Business

What do you wear to work and why?

December 1, 1997

In the summer, I usually wear long, slim skirts and tunic tips. I can dress them up or down with jewelry or shoes, and they’re comfortable to work in. In winter, I wear stirrups or leggings (not tight) and a long top. I want to look professional so I always wear tops with sleeves and a modest neckline. I usually wear a black smock over my clothes.

Cathy Reynolds

Impressions (Summerville, S.C.)

Thinking back over 20 years in the industry, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t get dressed up for work. I take this business seriously and want to portray a head-to-toe professional image. I’m not talking suits every day and trendy fashions are fun, but you can’t go wrong with classic elegance. I feel that when you dress professionally, your clients will appreciate the fact that you got dressed up for them.

Linda Champion

Golden Shears: Hair, Nails & More (Runnemede, N.J.)

I dress according to the clientele I wish to attract and the salon’s atmosphere. If you want to attract professionals, then casual business attire is warranted. Workers at a discount salon may wear casual clothing based on the no frills image the salon is presenting. A full-service day spa may opt for a uniformed attire to enhance the image of a professional, above-standard service.

Alicia Bryant-Mayes

Elegent Nails by Alicia (Denver, Colo.)

This has always been a problem for me since I work in a glamorous day spa where appearance is important to the quality of work. In beauty school we wore smocks, but in the real world, I think they look tacky and clinical. I have tried dressing nicely in silk tops and slacks then changing or covering up if I have to, but this is time-consuming and cumbersome.

Donna Bachmann

Paul Strom for Your Hair, Skin & Body (Pacifica, Calif.)

Most of the time I wear jeans or cotton pants with T-shirts promoting beauty products or a dressy short-sleeved shirt. I dress for comfort and always wear a lab coat for protection.

Amy McCoy

Amy’s Exotic Look (Barnwell, S.C.

I have always worn a dressy/casual wardrobe. I feel we get a lot more respect as professionals when we’re not wearing a set uniform. I only wear a smock over my clothes when I’m cold.

Jill Hackbarth

Park Avenue Salon (Mequon, Wis.)

I believe that first impressions are everything. I always dress in skirts, dress pants, and other nice clothing. The neater your appearance, the more comfortable your client will feel.

Jennifer Smith

J & D Nail Studio (Thompson Ridge, N.Y.)

More FAQ

As an independent contractor, do I have to stay in the salon for five to six hours when there are no walk-ins or appointments?

As an independent contractor getting a 1099, do I have to stay in the salon for five to six hours when there are no walk-ins or appointments and I’m not getting a salary? I work on a 50/50 commission split.... read more

C’mon Get Happy: Do you have any tips or techniques you use to turn around a client’s mood?

The sun may be shining outside, but sometimes a client’s mood is decidedly gloomy — and it has nothing to do with you or your services. We asked readers: Do you have any tips or techniques you use to turn around a client’s mood if she is really negative or in a bad mood?... read more

How do you track your sales and other records throughout the year?

Nail techs are a fastidious bunch — at least when it comes to nail care. But does this extend to your record-keeping duties? And how much do you let the latest technologies lend you a hand? We asked readers to share how they track their sales and other records throughout the year.... read more

Should I lower my prices to meet other people’s standards or am I right to charge more because I give better service?

I am a booth renter in a small town. There are several other salons here that do nails. I am fresh out of school and am being told that I don’t have enough experience or good enough equipment to charge $30 for a pedicure. There is a new nail salon here that charges $20, but I’ve been told it is unsanitary and doesn’t do anything but basic nail care and polish. I give a 10-minute massage and a sugar scrub as well as basic nail care and polish. I don’t think it’s right for me to be told I can’t charge that much just because I can’t afford an expensive pedicure chair yet. But I need to build clientele while making my rent and buying supplies. All of the well-established salons in my area charge $30 to $35 for pedicures and some of them use the same type of equipment I use. Should I really lower my prices to meet other people’s standards or am I right to charge more because I give better service?... read more

Is there a business-related New Year’s resolution you find yourself making every year?

This time of year we often get to thinking about those things we’d like to be doing that we’re not doing. We asked our readers: Is there a business-related New Year’s resolution you find yourself making every year?... read more

Reader to Reader: What solutions do you have for handling extremely obese clients respectfully?

What solutions do you have for handling extremely obese clients respectfully (for instance, making sure they are comfortable in your salon’s chairs)?... read more

What do I do when a husband and wife want to switch appointments?

I have clients who are husband and wife. He has a standing appointment every other week and she e-mails to schedule hers randomly. I am often already booked when she wants to come in and quite often her husband gives her his appointment. This happened again today. The problem is his treatments run $25 more than hers. Do I charge her an additional $25 or should I just let it go? They are good clients and have become friends, but I turned away two others who would have booked at the higher rate.... read more

How do I get started servicing senior communities?

There are many senior communities in my area. What do I need to do to get started servicing them as a mobile nail tech?... read more

Should I include testimonial pages on my website?

I am putting together a website for my salon. I’ve seen some sites that have client testimonial pages. Is it a good idea to include one on my site or is it kind of old-fashioned? Don’t people go to review websites like Yelp anyway?... read more

Reader to Reader: Do you give preference to stocking your salon's retail boutique with items that are made in the U.S.A.?

Do you give preference to stocking your salon’s retail boutique with items that are made in the U.S.A. (or in your native country, if you aren’t in the U.S.)?... read more

I was thinking about converting from booth rental to commission. What do I need to know?

I have owned a booth rental salon for four years. I need to increase how much money I’m bringing in and was thinking about converting to a commission situation. Is this really going to be more profitable? What else do I need to consider?... read more

Reader to Reader: If you could go back in time five years and speak to your former self, what piece of business advice would you give her?

If you could go back in time five years and speak to your former self, what piece of business advice would you give her?... read more

Prev Next