Maggie Rants [and Raves]

OK People, It's Time to Do Something About "Solar Nails!"

by Maggie Franklin | July 13, 2009 | Bookmark +

One of the many many (too many) obligations I have volunteered for is being an "expert" on AllExperts.com. I ran across the site just over a year ago on one my Google-fests. Yes, occasionally I sit down with Google — or any number of other popular search engines — and start typing in words and phrases pertaining to the nail biz, just to see what's out there. Awhile back a question came up on Yahoo Answers about nails that about sent me into an old fashioned conniption. Who thought that premise up anyway? Yahoo Answers — and other similar question/answer sites — is like asking strangers on the street how to build a space ship. And what gets me is that the asker gets to choose, not the best, but their favorite answer. In this case some gal was asking about "solar nails" and despite receiving a reply from a professional and qualified nail tech, she chose a totally bimbo-headed response as her "best" answer.

 

So after that I start cruising the Internet looking for how many other sites were out there where nail advice was being given by unqualified persons. The blind leading the blind, I tell ya.

 

Aside from many forums that made me want to beat people over the heads with nail files, I came across the AllExperts site. And I ended up applying as an expert. I was impressed with them because they actually seemed to require some level of expertise from their volunteers. I had to fill out a form and tell them why I was qualified to give advice. That was cool. Then it took three months for them to approve me. Probably they are just busy people and didn't get around to it till then, but I like to think it was because they took the time to research my application and verify my claims. At any rate, I volunteer as an expert at Allexperts.com …

 

Where I get a lot of people from all over the place asking me questions about nails. And many of these questions make me want to cry. All these people, all over the place, getting their nails done and having horrible horrible experiences. It's like adopting a puppy from the pound — you go in there and your heart breaks because you can't save them all. And that's what I want to do — I want to save them ALL. I wish every one of these girls could come to me. But they can't. And I don't have references to give them for every area. (Would you please add your name and contact info to the salon locator service at Beautytech.info or get a Yelp.com review?)

 

I am just so over this whole "solar nail" nonsense. I know it's been discussed at length in the professional industry. I expect we all know what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about Solar Nail, the registered trademark and product manufactured by CND. I'm talking about the almost-universal term for pink-and-white nails that is most commonly used by salons of a less than exemplary caliber.

 

The problem is that the consumer market has come to believe that "solar nails" is the correct term for pink-and-white nails. And guess what? They don't know about white product. They don't know about sculptured nails. They don't know about backfills.

 

I say it's time to take back the industry!

 

I wrote an entry on my personal blog about "solar nails," which originally was posted to my MySpace page (I have since changed where I do my personal blogging) and it received much support. I think I'm going to post it to Craigslist. I think we should all write up a little something and post it to Craigslist. Or wherever else we can get the information in front of the masses. We talk a big talk about educating our clients, I say it's time we start educating everyone else's clients too.

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