To ask what would make a good Nail Tech.

[GinAndTings]

Hi Everyone,

I have recently refreshed my training & insurance, and I am going mobile and home based.

I am trying my hardest to establish a good quality client list and am wondering what would make you stay with a nail tech?

Thank you!

For me it's the following:
Easy access- ie close to my house or good parking
Speedy but good- I like them done in about an hour
Choice of colours- this is vital for me. My favourite nail tech has just restarted after maternity and I haven't gone to her as I know her colours are limited

A thorough job.

Realising when people don't want to make conversation.

Thoroughly clean equipment and good hygiene practices, good range of colours, convenient, does a good job. Listens to the customer if they have any particular requests or concerns.

Good pictures available on website or social media of previous work.

Good quality products and equipment

Appointments available fairly soon

The biggest issue for me is someone who does a perfect job. It’s amazing how many professionals there are who don’t do a neat and thorough job, for example shellac leaking over the edge of the nail so it chips off the next day.

Excellent thank you for the replies so far. I do use professional brands and equipment.

Would promotions would make you book an appointment or put you off?

Are loyalty cards old now?

Personally for me promotions only work for facials or massages. I'm really loyal with my nail tech and stick to one salon . In fact I pay a premium to go where I go because they have lovely colours and they're five minutes from my house. I have calgel

No loyalty cards are cery much still in. I would love quality products such as anything from opi. I love a neat job (to go over the edges with a brush soaked in acetone is fine and shows attention to detail). I don’t like to be rushed, I expect a thorough job with my cuticles, a good scrub of my feet (newtons chiropody sponge and or a blade) and I absolutely love a long hand or foot massage with a lotion that smells heavenly (mango by cnd is my favourite, I used to go to a specific nail salon because of it 👍). Its all about feeling pampered.
Where abouts are you OP? Do PMme if you are in North London...

convenient location (I guess this isn't an issue for a mobile tech)
extra care taken and attention to detail (eg doing extra coat of colour if it's too see through still after two coats, or putting under the lamp after two nails if the polish is starting to move IYSWIM)
very neat
gentle and don't make me bleed! There's a shop near me that are really brusque and rough.
Don't use electronic buffer thingy on real nails. They make my nail beds ache.
Obviously super clean gear. So many salons are a bit grotty around the edges.
High quality chemicals. I've had cheap gel polish before that left my nails stained.

One of the big things for me is a techinician who is up to date with the latest techniques, if I see something new on Instagram or Pinterest it’s a bit off putting when the person going your nails have never heard of it. A couple of times my technician has said she’s working on learning a new thing when I’ve asked which is completely fine and she’s normally confident enough to try it the next time. It just shows a passion and interest for your job.

Also again to reiterate others a big plus is having a big range of high quality products including not just colours but foils and powders etc.

I'll happily pay a bit more for someone that takes their time, treats my cuticles gently and pays attention to detail. A friend goes to a cheap nail bar locally and pays £15 but it's not a good job, her nails always look a bit scruffy. Personally I like to chat but I agree that sensing when someone doesn't want to chat is important too. I also agree that a really good range of colours is important, as is hygiene.

Easy ways to book and convenient times.
Competitively priced.
Someone nice and friendly.

Good hygiene, neat, attention to detail like taking the gel polish over the edge of the nail to prevent shrinkage, good range of colours and effects like powders, glitters etc, and adding new colours.
Evidence of work previous clients so I can take a look beforehand.

Someone who is very gentle; having your fingers pulled about can be painful. Also, a tech who keeps up to date with new techniques and products.
Scrupulously clean and paying attention to detail are important factors, too.
Someone quite creative who can come up with ideas or suggestions when I'm stuck.

I really like the idea of a loyalty scheme, too. I don't think it's old hat at all.

Maybe a loyalty card I. E. Buy 5 pedicures, get one free? That'd be an incentive.

Simple things like getting the temperature right :the last pedicure I got the estheician had the water far too hot to soak, then freezing to rinse. It needs to be comfortable, it's a pedicure, I'm supposed to be relaxing! And preferably no blood drawn, I've had that a few times.

I e. No blood drawn when cutting cuticles, not soaking the feet, obv

Agree with the above

Creativity is key, great to have a nail tech who is artistic and up to date with current trends and can make suggestions

My nail tech is fab and does the most amazing nails, She charges £25 and I've been going there for five years.

If you have a loyalty card please don't use a paper one! I always lose mine. If you had a record of my loyalty points that would be infinitely preferable.

• attention to detail
• honest and will tell you if something won't suit your nail type
• knowledgable. I can mention a product or new technique to my nail tech and straight away she knows exactly what I'm talking about, and can go into detail on how it works and why it is or isn't highly rated.
• easy to chat to, but knows when you'd like a quieter session
• plenty of colours to choose from
• doesn't take the piss with pricing. The place I used to go to would change an extra fiver for glitter. Current nail tech doesn't change extra as it costs her pennies per application.