Relevant Resources: Favorite YouTube Channels

There are three things I can credit with my foray into manicuring: my own sad bitten nails, my friend and former manicurist Sreynin and YouTube tutorials. I specialize in gel nail art on natural nails, so I won’t be of much use in the acrylic department (although I hear that Nail Career Education, Naio Nails and Young Nails are amazing resources.)

The Nail Hub: Gel Nail Fundamentals

Liz has an AMAZING series called Gel Nail Fundamentals, literally everything from anatomy to application.

Hillary Dawn Herrera:

Hillary is just one of those magical unicorn people with a gift for education. I love that she talks business and real salon scenarios as well. If you want more in-depth skill training, she also has a paid digital education library (I highly recommend her Speed Gel Removal class).

Paola Ponce Nails

Paola specializes in Japanese gel nail education, and is a great resource for business, basics and art. She’s my go-to when I have a Japanese gel question.

Light Elegance: Jim McConnell’s Chemist Corner

I don’t use a ton of LE in my studio (mostly their glitter gels), however, Jim is a super renowned chemist. So if you are an education junkie like myself and you want to know the ins and outs of chemistry, take a stroll over to the LE channel and get nerdy with Jim.

Celina Rydén:

Celina just has the BEST personality, her videos have something for everybody whether it’s basics, business or advanced techniques.

Mainee Nail TV

Mai Sakai is a super well known Japanese artist and her tutorials breakdown simple and complex art, step-by-step complete with subtitles and royalty-free background music that’s for sure going to get stuck in your head.

Isabel May Nails:

Isabel is a more recent discovery of mine, but I just love her tutorials and British accent. Here’s one of my faves!

Nails by Katie Dutra

Katie’s channel is super fun, great and honest vlogs, necessary tutorials (hello ombré!) and product reviews.

Relevant Resources: Invasion of the Pod(cast) People

I’m a firm believer that knowledge is better shared than stored away and I’m SO thankful that there are amazing educators, artists and business people who not only feel the same way but are upstartish enough to actually do the work and create (free!) resources for their colleagues. I’m super excited to share some of my never-miss-an-episode breakdown of my absolute favorite beauty business podcasts.

Outgrowth: A Slice of Pro Beauty

The Thriving Stylist Podcast

Britt Seva is a Hairstylist and former salon owner turned marketing genius. While the Thriving Stylist program is more geared toward hairstylists, all of the advice is completely relevant to manicurists. Britt is a great resource for building the business and clientele that you want and has a magical way of putting things into perspective.

Bangers:

Episode #115: How To Work With Brand Ambassadors or Micro Influencers This is an absolute MUST for everybody in the game, when is it really worth it to work with influencers? How do you figure out if a relationship is right for you AND how to do it the right way.

Episode #104: Close Your Books, Close Your Business: Is it ever a good idea to turn away potential clients?

Episode #78: Social Media Myths & Mistakes: Self explanatory title, but great tips to maximize your social media experience.

The Nail Hub (retired, but great resource)

Liz Morris is sharp, opinionated and exceptionally gifted when it comes to business. This is one fo the first nail podcasts I ever got into and I’ve probably listened to every episode three times. Although she’s moved her primary platform to YouTube (which I also highly recommend checking out) the podcasts episodes are still as relevant as ever, except maybe the one about Periscope.

Bangers:

Setting Prices: What actually goes into setting your prices. Are you just pulling numbers out of thin air or really thinking it through.

The Death of Licensing Pt 1 & 2: An honest discussion about deregulation looking at it from both sides.

Just Say No… And How To Actually Do It: Setting boundaries in business and with clients.

You Did Not Forget How To Do Nails: Going Back After Quarantine

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure statement here.

