What Are Neuromas?
When the weight of the body lands on a swollen nerve, it can be debilitating. Learn the symptoms and alert clients to this common problem that develops in the nerves of the foot.
Michelle Pratt
Contributing Writer
What Is Paronychia?
Paronychia may start off as a small annoyance, but it can turn into a big problem. Early detection and treatment are best defense against this potentially painful infection.
Claim Your Specialty: Become a Foot Fixer
We polled women ages 18-59 to find out what foot conditions gave them the most aggravation. Read their answers to learn how you can position yourself as a solution to these common foot frustrations.
Working Through a Chronic Illness
What do you do when you have a health issue that doesn’t go away? We spoke to four nail techs who haven’t let their illness deter them from their dreams.
Diabetic Nail Clients: Proceed With Caution
When a disease is as common as diabetes, it’s easy to forget that diabetic foot care is hardly a routine matter. Educate yourself on the serious issues that can result from a simple pedicure.
The Problem With Perfectionism
Creating a perfect experience for your clients is an admirable goal, but it could be a liability if taken to an extreme. Is perfectionism preventing you from profits?
Advice for Older Nail Techs
They say age is all in the mind, but for those of us who have celebrated a half-century or more, we know the body doesn’t always agree. How does a nail tech cope with the physical changes when the body starts complaining about getting older?
Something to Talk About: Dry Manicures
The benefits of a dry manicure may be obvious to techs, but clients are often understandably resistant. Bring them onboard by selling an experience just as luxurious as the warm soak.
The Industry’s Issue With Ingrown Nails
A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing and can potentially cause a lot of trouble, as in the case of ingrown nails. Do you know how to respond to this common problem?
Something to Talk About: Onycholysis
Onycholysis is a relatively common condition where the nail plate separates from the nail bed. Sometimes the only treatment required is a gentle touch and a little bit of patience.
Something to Talk About: Washing Hands
Salon best practices include handwashing before every service — both for the client and the tech. But why bother when a squirt of hand sanitizer can kill the germs?
Something to Talk About: Product Lifting
Back when everyone was wearing acrylic nails, it was pretty easy to determine the cause of lifting. Today, with so many different products on the market, the cause is harder to pinpoint. But one thing hasn’t changed: More than likely it has something to do with the tech’s technique.
Something to Talk About: Hangnails
This seemingly misnamed annoyance is so common, it’s likely to be present on nearly every client. The good news is you can teach clients how to care for the unsightly, and often painful, problem.
Create a Nail Menu Where East Meets West
With the continued competition in the nail industry, it’s crucial to distinguish your salon from the other guy’s. Some owners have found success by adding ancient methods to their modern menus.
Something to Talk About: Nail Biters
One satisfying aspect of being a nail tech is the before-and-after experience we see on every set of hands. But what happens when the transformation isn’t dramatic — or even beautiful?
Something to Talk About: Missing Toenails
With the latest advances in technology, it’s possible to offer clients cosmetic solutions that were unavailable in the past — including toenail restoration. Now it’s your job to let them know the service is available.
10 Dreaded Phrases Every Nail Tech Hates to Hear
In an industry where customer service is king, nail techs don’t always have the luxury of speaking their minds. But that doesn’t stop us from imagining the response we’d like to give!