Business

Will gel-polish cause traditional polish to become obsolete?

August 15, 2013

While my clients and I both love the new gel-polishes, they will not totally replace traditional polishes or manicures. While they offer many great benefits, many of my clients can wear traditional polish two weeks or more. There are also those that want to be able to remove the polish without soaking. I still prefer traditional polish for my pedicures. They last at least four weeks with no soak-off time. — Lydian Flash, Austin, Texas

Natural nails are important to our clients. To some clients that means no UV/LED curing and no soak-off, while others love gel-polish’s long-lasting high-gloss shine. Many clients will use gel-polish for a special occasion or vacation even if they don’t want to use it on a regular basis. I think traditional polish is here to stay. — Angela Baumgartner, St. John Club Day Spa, Deland, Fla.

Traditional polish will be a distant memory like vinyl records and cassette tapes. — Amy Bickel, Salons at Tucson Square, Temple, Texas

I think regular nail polish will be obsolete. Gel-polish is the new best thing out there. People can even buy kits themselves. Next up is a gel-polish that doesn’t require a 10-minute soak-off. I personally don’t have any clients that get regular polish on their nails. — Char Miller, Couture Lux Nails, Chicago

The nail industry has evolved in a major way with the introduction of gel-polish — its convenience and lasting wear has definitely made it a mainstay on nail service menus around the world. Nevertheless, traditional nail lacquer need not fear extinction. It provides endless color change options, and applies and removes without the need of additional tools or gadgets. Being a busy working mom I love the no-dry time of gel-polish, but the fashionista in me will always keep bottles of my favorite nail lacquer close by in case I need to change my nails to match my shoes. — Melanie Singleton, Signature Touch Waxing Studio & Nail Design, Beaufort, S.C.

I think possibly in the far future traditional polish might become extinct. Why pay for a traditional manicure when you can have a gel-polish manicure that lasts up to three weeks? I only use gel- polish in my salon. I haven’t done any traditional manicures since January. Even children know what gel-polish is. Times are changing. Gel-polish all the way. — Lolly Outram, Lolly’s Nails at Kelly Anza Hair Design, Cornwall, U.K.

I am really torn, I quit wearing acrylic nails three years ago and gel-polish has helped my nails return to a beautiful state. I was hoping it would be the same for my clients (I would love to file less and have less exposure to dust/fumes) but if they have worn acrylics for a long time they are dependent on its “strength.” So they think gel-polish falls short. My manicure/pedicure clients however love it and I rarely use nail polish on them. I do wish removal was easier. — Lisamarie Gerly, Salon Lofts, Whitehall, Ohio

Here in Germany gel-polish is taking over. Especially on toes, since our winters are long and for most clients it’s much more comfortable to put their socks and shoes back on after a pedicure. — Alexandra Natascha Morgan, American Nail Spa, Kaiserslautern, Germany

I introduced gel-polish to my clients about three years ago and I have seen a more educated clientele emerge because of media, current nail practices, etc. Some clients will gravitate to gel-polish because they want to strengthen their natural nails. Or in several of my client’s cases we chose gel-polish over traditional because of the viscosity/flexibility for those clients with spooned/lifting nails and it’s been an amazing transition. Although we preach that our beautiful gel-polished nails are jewels not tools, we all agree that we love the strength and durability it offers. — Rose Griffith, Nevaeh Day Spa, St. Walburg, Saskatchewan, Canada

Illustration by Yuiko Sugino

Topics:gels

More FAQ

Do you have a description of an independent contractor?

Do you have a description of an independent contractor?... read more

How do you deal with loud-talking coworkers?

I’m in a booth rental salon with five other techs. One of the techs talks so much and so loudly that I can’t concentrate on my work or on what my own clients have to say. When she’s not talking to her clients, she’s talking on the phone. She’s actually very sweet and I don’t want to hurt her feelings. What can I do?... read more

I'm feeling left out of salon socializing because I'm a nail tech. How do I get in with the "in crowd?"

I am the only nail tech in a small salon that has six hairstylists. The salon is in a remodeled house, so I am in my own room. Last Christmas, all the hairstylists dressed up and went out to a two-hour lunch and gift exchange and I was not invited. I found out about it only by accident. I was pretty upset and am wondering how I should handle the situation this year. Thank you for any advice you can give me.... read more

How do I get salon clients to leave their hands off my stuff?

I often come into work to find my thing spread all over my desk. It’s not the other techs. My table is near the hair area and when I’m not there, clients will sit and do their own nails while they wait for their color to process. They don’t just file, they put on tips and mess with my expensive brushes. The owner doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but I do. How do I get them to keep their hands off my stuff?... read more

A new client is unhappy about her service and is screaming at me! How do I handle that?

I had a call from a new client who was unhappy with her service. She complained that her manicure and pedicure took forever, that the price was too high, and that the polish was coming off.... read more

How do I handle a client who refuses to wash her hands before a service?

I have a client who has always given me grief because I make her wash her hands before beginning her service. She insists that every other salon she has ever been to (a lot) has told her NOT to wash her hands before her fill because the water will make her nails lift or give her fungus. She’s big gardener (no gloves) and now she has some lifting and embedded dirt. She’s had a few minor bacterial infections, which she thinks are fungus, and she insinuates that it’s she hand washing that’s the problem. How should I handle her? She drives me nuts.... read more

Why do all the misbehaved children seem to end up at my salon?

Why do all the misbehaved children seem to end up at my salon? Although I try to discourage parents from bringing their kids, I don’t have an outright rule against It. I have a sign that all children must remain with the parent at all times but they usually get loose and tough everything and leave their snacks and toys all over the place. I have no backbone so parents walk all over me. I don’t want kids in my salon, but I don’t want to be the bad guy. Plus I know some of my clients have no alternative. What should I do?... read more

How young is too young to get acrylics?

Sometimes parents bring 11- to 15- year-old kids into the salon to get a full set of acrylics. I really hate to put acrylics on them because they are so young. I refuse the service, but then my boss says to do it because they have the parents’ permission. Are three rules as to an age limit by the state boards? I fear the girls ripping one off while playing and then the parents coming back on me. Can I be held responsible for any damage that happens when they rip one off? Also how can I refuse the service in a nice way without upsetting my boss or the parent? Please help.... read more

Premier Nail Source