? Or do you think anyone can become a great nail technician with enough quality training?

If you believe that natural ability is needed then what is it you think cant be taught?

 

[shedunlop]

I agree to be 'great' you need the training without a doubt and ongoing training and interest in the industry and what is going on in the world of fashion. You also need stamina and patience though and this is something that I see a lot of newbies a bit short of. I think it is too easy to do a course, even a really good one and think that this is it! There is frustration and a rush to move on to fancy art and nail shapes without mastering the basics first. This only leads to disappointment and self doubt. I don't know how to overcome this problem apart from just keeping everyone informed that Rome wasn't built in a day!

I do think though that great nail artists need that little bit of X factor!

 

[angel fingers]

i think good training can create a competent nail technician.

though i think if you give that training to someone who has a good flair and natural artistic ability then it can create a really good nail technician .

 

[RedAdmiral]

I'm not sure exactly where I stand on this as once you have 'nailed' the procedure of application (correct bead placement, ratio, etc)surely you should have the basis of becoming a great nail tecnician on the other hand training your eye and fluidity of your wrist can be the hardest thing.
The more training you have the more understanding you have about why and what you are doing, this results in more perfect nails being created with minimal problems.

Was it Tom Holcombe that taught his protege to do competition nails in 6 months (?) and that guy went onto win EVERYTHING that year
He was an artist so already had the brush strokes down..... maybe you do need the flair

 

[aangel]

i am still a newbie to doing nails myself, but have had them for many years done by a wonderfull nail tech. she was a "natural" but had had excelent training too. she got third place in one of the competitions at only 18years old just after training.
personally i think that a combination of natural talent and quality training is needed.
Im hoping that my background in art will stand me in goot stead to developing my techniques xx fingers crossed lol

 

[butterfly100]

I think good training is absolutly essential..... but without a passion for what you are doing / learning you will only go so far. It still amazes me that you just never stop learning and even when you get to that confident stage you still learn something new almost daily.......well I do anyway!
I do think if you are artistic it must help but that doesn't mean you can't be taught to see things from an artistic point of view.

Determination, an eye for detail and many weeks, months & years of practise!

 

[del3]

So, we all know the better the training the more chance of becoming a good nail technician.

But do you think good training is enough to make a great nail technician? Or do you believe that some artist flare or natural eye for design or shape etc. is required? Or do you think anyone can become a great nail technician with enough quality training?

If you believe that natural ability is needed then what is it you think cant be taught?

Both, but more importantly, I think that a person needs that 'hunger' to learn more and never become complacent about their skills.
:hug:

 

[aangel]

I think that a person needs that 'hunger' to learn more :hug:

Determination, an eye for detail and many weeks, months & years of practise!

maybe you do need the flair

I do think though that great nail artists need that little bit of X factor!

i think all of these describe the "natural talent" side in a good way.
but as everyone has said, the excelent and quality training with a desire to learn and practice, take time, and never give up are also needed.

i think that as with any proffession, there are those that can and those that cant IYGWIM xxxx

 

[magsham]

Both, but more importantly, I think that a person needs that 'hunger' to learn more and never become complacent about their skills.
:hug:

I agree with Del.

I was a receptionist/secretary for years and i always took alot of effort to look 'well groomed' and always had perfect nails - i could grow my own back then - and i would put nail stickers on, etc and people would go 'oohhh, how'd you do that?'. I had a passion for nails then, and it was when i was on maternity leave with my daughter i decided nails were going to be my new career so i started my training courses. And voila!

But i do lack the artistic flare to produce the works of art i see some of you geeks do and i am a little envious that i don't have the imagination or talent cos i think that comes naturally in addition to training.:green:

 

[geeg]

Plenty of people can become competent salon-worthy nail technicians by being taught the skills and background knowledge which is essential to be able to work in our business BUT ............

1. Those that have the X Factor in the salon (and I'm not talking about doing any kind of nail decoration) are the ones who are artists with a natural ability and have an eye for design and making nails that look like the real thing(not like dentures). The ones who can really transform the look of a person's hands and nails and make them truly beautiful.

2. Along with the artistic flare must go an empathy and a dedication to the clients and the health of their natural nails beneath the enhancements created.

3. Along with the first two things must go a head for running a business.

Put all three things together and you have a successful nail technician in the real sense of the word.

 

[persianista]

Practise must play a part too. Most trades start with good training, add a bit of natural flair, then loads and loads of hours of practice. Makes you great.
Nobody is born knowing how to cut hair/ do nails/ shape brows.

 

[nailzoo]

Plenty of people can become competent salon-worthy nail technicians by being taught the skills and background knowledge which is essential to be able to work in our business BUT ............

1. Those that have the X Factor in the salon (and I'm not talking about doing any kind of nail decoration) are the ones who are artists with a natural ability and have an eye for design and making nails that look like the real thing(not like dentures). The ones who can really transform the look of a person's hands and nails and make them truly beautiful.

2. Along with the artistic flare must go an empathy and a dedication to the clients and the health of their natural nails beneath the enhancements created.

3. Along with the first two things must go a head for running a business.

Put all three things together and you have a successful nail technician in the real sense of the word.

HERE HERE, some have the X-factor and some don't, this is a much more polite way of saying what I truly think.

Nails look so easy, until you try and do them yourself.

Then it leads to frustration, then it leads to .........., then it leads to ....., then it leads to....., then it often leads to bitterness.

 

[geeg]

Practise must play a part too. Most trades start with good training, add a bit of natural flair, then loads and loads of hours of practice. Makes you great.
Nobody is born knowing how to cut hair/ do nails/ shape brows.

Practise helps to LEARN a skill but In my opinion (having taught many hundreds) usually leads to good competency but not necessarily a technician who has the X factor and is GREAT.

Plenty learn how to do one sort of look and turn out the same for every client ... I call them cookie cutter nails (thank you Jan) .... all the same. Those that can evaluate the best natural look for the form of the nails, the shape of the hand and the length that is appropriate for both have the 'eye' and the ability to create an extraordinary change for each and every client. THAT takes real talent and a natural artistic ability.

Good is fine and Good can make a good business but GREAT is extraordinary and by definition there are far fewer of these ones. Same with any profession.

 

[tigi]

I think great training , dedication, desire to be the best, practise and commitment makes a great nail tech, BUT an amazing nail tech, well, they have something more... something you just cant bottle................ put that hand in hand with all the above and a star is born!

tigi