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NAILS asked salon owners and employees to take our “Newlywed Game” challenge to see just how well they know each other. Each individual answered the series of questions for herself and then how she thought her work partner would answer them. Keep reading to see how in tune they are with their coworkers’ points of view. The better you know your coworkers, the better your work environment will be. Try answering these questions with others in your own salon to see how well you can guess.
Ally Conley and Mackenzie Kittle
Salon: Mani Pedi Cutie, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Relationship: owner and head nail tech
Years Worked Together: 2
Years Known Each Other: 2
When new salon owner Ally Conley interviewed Mackenzie Kittle she knew she was perfect for the salon. “She is beautiful, talented, and can give a mean foot message,” says Conley. “We love to hang out and drink wine, plus her boyfriend is very easy on the eyes. Ha ha. I hope someday she opens another Mani Pedi Cutie so we will always be together!”
Ally guesses what Mackenzie would say: (Ally's answers are in parenthesis.) | Mackenzie guesses what Ally would say: (Mackenzie's answers are in parenthesis.) | |
Favorite service to perform? | Pedi. (Pedi.) | Pedi. (Pedi.) |
Least favorite service? | Manis. (Manis.) | Manis and talking to clients. (Manis.) |
Is she a morning person? | Yes. (Yes, but only because I have to be.) | Yes and her boyfriend hates it. (Yes.) |
Does she take a lunch break? | Always. (I own the place, so yes.) | Nibbles here and there between clients. (When I can.) |
How does she relax? | Long walks and wine. (Wine and more wine.) | Being with her friends. (Yoga and wine.) |
Greatest professional accomplishment? | Opening MPC. (Opening MPC.) | Being completely booked every shift. (Doing the cover of NAILS Magazine.) |
What is her most over-used phrase? | "Are you really gonna wear that color?!" ("That color is just not right for your skin tone.") | "Red, Red, Red ... Everyone should always wear red." ("You should do red.") |
What's her number-one priority? | Kids. (My kids.) | Family. (Family.) |
Biggest extravagance? | Wine. (Wine and Happy Hour Wednesdays.) | Wine and getting to leave early. (Wine.) |
What does she scrimp on the most? | Nothing. (Filing the feet when I know they need a callus treatment but won't pay for one.) | Nothing. (Nothing.) |
Best part of job? | Clients and employees. (Happy clients and hanging our with employees after work.) | Her loyal clients and the gifts she gets from them during the holidays. (Clients and polish colors.) |
If she could change one thing about her job ... | Turning slow days into busy days. (Always to be completely booked.) | Never having to take a client who says, "This is my first pedicure." (Working weekends and being able to have my nails done.) |
What is she wearing on her fingers right now? | My Private Jet by OPI. (My Private Jet, as always.) | Nothing, but guarantee it would be red. (Shiny buff.) |
Candace and Marlene Pryor
Salon: Mars Nails & Spa, Amherst, N.Y.
Relationship: makeup artist/daughter and nail tech/mom
Years Worked Together: 3
Years Known Each Other: Forever.
Marlene and Candace like working together as a mother-daughter team. “We laugh, play, and cry together sometimes,” says Candace. “Mostly my mom provides all of the nail care services and I’m a freelance make-up artist and an independent beauty consultant. We decided to come together because Mars is a full-service nail spa that includes nail care, facials, and massage, so why not include makeup, too? So here we are and loving it!”
