This seems to be the big debate in 2023 as many of the big boys in the nail industry have started to do just that! The big question is should they be? Is it safe for everyone using them? Let's talk about it. This is really nothing new and it has been going on for years in the hair industry. Big companies sell to the general public. Let's examine what happened in the hair industry for a few moments. Was it good or was it bad? I remember when this started in the hair industry. I was about 14 or 15 years old and the story back then went like this....there was a big name hair company who's produc ..read more

From the time I was 19 years old and working full time I always had my nails done by a professional. Back then nail salons didn't exist like they do today. There weren't nail salon's on every corner so finding a nail tech was not easy. There was only a handful of hair salons that actually offered nail services and all they offered was acrylic nails. If gel existed it hadn't found its way into our tiny town. It didn't arrive until 6 years later. When I finished high school I went directly into hair styling school. The plan was to do hair then go through for nails but I just didn't love hair so ..read more

It seems as though as soon as the leaves on the trees change colours our nails begin to dry out and sometimes we experience seasonal lifting. The photo below is the perfect illustration for what is happening to your nails. Here are a few tips to help prevent winter dryness. 1. Cuticle Oil I'm sure you've been told thousands of times by your nail technician to use cuticle oil. It's the best thing you can for your nails. Apply it multiple times throughout the day. Yes you heard me use it "multiple" times. Apply it on top of your nails and under the free edge. Don't just carry it around in your ..read more

Great title I know but the answer to this isn't simple! It requires an investment of your time and diligence. In the end you will shave lots of time off your services if you follow the steps listed below. Efile Manicure It's essential that you take a really good efile manicure course where they teach you all about clean cuticles and care. While you will find some of these courses online most educator including myself will only teach these classes in person. Why? Because it's so important that you learn proper pressure with an efile and this can only be taught in person. Educate Your Clients On ..read more

Starting a nail salon takes a lot of planning. Create a business plan. A business plan includes setting a budget, planning out which services you will offer, advertising, are you using a booking system, and what supplies will you need. You need to factor in all these costs when you set your prices for services. All these things need to be determined before you start. Why? If you prepare for them before you won't have as many surprises when you open. Extra things will come up but if you plan for them it will help. Contact your local Health Unit Find out what you need to do to prepare. I contact ..read more

Almost everyone I know loves to get their nails done at one time or another but do you know there are things you should never do while sitting in your appointment chair? What would happen if your nail technician choose not to fix your nails after you accidentally did one of these things? Speaking as a nail technician who cannot stand doing her own nails I guarantee I have done all of these and the results of not fixing them would defintely drive me crazy!! For the sake of keeping things on a slighly more humorous side I'm going to focus my blog on the nail tech who refuses to fix the following ..read more

Being a nail technician is not as simple as it seems. There is a nuance to the job. First we have to have a creative drive, we have to train under strict regulations, and if we want to be great, we have to spend many years burning the midnight oil practicing our designs and our artworks. After all, our job is all bout the client experience and we want to give them the best possible service. Setting Up The Salon I'm up at 6 am everyday. Why do I get up that early? I need time to prepare it's not like I'm a morning person! I NEED COFFEE right away. My brain doesn't function without it. Then I ge ..read more

Now that I had a diploma and confidence it was time for me to work, build up clientele and practice on every person I could get to sit in my chair. I got a job in a salon with an hourly wage which is actually a good way to start when you have no clientele. My first strategy was to establish myself as the go to nail art technician. You have to have a plan. When i was a stay at home mom I learned one stroke painting by Donna Dewberry and tole painting. I was used to painting murals and all kinds of art on large surfaces but as a nail artist I struggled with working on a tiny nail canvas. How do ..read more