Why doesn’t she want me as a client?

[notamumyet2010]

This is such a first world problem, I’m almost embarrassed to speak about it but it’s really playing on my mind so I would love some opinions.
For years, I’ve been seeing a beautician for nail art. She was amazing, really talented and I thought we got on really well. I knew she also worked from home and after a couple of years I asked if she was looking for some home clients and she said no not at the moment due to time/space. Fair enough. I thought.
Anyway start of this year, she lost her job, it was very sudden as the place went under. She messaged me telling me what happened and I expressed empathy. After a week or so I saw on social media she was telling people to message her if they want to book in with her at home. Straight away I sent her a message and she responded saying she was just waiting for some materials to arrive and she would message me to let me know once she was up and running. I saw again on her socials she was seeing clients. I waited for a message and nothing. I was super confused as I really thought we got on well and I was a regular client. I left it for a while thinking she was probably getting things sorted, and it takes a while I’m sure. Well it’s been months now and I thought hell I’m going to send her one more message. So I texted asking how she is and is she taking more clients on. She said yes and she’s working hard including at a local spa. No mention of me booking in with her. I was like ok this is odd, decided to be brave and ask outright. “Can I book with you?, only I never heard from you” I get a strange message back saying she would be willing to do my nails but is fully booked till September!
I feel like for some reason she certainly doesn’t want me as a client, I have racked my brains for a reason and the only one I can think of is I ask for nail art every time which takes more time. However she did always say she loves it as she gets to be creative and all her other clients are boring. In fact she called me her favourite client.
Obviously sadly you guys will be no wiser as to why this has happened or what I’ve done, but my question is…..would you book in for September or just accept that for whatever reason this client/beautician relationship has ended?
It’s such a shame as she really is sooo talented but I just feel this has probably tainted the relationship now anyway.
Thanks for reading if you got this far!

Don’t take it personally if she’s as good as you say she’s probably just really busy. You’re one of many clients and she’s just one person.

Obsessive? I just wanted a bloody appointment. I didn’t pester, told her I was keen to stick with her and gave her time to set up a new business. I didn’t change times, turn up late (bar once), mess her around.
Surely if I was obsessed I would have kept messaging her? Which is what some people on here said I should have done. This is the epitome of not being able to win. If I message I look obsessed if I don’t she thinks I don’t want an appointment.

It’s only nails it’s not really important. Just find another person

I'd just let it go and find somebody else to do my nails. It all just sounds a bit intense. Maybe she was massively undercharging and doesnt feel comfortable charging you the new price. Who knows. But she is being really evasive so I wouldn't keep chasing her for an appointment.

She's good and she's reasonably priced. Likelihood she's just booked up.
Just forget about it.

This is exactly what I think too.

You are being really paranoid OP.

It sounds like she just forgot to message you back, very easy to so when she was setting up and presumably had other clients booking in when they saw her launch. She had ready made clientele from the business that went under after all. Sounds like her other clients were more proactive than you and have taken all her spots.

I don’t know how, but somehow the level of absolute batshittery on this website always continues to exceed my expectations.

OP is slightly miffed and a bit confused about being dropped by a business she used regularly, and suddenly she’s a mentally unwell closeted lesbian millionaire stalker who’s flaunting her massive wealth 😂

No idea why she seems to be avoiding your custom OP, I’d say either she’s genuinely busy, avoiding an awkward conversation about fees or you have inadvertently said something to offend her at some point - either way I’d just be looking for somewhere else to go

Read all your replies now OP.

Bloody hell, the drama on here. There is NOTHING to suggest anything nefarious is going on. All that has happened is OP was waiting for the nail Tech to contact her to make an appt. , and the Nail Tech has forgotten/ hasn’t needed to as she booked up. You’ve just been a bit passive OP.

If she didn’t want you as a client she’d have just ignored your message (s). You are not her mate so it would have been easy to ghost you completely.

She offered Sept and she can see you then. So book then.

All this stuff about ‘sadly the relationship has ended’. Well only because you have never actually made a booking OP. Make a booking if you want it to continue.

What nail art were you asking for exactly? And how long did your nail appointments take?