When COVID-19 hit California, personal care services were immediately shut down. What we initially thought would be 2 weeks, turned into three months. I am finally back in my studio full-time this coming week and I’m not going to lie, my feelings are mixed, for sure. I’m SO excited to see my clients, but I’m also 100% nervous and approaching every appointment and interaction in my life with extreme caution. We are still very much in the midst of a pandemic and taking clients right now is a major exercise in trust and communication. Here are some things that I’ve found made my return to the studio run smoothly.

Get Your Game Plan Together:

Reread not only your state and national COVID precaution guidelines, but also review your state board laws and regulations as well. If we are going to be getting back to business, let’s make sure we’re compliant to everything- not just because we don’t want to get fined, but because taking those universal precautions keeps us and our clients as safe as possible. If you aren’t using a scheduling service (I use Acuity and I love it, here’s a referral link if you want to try it), be sure that you are getting and keeping a very detailed and easy to access schedule so that if you do have to do contact tracing, you aren’t leaving anybody out of the loop.

Masks, a touchless thermometer, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are always at the ready and easily accessible.

Reassess Your Service Menu:

Because I made the choice to cap the number of clients I see in a week, I decided to utilize the time to restructure my service menu. If there’s a service you hate or one that takes way too much time (i.e., removing Acrylic sets) consider taking it off the menu for a bit. I know that specialization may not be in the cards for all of us, but if there’s a service you dread, nows the time to reassess if you can. I typically offer complex nail art as an option, and I’ve temporarily taken it off the menu because of the time commitment.

Communicate Clearly

Don’t let your expectations be a surprise for your clients. in addition to an email that I sent to every one of my clients, I also added a highlight to my Instagram stories about the changes, as well as two new intake forms to my Acuity scheduling process. The first breaks down new behavior and procedure expectations: (i.e., no additional guests, masks must be worn at all times, no cell phones on the manicure table, etc….) clients have to read through and confirm every guideline every time they book an appointment. The second form is a COVID-19 Waiver, based on a template that I got from The Outgrowth Podcast. These are in addition to my standard intake form. Trust me, any client that is annoyed or turned off by having to take these extra precautions, is probably a client best left behind.

Copy of Copy of Copy of Social Media - Untitled Design 2.PNG

Copy of Social Media - Untitled Design 2.PNG

Copy of Copy of Copy of Social Media - Untitled Design.PNG

Do It For Real For Real:

This is for sure the most important point in this whole post- do it for real and not just for show. Our clients are depending on us to be compliant and to keep universal precautions FOR REAL. Regardless of whether or not you trust your clients to be honest or think COVID isn’t really a big deal, or if your one appointment is running over and you don’t want to make your next client wait for your disinfectant to reach its contact time requirements- do it right or don’t open. Period. Don’t lure clients into a false sense of security with a Barbicide certificate and a sneeze guard but not run disinfectant through your footspa or try to get one more use out of that pricey foam file because you just “barely used it once” - live every day like you are taking your State Board exam and the scary strict proctor is looking straight at you the whole time.

These certifications (above) are fine for refreshing your knowledge, anybody can take them, however, they do not immediately equal a compliant and clean salon.

Have A Dress Rehearsal:

The day I was permitted to take clients again in my state and county, I had my two best friends come in for services. Even though we have shared air throughout quarantine, I encouraged them to come in and with a critical eye, be brutally honest and to keep the same guidelines that I would expect out of my clients. Was there anything that made them feel uneasy? Were my directions easy to follow? Did they feel safe and secure?

Give Yourself Some Grace:

As artists, we all suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome- I’m telling you this right now and I need you to hear me, you did NOT forget how to do nails. You might be a little rusty and slow, plan for that, even it if means you can’t take as many clients per day or that appointment times will run a little late. That’s OK, give yourself some grace. When I did my aforementioned dress rehearsal, I was really slow- when I took clients the following day, I was much more in my groove.

Clear communication also includes gentle reminders throughout the studio.I printed these sweet signs here. — Clear communication also includes gentle reminders throughout the studio.

