For nail techs who are constantly on the go, their box of tools may be the only constant in their lives. Traveling techs share their toolkit must-haves that help them thrive while on the road.
THE BASICS
These are the essential items all traveling techs are sure to bring along.
Application brushes
|
Extension cord |
Orangewood sticks |
Base coat
|
Hand sanitizer |
Polish (a variety of colors) |
| Buffers and files |
Implement sanitizer |
Polish remover/acetone |
| Cotton |
Implements (cuticle pusher, |
Table lamp |
| Cuticle oil |
nippers, nail clipper, etc.) |
Top coat |
| Cuticle remover |
Lotion |
Towels |
Kimmie Kyees
Home base: Los Angeles
Some travel required: MobileSPA Los Angeles nail tech and Luxe Management celebrity tech
Won’t leave home without:
✓ A few kitschy drugstore polishes (in addition to 100 or so professional polishes)
✓Organic silk soaps
✓Homemade sugar scrubs (a blend of organic sugar, apricot seed oil, grapeseed oil, and almond oil that I store in a screw-top jar)
✓Scented massage oils (to blend into the sugar scrubs on location)
✓Candy tower (for the clients)
✓Pedi-slippers (only if on set)
✓Magazines (People and Us Weekly are the two most popular)
✓Portable speakers and my iPod
✓My new portable airbrush machine (it seems to be popular on sets)
Spa Chicks on the Go and MaMa Spa, Prenatal Spa On-the-Go (standard toolkit for all techs)
Home base: New York City
Some travel required: sister mobile spas that service Manhattan clients, as well as other select metro areas
Won’t leave home without:
✓The latest magazines
✓ Essie polishes, plus SpaRitual (popular with MaMa Spa’s pregnant clients)
✓Waterproof bag for all the liquids (like nail polish remover and cuticle remover)
✓Towels to wrap anything glass (an essential when traveling via New York City subway)
✓Scented candle
✓ Spa gifts like a free nail polish or box of chocolates (when it’s in the contract)
✓Granola bars (for energy)
✓Aquafina water (for hydration)
