With all the advances in technology in recent years, the salon industry has tried to step up its game as well. We talked to nail pros about the importance of technology and how it can help make their jobs easier.

Online Booking

Before a client even enters the salon, technology can help get them in the door. Social media is a mostly free way to advertise services and market to potential clients. Links in social media bios can link to your website to make booking a seamless next step in the process. Lauren Burton, owner of The Nail LAB in Queensland, Australia, says, “Online booking saves me so much time. I don't have to go back and forth with a client to schedule appointments.” Some online booking platforms even streamline payment processing, accepting deposits, and sending appointment reminders. It's like having an assistant! A few popular booking sites include:

• Boosky

• Square

• Styleseat

• Vagaro

Dust Collector

A big investment for nail pros is a dust collector. Giselle Caballero of Ego Beauty in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada explains why this tech is worth the money: “I couldn't stand the feel of dust everywhere between clients, so I invested in a high-end commercial grade dust collector that also works as a filtration system. Exposure to all the dust and fumes during long hours can lead to harmful effects in our health so it is crucial to have proper measures to reduce our exposure to the irritants in the salon environment.” We recommend:

Lighting

Thanks to social media, lighting is now more important than ever. “Proper lighting is a big investment,” says Dana Cecil, owner of Nail Junkie in New Philadelphia, Ohio. A reliable table lamp is a solid investment, especially if you're looking for adjustable settings, magnification, portability, and charging capabilities. Accessories like a lightbox or ring light can help improve your social media presence and picture-taking abilities for nails. A couple of ideas include:

Lamps

In addition to a quality desk lamp, a gel lamp is used daily to ensure services hold up properly. “I really need my lamp. It's a piece of technology that helps me the most in the salon,” says Cecil. For a consistent cure with stylish options to boot, Gelish offers the following:

E-Files

But when it comes to the most necessary tech investment, pros are in agreement that it's the E-file. “When I started, we didn't have access to an E-file in the salon I worked at and the appointment times were considerably longer, as we had to do everything by hand. And let me tell you, the toll your hands took from all the hand filing and buffing the acrylic to a shine was not that much fun, so the first chance I got to get my hands on an E-file, it was like night and day. Not only did it help cut the appointment times by quite a bit, allowing me to take on more clients a day, but it also made it much easier on my body,” says Caballero.

It's stories like this that led to Gelish's newest innovation, the iQ Smart Electric File. This E-file allows you to work smarter, faster, and work everywhere. Get intuitive operation with three adjustable preset RPM zones. Zone 1 is for natural nail prep, Zone 2 is for finishing enhancements, and Zone 3 is for length and product removal. Simply dial to your selected speed, hold down your preset, and when the dial blinks, you can get started. With six hours of battery life, this E-file is ideal for the table or mobile use. Each iQ consists of a lightweight handpiece, control box, and power dock.

The Future

There are endless possibilities when it comes to industry innovation. Who knows what will be on the horizon. As for Cecil, she has high hopes. “An arm locking station for fidgety clients would really help,” she jokes.