Talk It Out:

Remember when I told you to build a nail community- this is where that comes into play. Chances are your fellow manicurists are feeling the same stresses, some may be in other states that opened earlier, some may still be closed. It’s SO important to find your nail family- they are truly an invaluable resource.

Take Your Time:

Let me preface this by acknowledging that I understand that not everybody has the privilege to voluntarily not work. If you aren’t feeling great, it’s ok to stay closed longer. If you haven’t been able to get your hands on the PPE you need to keep yourself and your clients safe, don’t open yet. It’s ok to take more time if you need it and can afford to do so.

Things I Wish I Knew: Advice for New and Aspiring Manicurists

1. Nail School Is Not the Real World:

The goal of nail school is for you to finish nail school. Period, end of story.

It’s to teach you the basics of the Milady text and to help you pass the state board. Some schools offer upgraded programs (my school had the basic 400 hours and then an advanced 600 hours)- don’t waste your time, just take the basics. Connect with your instructors; ask questions and pay attention, usually if they see you are serious and interested they will invest more in you. One of my instructors, Jackie, was absolutely instrumental and crucial to me passing the State Board exam and I still consider her a friend.

Another thing to consider, it’s not uncommon for cosmetology instructors to be scouted as students and put straight through an instructor program as soon as they graduate. It stands to reason, you could have an instructor with very limited real-world salon or business experience.

You’re better off investing the money you didn’t spend upgrading your program on great, focused and refined education taught by professional artists and educators (more on that below). In additional to the amazing (and FREE) resources available on the internet there are also many reputable in person one-on-one educators and brand/technique certifications.

That being said, nail school is GREAT for learning how to interact with clients. Do yourself a favor and let it be known to your instructors that you WANT to work with clients.

A standard mock State Board Practical Exam set up.

2. The Learning (And Practicing) Never Stops:

Don’t get it twisted, in the beauty biz we are lifelong students. There will always be new products and techniques to master and ways to be better. However, it is SO important to do your research, ask your peers about the classes they’ve taken and their opinions on them. It’s surprisingly easy to weed out the duds if you just take the time to chat with your peers. I can personally vouch for several programs and educators, if you’d like to see that in a future post let me know in the comments!

3. Build A Community:

There is room for everybody at the top. While it’s natural to feel competitive, comparison is the thief of joy. You won’t be everybody’s cup of tea and everybody won’t be your cup of tea- don’t force it. it’s important to be a part of a like-minded community. I love that I have an amazing world-wide network of fellow manicurists that I can bounce ideas off, give advice to or ask for advice from. Nail friends just make everything better.

Taking classes are a great way to meet fellow manicurists AND to learn new skills- WIN WIN! This picture was taken at Katie’s Masterclass and I now count all of these ladies as friends! Left to Right: Sandy (@beachgirlmani), Katie (@nailthoughts), B… — Taking classes are a great way to meet fellow manicurists AND to learn new skills- WIN WIN! This picture was taken at Katie’s Masterclass and I now count all of these ladies as friends! Left to Right: Sandy (@beachgirlmani), Katie (@nailthoughts), Brittany (@nailsnybrittany), Gwen (@hausofglewis_nails) and me (@rachel.messick) featuring some very dusty pants.

4. Buy It Nice or Buy It Twice:

Not to be like, a super snob but please don’t buy weird gel off amazon- if a gel is $1, that’s exactly what it’s worth. It doesn’t matter if you can get 100 colors for $50, most of that product is of questionable origin and can cause some serious allergic reactions. Product allergies are VERY real and can end your career QUICK. Buy from reputable brands that can provide you with SDS/MSDS sheets that can vouch for their product.

5. Products Are Not a Substitute for Skill:

If they were, we would all be out of a job. Remember the first time you did a gel manicure- yeah, it’s a LOT harder than it looks, it probably took you two hours and fell off the next day in the shower. There is no product in the world that will make you a good nail artist. There are products that can simplify certain tasks. There are products and tools that can elevate the work of a good artist. There is no substitute for skill.