Marlene guesses what Candace would say: (Candace's answers are in parenthesis.) | Candace guesses what Marlene would say: (Marlene's answers are in parenthesis.) | |
Favorite service to perform? | Pedi. (Pedi.) | Individual eyelashes. (Individual eyelashes.) |
Least favorite service? | Nail art. (Nail art.) | Nail enhancements with round tips. (Rounded nail enhancements.) |
Is she a morning person? | No. (No.) | No. (No.) |
Does she take a lunch break? | No. (No.) | No. (No.) |
How does she relax? | Napping. (Taking a nap.) | Sleeping. (Sleep.) |
Greatest professional accomplishment? | Black Achievers Award. (Black Achievers Award.) | Becoming a LNT. (Becoming a LNT.) |
What is her most over-used phrase? | "OMG." ("OMG.") | "Whatever." ("Whatever.") |
What's her number-one priority? | Her clients. (My clients.) | Her clients' satisfaction. (Client satisfaction.) |
What song best describes the atmosphere in the salon? | Andre Ward. (Anything by Andre Ward.) | "Chicago Here I Come" by Andre Ward. ("Chicago Here I Come" by Andre Ward.) |
What does she scrimp on the most? | Doing a pedi on someone with "good feet." (Doing a pedi on someone with "good feet.") | Doing a pedi on someone with "good feet." (Doing a pedi on someone with "good feet.") |
Best part of job? | Answering the phones. (Answering the phones.) | Doing nails. (Doing nails.) |
If she could change one thing about her job ... | Mandate clients to make standing appointments. | Make clients buy retail. (Make clients buy retail.) |
What is she wearing on her fingers right now? | Short set of pink-and-whites with a breast cancer ribbon made out of rhinestones. (Short pink-and-whites with a breast cancer ribbon made out of rhinestones. | Awesome Halloween stilettos. (Halloween stilettos.) |
Biggest extravagance? | Her makeup. (Makeup for a big event.) | Her eyelashes. (My eyelashes.) |
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Cathy Kimpton and Michelle Yianakopolos
Salon: Merlin’s Ultimate Images (Sweet Chic Hands & Feet), Manchester, N.H.
Relationship: owner/hairstylist and booth renter/nail tech
Years Worked Together: 1
Years Known Each Other: 1
“I love going to work! That says a lot about a place,” says Michelle, who spent 22 years working in the corporate world before becoming a nail tech. “It’s nice when you wake up in the morning with no stress about the day ahead. Cathy (who took ownership of Merlin’s in January 2009) is a blast to work with. I miss her when she’s out on Mondays and Fridays! She is super supportive of everyone and knows the right balance of being it all.”
Michelle guesses what Cathy would say: (Cathy's answers are in parenthesis.) | Cathy guesses what Michelle would say: (Michelle's answers are in parenthesis.) | |
Favorite service to perform? | Hair color. (Color.) | Minx. (Minx manicure.) |
Least favorite service? | Updos. (Updos.) | Acrylic nails. (Acrylic nails.) |
Is she a morning person? | No, although she does have to get up for her young son. (Oh, yes.) | No. (No, if I have to schedule my first appointment before 10 a.m. I'm grumpy.) |
Does she take a lunch break? | Once in a while. (If I can.) | If she can. (Once in a while.) |
How does she relax? | Read. (At home with my family.) | With family. (Read.) |
Greatest professional accomplishment? | Purchasing/owning Merlin's Ultimate Images. (Buying this salon and making it work.) | Going out on her own. (Leaving my job in a spa as an employee and renting successfully in this economy.) |
Biggest extravagance? | Changing to a new color line this year, and/or various money spent on upgrades at Merlin's. (My rug and granite coffee station for the waiting area.) | "Wanna go outside?" ("Oh my God! No way!") |
What does she scrimp on the most? | Bathroom supplies. (Paper towels.) | Nothing. (Truthfully, I don't scrimp on my supplies, nothing but the best for my clients!) |
Best part of job? | Working with clientele. (The money.) | The friends. (Working with clientele.) |
What's her number-one priority? | Her son, her marriage, Merlin's. (My family.) | Her family. (My marriage, my kids, my family.) |
What is she wearing on her fingers right now? | Wedding ring. (Nothing.) | Minx. (No rings... Minx on ring fingers, sparkly black polish on pinkies.) |
What best describes the atmosphere in the salon? | "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper. ("Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper.) | "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper. ("Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper.) |
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