July 19, 2010

Recently, I did a full-set of gels with French tips on a client at school who was going on vacation to Hawaii. She loved her nails and I loved my work. (See below.)

So you could imagine my horror and disappointment when the client called my school’s General Manager to inform her that her nails came off soon after receiving her service. When my teacher told me this, my heart sank into my shoes. How could this have happened? Was this a huge error on my part? What did I do wrong?

A million things ran across my mind, including that I should just give up and never touch a gel nail again. In fact, I was seriously pondering whether or not to focus only on natural nails.

Seriously pondering.

But then I remembered that it was my first time doing a full set and that I am only two months into learning nail systems. I also remembered that even the most veteran nail tech could make mistakes and not every nail will stay on. I quickly gathered myself and re-did the client’s full set. I completed her services with a smile and I never let her think or feel that I was nervous and scared. I guess that is what you can call good customer service. After the service, we talked and she reassured me that things happen and I shouldn’t take it too personally.

So I let it go. But I will never forget this. I will use it to stay humble throughout my nail tech career! So I guess what I’m saying to all my fellow nail tech students is to never be discouraged — things happen — some are to really teach you a lesson and some are to make you undeniably humble. Make sure you learn from what happens and always do the best you can do!

— Maricha