I traveled a state over to take this class- when the educators are amazing it’s WORTH it. This was a joint Erica’s ATA & Luminary Certification with Candice Green and Hillary Hererra. — I traveled a state over to take this class- when the educators are amazing it’s WORTH it. This was a joint Erica’s ATA & Luminary Certification with Candice Green and Hilary Hererra.

6. People Skills Matter:

People are the heartbeat of our profession- it’s imperative to learn how to read the room, when to speak, when to listen and how to navigate a conversation. Chances are, if you choose this profession, you probably like people- so you’re already halfway there.

7. How You Represent Yourself Matters:

We live in a different world today; your image consists of much more than your outfit. It’s about an experience. Keep things consistent every space that you represent yourself. We have more access to each other than ever- be yourself and have fun but keep it intentional and professional. You never know who’s watching. I highly recommend keeping separate personal social media pages and choosing very wisely who you allow into that space.

Very engaging Young Nails One Week Course

8. Know your Cost Per Service:

Don’t base your prices on what the salon down the street is charging. Know how much it actually costs you to perform a service, what you’d like to make an hour and your overhead. You can definitely look at what other artists are doing and how they structure their services, but at the end of the day you need to do what makes the most sense for YOU.

9. Create Boundaries:

Clients are not bad or naughty, however, it’s important for your well-being that boundaries are set and respected. People treat you how you allow them to. Do not, I repeat, do NOT wait to set personal and professional boundaries. Scheduling, safety guidelines, contact guidelines and preferences, late fees, no show fees, etc.… You’d be surprised how much mutual respect is achieved when you set boundaries.

10. The Beauty Business Is Still a Business:

It does not matter if you are an employee or a business owner, the only person who is responsible for YOUR business is YOU. That means making sure you know the ins-and-outs of the state and local guidelines/laws. That you are saving money for taxes and managing your business expenses. Get an EIN and a business checking, savings and credit card. Make sure you have appropriate liability insurance. Read all the fine print. Know your rights. Don’t get taken advantage of by shady salon owners.This business is the BEST, but it is a BUSINESS- don’t EVER forget that.

11. Don’t Be Afraid to Blaze Your Own Trail:

There are a lot of veteran manicurists with very strong opinions, some antiquated, some not. That’s ok. There are vets that won’t touch a product, no matter how good it is, if the product is retailed to the general public. There are vets that believe you should only use one and only one product line. There are vets that believe that hand-filing is the only way to file. This is an ever-changing industry and there is much to be learned from industry veterans, but there also plenty of trail to blaze.

12. You Don’t Have to Do Everything:

It’s good to know how to do things, but if you find yourself dreading a certain type of service- take it off the menu. While this may not be a reality if you work in a salon that offers many services, one of the benefits of working on my own is that I can set my own menu and attract the type of client that values those services. I specialize in gel nail art on natural nails, that’s all I do in my studio and I book out, every single month. I don’t do acrylic or pedicures; they just aren’t my bag.

What can I say? Natural nails are my numero uno

13. Advocate:

We are part of a much bigger picture, stay engaged in local and state politics- don’t get bamboozled. Don’t let a bunch of people (most of whom are old men have never worked in the beauty industry) choose your fate. Connect with your representatives don’t just sign a moveon.org petition or write a snarky post in your Facebook Nail Tech Group.

Keep Calm and Press On

I’m so very excited about the new packaging for my press-on designs. After invading my husband’s home office to print out the old design several times a day, it was time to take the plunge, design something and get it printed professionally.

I’ve been a big fan of Creative Market for years now and have used products from their designers for pretty much every project I’ve worked on for my business. You do need a bit pf photoshop know-how, but fortunately, there are SO many resources available online. I used MOO for the actual prints (they are 5x7 postcards if you’re curious) glossy on both sides.

The graphic straight out of the oven (photoshop).