FAQ
What do I wear to do on-site wedding nails?
I’ve recently started offering on-site wedding services (nails and hair). What clothes should I wear for these bookings?... read more
What if I can't recreate the nail art photo my client brought in?
What do I say to a client who brings in a nail art photo of a look she wants on her nail, but I have no idea how to re-create it?... read more
Any advice for how to afford to keep my clients in style, without winding up with a ton of extra product?
Nail style trends seem to change all the time. Matte nails are in, then out. Bright colors are in seasonally, then come the pastels. Do you have any advice for how to afford to keep my clients in style, without winding up with a ton of extra product I can’t use when a trend is no longer popular?... read more
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 it OK to file the nails back and forth?
I’ve read that you should never file your nails back and forth because it can damage the nails, causing them to split and crack. I’ve also read that this is a myth and it’s fine to file back and forth. Which is it?... 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
How do I help clients whose nails are frequently in water?
I have a few clients who swim or do water aerobics a few times a week. They have a lot of trouble with keeping polish on and their nails becoming dry. They peel and split. Is there anything I can do, or tell them to do, to help this problem? So far I have just told them to apply cuticle oil every night before bed to try to hydrate the nails.... read more
Do your clients ask about polish being “three-free”?
There are a lot of heated opinions about the safety of nail polish. As nail techs, we care, of course, but is this a topic that’s foremost on the minds of clients? We asked readers: Do your clients ask about polish being “three-free”? Do they seem to care about the ingredients in their polish?... read more
Reader to Reader: Are you still loyal to the product brands you learned with in nail school?
Are you still loyal to the product brands you learned with in nail school?... read more