TPTW..Info on times before and ideas for the future...

[Bagpuss]

Maybe more long standing nail techs will be best for this thread...but everyone is welcome to reply with any ideas...

Thinking back to when you first started what changes have you noticed within the nail industry...fashions...styles...applications...products....etc

I have only been doing this since 2004 so don't have too much to go back on but I can say that when i first started everyone wanted long french...whereas now most of my clients want short french....I think long nails are not as popular as they once were.

We have also seen new application methods such as Poppits and I think having the choice we get now with custom blends...soft whites and colours is just fantastic.

Also apart from what has changed from times past what do you think the future holds...??

A magic stylus pen that with 1 touch changes the colour of your enamel.......what i certainly don't want to see is more ways for the public to DIY...and less reasons for them to come to us...I want to keep it as a proffesion....so maybe the stylus isn't such a great idea...:lol:

So info on times of before and ideas for the future please.

 

[MINKUS]

I'd like to see more 'regulation' of salons in the future.

Standards that need to be adheared to....or your not allowed to perform treatments on the public ....SIMPLE:green:

On the 'new products front' I think i'd like firstly like to BAN anything brought out by Rio!!!

On a serious note, i'd like a polish that REALLY DOES dry in 60 secs!

I'd like a soak off gel that doesn't yellow - that is reasonably priced.

I'd like monomer that has no odour!

I'd like files that dont loose ever their grit.:green:

I'd like a swish new 'purex type' nail desk to be brought out and retail at under £299 !

 

[naturalnails]

Good question Angie! From my own personal point of view things really have changed for the worse. I have been in this industry for 8 years - OMG have I really LOL. When I started I only did natural nail care and I had so many calls asking if I did nail extensions as that was the in thing. As I did not, I eventually trained and gradually I built up a clientelle, at the height of my busy times I was doing probably 4 clients every day. (Not a lot to some I know) People really wanted out of work appointments. Over the last two - three years my clients have dwindled to maybe 4 - 5 clients per week.

Now I would like to think that this was not due to the fact that I am not any good!

I think that it is down to the area I live - it really is a dormitory town - loads of houses but most people work elsewhere. So they are possibly having their treatments done nearer where they work.

Equally we have several salons offering nails ranging from £14.95 for a full set to £30 plus. If you dont actually value the technician and see nails as nails then surely you will go for the cheapest!

I would like to see the day when someone phones asking about nails and they are asking what training and insurance I have rather than only the price.

I also believe that there is a see one do one teach one kind of attitude which has been about for a long time - people have their nails done, think I could do that, then the next thing you know they are setting themselves up to train others.

I would also like to see training establishments giving certificates to technicians who actually meet the standards, rather than just a certificate of attendance.

 

[clara doon]

I've only been about since 2004 as well Angie, and I have to agree that when I started clients did only want long white tips, now my clients have such a mixture of looks I would be hard pressed to say what is my most popular, I guess the biggest thing that changed this for me is introducing the ccb into my service menu.

for the future?
I'd love 'something' to make a French re balance a breeze, a super file or product that would just wiz that free edge away !! without damage to the nat nail or product breakdown !!

yep and polish that really does dry fast .. and lasts!!

clients looking for quality and not just price, clients who really value their nails and me!and new techs not continually under cutting everyone!

 

[RedAdmiral]

Over the years I have seen better publications with more infomation, DVD's, books, standards, shows. With this also comes more short courses, generic products, cuticle cowboys and nail butchers.
As an Educator I strive to learn something everyday and bring students as much info as possible about the industry that they're heading into and I hope I am an inspiration to them and that want to to follow my Education, education, education policy.

I dont want to see a faster polish as half of what I do in the salon is an experience for my client and to sit and relax is gr8.

I would like to see clients having more nail awareness and awareness for their feet in particular - as too many people are happy to go round with diseases and disorders.

 

[angel fingers]

I would like to see clients having more nail awareness and awareness for their feet in particular - as too many people are happy to go round with diseases and disorders.[/QUOTE]


that is so true, i have noticed it even more this year. we need to show them gel toenails that last 6 weeks. and help people recognise fungal toenails. !

ive seen a discontinuation of interest in fibre glass nails. its very rare i'm asked for them.
a huge rise in interest in gel nails.
and clients are now starting to recognise that not all techs offer the same standard of work.

i think techs are starting to realise how fast our industry moves and are willing to update their skills more. though having said that there are still plenty of die hard veterans who learned 20 years ago and are still doing everything the same now.

id like some type of wipe that just swipes away old product and preps for a rebalance.
and white powder thats just as easy to apply as pink is.
and customers who take more notice of your aftercare advice:lol:

 

[Doorie]

well I'm pretty new so I don't think I can speak for myself about the past.
all I know is that my educator was ALWAYS telling us to master a short square French and I never did any since I qualified lol. (but that's because ppl want extravagant things when they come to me)

but I've seen a few brands popping up, and it's pretty nice.

what I'd like to see in the future? awarness... from the client, to pick up a tech for their skills, not the cheapest but the best...
from the techs, in the choice of their products for the same reasons of a client
from the distrib, to work along
from the manufacturer, to innovate more instead of always waiting.

 

[Vetty]

I joined the industry in 2004 and I would say at that point most people thought that nail enhancements had to be long, square and white-tipped!! I'd like to think that I have opened my clients eyes to natural looking enhancments as well as extended nail beds....... Clients now are definitely going for shorter length.

For the future? I'd like to think that clients become more discerning and appreciate the difference between a Nail Tech/Stylist/Artisan and the NSS.

I would like a magic tool that does my file prep for a rebalance, and I'd like clients who have black anywhere on their nails to not want to go back to white with no prior notice!!!!

Good thread Angie!

 

[ADiva1]

Way back then
I started doing nails in 2004 too ... it looked so easy. I know alot better now!

When I first started, people used to say that all the nail stuff (l&p and gel) 'damaged' nails so I had to educate them about it.

People are definitely looking for a more natural look enchancement these days, in terms of colour and length.

Now and the future

Please could I have

• French polish that lasts and does not chip
• Nail varnish that does not chip
• Women who DONT batter their nails - (invincible nail enhancements)
• NSS salons to dissapear and stop spraying on their whites and just PAINT them on!

 

[Jeni Giles]

You've all made me feel VERY OLD and I'm NOT I swear!!! Back in the '90's yes, 1990's We played catch up, 1 color, very runny and you wiped and were hopefully quick enough that you could get enough liquid out of your brush so you could wipe again before all of your product ran off the form. Flat, stilletto shaped, no upper or lower arch, hard as a rock and we prepped with 100 grit on the natural nail (cringe)

We've come along way in understanding that the healthier the natural nail the more durable the enhancement is. Products have flow, the self level, it's easier to get a more consistant color and the choices...WOW we actually have loads of color!

Education is coming to even the most remote or underpopulated locations (via internet- thanks fellow geeks) and you can watch videos or get product info with a few clicks of the mouse.

The future??? Well, a better educated client, an unrealistic but excellent thought, no NSS would be ideal (we won't have to work as hard educating our clients that way) I'm leaving the future in the hands of my students, I'm just along for the ride!

 

[Bagpuss]

I would like to see trade shows that resemble a trade show...without the naff handbag and jewelry stands.