Client: I have patronized the same nail lady for more than five years. My regular standing appointment is on Friday, and I’m her last customer for the day. At least once a month I ask her to do my feet, and many times I let her do a re-polish in between. I often surprise her and also line up my daughter for extra services whenever she’s in town. With both of us receiving so many extras, I feel like I help earn my nail lady a lot of extra cash by the end of the month. Imagine my shock when I asked her to do my toes the other day, and she informed me that she didn’t work overtime anymore, and that I’d have to wait on a cancellation like everyone else! I hate to show up even for my regular appointment now since she acted so rude! What would you do?

Miss Manicurist: Since you seem like a giving person who is dedicated to your nail tech, let me see if I can say this gently: you, my dear, might have a warped view of how things really are. Your long-suffering “nail lady” would have to be cuckoo to continue to work overtime at least once a month without notice, work overtime on most of her Friday evenings, and work overtime for your daughter whenever she flits into town! I bet you were shocked when she finally enlightened you that you and your daughter must make appointments and wait on cancellations like the rest of us peasants. I’m sorry it hurt, but you’re much better off now that you know. I’ll tell you exactly what I’d do to save face. I’d pull out the ole apology coupon, pray that it hadn’t expired after five long years, and then call to make an appointment in advance, with nary a mention of the dispute.

The lowdown: Your “nail lady” is still the kind and overworked professional she’s always been; you just need to show her that you and your daughter are a cool, calm, and collected class act who’ve wised up. 

Client: During the last eight years, I’ve witnessed my nail tech’s business go from few to fabulous. She even has a waiting list. I’m happy for her success, and I enjoy the benefits of her expertise in my services, but I’m really becoming irritated about a few things now that she’s so busy. For instance, I used to be able to linger in her chair indefinitely while my polish dried, and we used to be able to enjoy long conversations while my hands soaked in paraffin. Now, I feel like a number on an assembly line while she ushers me from chair to chair while servicing others. I miss the one-on-one, undivided attention time! Should I look for someone else who’s a little less busy and a little more appreciative?

Miss Manicurist: Well, you could, but you might end up as a salon hopper in a perpetual state of stagnation. You know, start with another newcomer, and then when she becomes busy move on again, and so on. Let’s look at the true picture we have here. You’re in a snit because your nail tech is burgeoning with success and doesn’t have as much time to dote on you as before. That so-called assembly line that you’re maligning is better known as good management. It is ridiculous to think your tech can earn a living chitchatting with you during down times instead of working on someone else while you soak/ talk/dry. There’s no way she could go from few to fabulous without being prompt, professional, efficient, artistic, and smart. I think you should count your blessings to belong to her elite clientele, and be glad you got in when you did.

The lowdown: Your nail tech is not being unappreciative when she advances in her career by becoming faster, smarter, and wiser in her use of time. Continue to enjoy the benefits of her expertise or give your time to one of the people on her waiting list.  [PAGEBREAK]

Client: My salon has a great nail tech and I love her work and personality. I’ve been going to this same place for almost three years now, but I’m considering a new salon. Every week when I enter the waiting room a big, fresh, blossoming bouquet of flowers accosts my allergic nostrils, and I’ve actually had to take along a sweater to endure the air conditioner during my summer appointments. Where I came from, all creature comforts should benefit the customer not the worker. What do you think?

Miss Manicurist: I think I want to live wherever you came from! Where I came from, the real world, I must take a sweater along to restaurants, to the theater, to medical appointments, and just about everywhere they don’t set the thermostat to suit my own individual needs. All the boors here in the real world rarely consider all my creature comforts. Do you want to know what I really think? I think since you have a great nail tech, and you love her work and personality, then you should be a big girl and not worry about such slight discomforts.

The lowdown: Pop an allergy pill, drag along your blankie, and on your way in stop and smell the roses in this high-class salon.  

Client: I’m offended every time my nail tech slips on a pair of rubber gloves just to do my nails. It’s not like she’s performing surgery or anything! I’m very clean, bathe daily, and always wash my hands before my service. Don’t you think this is overkill in germ fighting? I’m embarrassed when she dons her gloves for my services. Wouldn’t you be?

Miss Manicurist: Would I be embarrassed when someone is taking an extra measure, for my benefit, to be clean, safe, and professional? Uh, no! I’m glad to hear you’re bright enough to wash your hands and bathe daily, but in a world with communicable diseases, every care and caution should be used by nail techs. Many implements used in a nail salon could accidentally nick your skin and cause you to bleed. Let go of your embarrassment, and spend more time researching salon safety, professional conduct, and individual awareness. Bravo to your nail tech for her well-trained, well-informed, expert service. She is to be commended.

The lowdown: The only overkill I see in this situation is a stubborn lack of learning that can easily be replaced with patience, understanding, and lifesaving knowledge. In the meantime, it sounds like you’re in good gloved hands.

Client: For several years I’ve had the same manicurist and I’ve never complained when she periodically raised her prices. Even though the economy has slowed considerably in the last couple of years, my manicurist still went right ahead with the “self-implemented raise” that she enjoys every three years or so. As if this isn’t bad enough, she always charges extra for little things that don’t cost her a dime such as: French polishes, white tips, her freehand nail art, and hot oil treatments! I don’t think she has any idea how selfish this seems to her clients, but I’m about to let her figure it out while I go elsewhere. What do you suggest I do?

Miss Manicurist: A raise, implemented every three years, seems selfish to you? Boy-oh-boy, you must think the grocery stores are self-serving scalawags, not to mention department stores, doctors, lawyers, mowers, plumbers, and just about every business known to man here on earth! I definitely suggest you go elsewhere, and please, the minute you find that alien salon that never has a price increase, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY and let me know! I want to go no matter where it is! Of course, you could stay put, voice your complaints to your browbeaten nail tech, and take a chance on her choking you while she screams, “Why you blankety-blank-blank!”

The lowdown: The reason your poor nail tech always charges extra for those little things is because her experience is valuable, her time is limited, and we all must pay for a professionally trained nail artist’s time.

About The Manicurist The Manicurist — aka Rebecca Seals — is a licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, and salon owner with 18 years experience in the beauty industry. She has traveled many roads in the U. S. preaching and teaching the gospel as she sees it.