Nail Techs need to show more self confidence!

The recent debate about Gelish being sold in Sally's has highlighted to me a big problem with our Nail Industry and what may be holding us back. I think there is a huge lack of confidence that Nail Technicians have in their worth, and what they have to offer to the general public. This lack of confidence manifests itself in the outrage that Nail Technicians express every time one of our beloved products finds its way from the status of Pro Only to being legitimately available to the general public for use at home.

Clients do not patronize professional beauty salons (for any service) because they cannot get their hands on the products needed to perform these services at home. They visit the salon because they know that they lack the skill, or the desire, to recreate the results that a true professional can achieve. A woman, with enough money, can purchase anything she needs to look her best at any local pharmacy. Hair Color and Perms have been available for general public use for decades. Yet, Hair Stylist are the highest paid beauty professionals in the business. The availability of these products in the pharmacies has increased the customers awareness of these services and boosted sales of the professional service. A great deal of business is generated just by correcting the mistakes clients make with these products at home.

Clients have always been able to buy everything they need to perform their own manicure and pedicure at home. This has not stopped the nail business from growing year after year. Why?? Because they can't apply polish as well as we can! Or they don't care to take the time. Why should this be any different with gel polish? The only difference between a manicure and a gel polish manicure is the use of a UV lamp and the lasting power of the end result. What makes or breaks either service is accurate and complete cuticle detailing, perfect shaping of the nails and precise polish application. This takes skill, practice and good education. That's where the professional Nail Tech comes in.

Every day in my salon, I meet clients who have never heard of gel polish. Do you know why? I think it's because it's not available at the drug store yet. Unless they have been to a nail salon in the last year, they have not heard about this service. They know about 'nail foils',  thanks to Sally Hansen. And guess what? I get messages  from potential clients asking if I offer that service all the time. I think the exposure that we stand to gain from this product going public will far outweigh any consequence or business we may lose due to some frugal clients trying this at home. And we won't lose them for long...

Now, there is an exception. If you know in your heart that your manicure skills need some work. If your polish application is sloppy, and your client can achieve better results on her own, you may be in trouble. It's time for you to step up your game. But if you have clients watch you in awe as you transform the look of their hands, what are you afraid of?

By having confidence in your work, not just your products, but what you can do with your hands, you empower yourself to succeed. You take away the power that manufacturers have to threaten your business, by changing the availability of the products you use. You take away the ability of  discount salons to lure your clients away with a cheap offer. Confidence is infectious. Clients can feel it radiating  from you. They also can feel insecurity, doubt and jealousy.

My hope for the future of our industry is to see us rise to the level of hair stylists. We are only going to achieve this by raising the bar, and giving our best to our clients. Not by complaining about a product being available here or there, or complaining about another person who chooses to work cheap! This, in my opinion, is focusing on the negative.

I'd like to thank you all for reading this, my first blog. I hope to continue to share my perspective and my experience and I hope that it helps anyone out there get to the next level. I've enjoyed great success in the 10 years I've been a nail tech. And I'm very excited about where our industry stands now, and I'm proud to be a part of it.