I see my nail tech every three weeks for gel nails. I will often have “nail art” such as swirls, glitter, a flower, stripes etc. The price is always £30 and it takes as long as it takes (usually around 1.5 hours ish). I’ve been seeing her for six years. She has put her prices up (for everyone) over the last few years to reflect the increase in products and her time etc.

Unless you’re asking for really intricate nail art that takes her an inordinate amount of time and product, I don’t think it’s unreasonable. But, if you were always asking for really time consuming work, perhaps she just can’t be bothered with it? Maybe she has clients who are happy to pay the same as you for a bog standard colour.

Also, I don’t tip my nail technician, or my hairdresser or the aesthetician who does my Botox etc. Where does the tipping end?! You pay for a service. Never had any issues.

Edited to add - I wouldn’t rebook with her. She obviously doesn’t want your custom. Find someone who does.

Two hours!

I think you're probably not worth her time, sorry OP.

Probably nothing sinister going on:
Now that she works on her own she plans to charge you for the nail art but is uncomfortable asking you to pay extra. Book for September but make it clear that you expect to be pay more because of the nail art.

You're overthinking it. She probably just forgot to message. Book the September appointment and see what happens.

Oh my god thank you. I thought I was going nuts!

@notamumyet2010 Some people are weird as fuck, OP.

She got more enquiries than she can handle.

Some of your replies here have me thinking she might be a little bit freaked out by you.
The “faked being friendly for 4 years” no dear, she has to be friendly to clients or people won’t return to her.
The not being able to sit across from her for 2 hours knowing she was working for months & didn’t text you.
The preferring to give presents instead of tips.
I’m wondering if maybe you gave the impression you might have feelings for her? The way you’re going on here is a little bit OTT being honest, still thinking so strongly about her after all this time.
Do yourself a favour & move on to somewhere else & remind yourself, they are there to provide a service & friendly small talk, nothing more.

She probably forgot you messaged her. Maybe she didn’t even get your message. She maybe then thought you weren’t that bothered about having her do your nails again. And maybe she’s on holiday a lot in the summer.

I would book for September and see how it goes. If you’re bothered about how long nail art takes you could maybe offer to pay her a bit extra?

I wonder if perhaps she took you for granted as a client since you were so friendly with her, and was focusing on building up a new client base knowing she had you to fall back on?

my nail artist is booked up until end of October currently if you tried to book in now. I think that’s normal unfortunately and if you like her, book in and go for it - you’ll get a vibe when there whether to book again or not and at least you’ll know one way or another!

@notamumyet2010 I’m sorry about some of the insane replies you’ve got. (You’re in love with her, £100 gifts are you flaunting wealth, baby reindeer vibes etc).

I get your dilemma & confusion. I remember having similar with a great hairdresser who moved to doing home cuts / colour on the side, brilliant for me, and then apparently out of nowhere ghosted me. I really thought we’d become friends! In retrospect, we hadn’t of course, she clearly didn’t want to keep offering that service & just couldn’t bothered to tell me that.

I would suggest she’s a bit flaky, likely busy, and also the nail art bit / prices. Other posters have good ideas about how to deal with that. It is a bit weird she wasn’t charging you for the nail art as her manager requested.

Lack of tip I’d bet is it. I always tip my hair and nail girls

Go elsewhere - you can’t be that desperate or ignore so many hints that you are not a valued customer.

It’s not bloody rude, Americans are utterly shite at paying wages and expect tips, that’s on employers not the customer, UK/Ireland and Europe in general are scavengers for tips, if you’re American I understand your logic with tips but blame the pathetic wages not customers, everywhere else it’s not expected and shouldn’t be expected to tip anyone, if the food/service price is already pretty high and the staff are on good wages, unless it’s Xmas or whatever why the hell would anyone assume they should be tipped?? Don’t start turning the rest of the world into the way America does things, it’s ridiculous how they under pay their staff and expect customers to cover the cost!!!

You American? If you’re in uk and paying top money for hair or beauty and staff on decent wages why you tipping unless it’s Xmas? Otherwise that’s just making your service dearer

Hahaha. I'm glad someone said it. Some of the comments here are absolutely bonkers! Limerance? Obsession? Clingy?
Bloody mental.