Nail Salons and Nail Techs, Take Note…

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Nail Salons and Nail Techs, Take Note…: a blog about nail salons with advice for both professionals and customers.

Just a few thoughts on the subject of nail salons, nail technicians, and those of us who patronize them.

What I have noticed is that in many salons, the cost of a manicure/pedicure is comparable to what you would pay to get your hair done at a high-end salon. I’m not talking about the really cheap places here; I’m referring to average costs at salons around town.

Is this because it takes so much time to do nails? Are we just willing to pay more for something that didn’t exist 20 years ago? Or is it because these women just know how to talk money out of our purses?

Whatever the reason, it seems that manicurists are becoming more and more expensive as time goes by. The last time I got my nails done (about 6 weeks ago), my manicure cost $20 and my pedicure cost $35. In other words, it cost me $55 (including tip) for someone to sit there for two hours and paint my nails.

Nail Salons and Nail Techs, Take Note… is a blog about nail salons with advice for both professionals and customers.

I’m not here to rip anyone off or bash their business. I’m here to help both customers and nail techs understand each other better and make the nail salon experience more enjoyable for everyone.

I’ve been going to nail salons since I was a little girl, getting my nails done with my mother and grandmother. But when I became old enough to go on my own, I quickly learned that there are many things I wish someone had told me before going to a salon.

And as a former nail technician myself, I know what it’s like inside of the salon. The good, the bad, and the ugly!

If you’re looking for some nail salon advice, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re a professional or a customer, there’s something here for you.

Welcome to Nail Salons and Nail Techs, Take Note…! I started this blog as a means to share my experiences as a nail tech and a nail salon customer. My hope is that it will be educational for customers, as well as for nail techs. While I do not have any formal training in the beauty industry, I have been doing nails (my own and other people’s) for almost 20 years.

I am also a lawyer by trade, so I have some experience researching topics and issues to get to the truth. This blog will combine the two fields of expertise into one place for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

If you are interested in more information about me and my background, please visit my About page.

December 27, 2010

Nail Salons and Nail Techs, Take Note…

A customer who is dissatisfied with their experience at your salon will tell an average of 12 people about it. 87% of them will tell more than 3 people about their bad experience. Word-of-mouth referrals are based on an average of 12 recommendations for a product or service. That means if you have one disgruntled customer, you need to get 12 new customers just to make up for that one negative review. If you have 10 dissatisfied customers each telling 3 people they won’t be back, you’ll need 120 new customers just to break even!

If you are a nail tech, there are several things you can do to improve the salon experience and cut down on customer complaints:

1. Be open and friendly with all your customers on every visit. The best way to build a relationship with a client is by having a conversation that goes beyond “How are you today?” Don’t wait until your client comes in every week or two weeks to chat. Talk every time she’s in your chair but don’t be invasive. Ask questions about what she does for a living or any hobbies she might have. Find out things she likes to do in her spare time so when she comes back

I was inspired by a recent article in the New York Times that really affected me. True, it has nothing to do with nail care directly, but it does have everything to do with what is going on in the world of salons and beauty workers.

The article talks about the conditions for nail salon workers in New York City and the state of California. It’s titled “The Price of Nice Nails.” And I highly recommend that you read it.

Here is a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1

I have no doubt that some customers will read this article and be outraged or disgusted about what they read. But once again, I am not here to preach about how consumers should behave or what they should believe. I am here to help professionals who work in salons understand their rights, as well as give consumers a peek at what goes on behind closed doors so they can make informed choices about where to spend their money and whom to support with their patronage.

That being said, let me

There have been many requests for me to write a salon guide. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to have one. Wherever you live there is a salon that is good or bad and the only way to know is by going there and trying them out. The best way to spread the word about a great salon is for everyone who has been there to tell all their friends about it. Word of mouth is the best advertising because the people you trust and respect are giving you first hand information.

The latest October issue of Nailpro magazine has a feature article on the pros and cons of gel-polish. That’s not surprising – this is the time of year that you see the most features in the industry magazines, trade journals and websites about the newest products. It’s also a way to keep the trade name out there in front of potential customers during a slow season, hoping that they will make it a stocking stuffer or ask for it as a holiday gift.

The article lays out all of the good things that are talked about with respect to gel-polish: no dry time, long-lasting, etc. It also lists common complaints about gel-polish: not durable enough (for some), Removing it can be difficult (and if not done correctly can damage nails), etc. The feature concludes with tips from technicians on how to apply it correctly, and how to remove it correctly.

The conclusion is neutral – not taking sides on whether it is good or bad. I think that’s a good approach (not wanting to alienate any potential readers or advertisers). But I think that perhaps too much attention was given to the positive aspects of gel-polish, and not enough was spent on both the negatives and alternatives.

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