Everyone seems to be able to do nails now a days

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by LadyNailz on October 12, 2010 at 12:08am

I don't like to see heated tempers and hostility toward each other here. This is a great little community and I'd like to see it stay a peaceful, educating and enjoyable one. So to all pros and non-pros, let's all try to see both sides of this coin.


This part is for the unlicensed, but will effect you once you are licensed:

Yes, it is true. Professional nail technicians have had to fight to get to where they are today. And I’m not talking about their struggles to get through beauty school. I’m talking about having to fight their way through the seas of endless negativity that has been plaguing this entire industry since the very early 80’s. For professionals like me, doing nails is not a hobby. This is my livelihood. Doing nails is what feeds my family, and pays my bills. When the nail industry is strong and standing on its feet, we eat better. But when there are so many unlicensed people out there contributing to the negative feedback of this industry, it effects each and every nail technician who holds a license (like I said, this will include you one day). Back in the early 90’s it was discount salons herding clients in and out of their chairs like cattle, trading sanitation, safety, and proper procedure for a 30 minute set of nails, that blemished this industry.

That hugely impacted the entire nail industry. Then people were popping up left and right with staph infections, severely damaged nails, cuts, injuries, and most unfortunately—a death. To this day! we as professionals still have to fight off that reputation. Going to a salon does not carry the glamorous, relaxing image it used to. Fortunately, there are serious professional nail technicians (such as myself) who fight, advocate, and devote their time to turning this industry into what it once was. I give a lot of my time and effort to help educate both licensed and unlicensed. I fight to be the voice that wasn’t getting heard in the early 80’s. And that voice is trying to tell the world there are more professionals out there that DON’T have the discount salon mentality! I am the voice that is trying to educate the public on how to choose a proper salon for a safe and memorable experience. I’m the voice trying to tell the world that all salons are NOT bad! I have been fighting for the reputation of the nail industry since before some of you were born, which is also MY reputation as a professional within this field. Real professional nail technicians like myself have come a long way, and have made GREAT strides in overcoming all the misconceptions fueled by sensationalism in the media. We are so much closer than we were just 5 years ago, thanks to all the professionals like me who put forth the effort to educate and inform the public, as well as educate those with a true passion for what we were so fortunate enough to achieve.

Sadly, now there’s youtube. Too many people on youtube are posting bogus nail care videos, or tutorials on how to apply acrylic nails, who haven’t the faintest conception beneath God what they are doing. What happens to the poor shmucks who watch those videos and end up destroying their nails? I’ll tell you what happens to them. They end up on the other side of my table, whining: “it did it just like she did in the video, and look what happened.”
After my urge to slap them in the back of the head passes, I tell them straight up!: “That’s a board housewife with a web cam, what did you think was going to happen, ya dumb-ass.”
I have little patience for anyone trying to skim through life on shortcuts. Anyone ignorant enough to watch a video on how to perform a craniotomy, then go home and perform brain surgery on themselves, deserves what they get. I have no sympathy for anyone dumb enough to take potentially hazardous chemicals at face value. There is an ethical and logical reason why you have to have a medical license to practice medicine. And that same ethical and logical reason is why you need a license for manicuring.
If the amateurs of youtube are not educated (soon), if they do not learn respect for the business they’re trying to squeeze into, we in the nail industry could lose the efforts we have gained over the past 20 years. Unlicensed people doing nails have nothing to lose, they cannot be sued, a bad reputation cannot harm them. It’s the professionals who’ve chosen this field as their careers who will suffer the indifference, we are the ones who assume the risks.

I hope this helps non-pro nail techs better understand where we professionals are coming from.


And this part is for all licensed nail techs:

The newcomers are not our enemies. We are all subject to environmental and social factors, where our dreams and desires are not always part of the equation. Don’t you think that warrants just a little understanding and empathy?
They’re struggling also to get where we are now. Anyone my age has to also consider that the price of tuition back then was actually something attainable. If these young ladies are lucky enough to find a beauty school in the area where they live, and if they’re lucky enough for that school to offer a nail technology course, there is still the matter of outrageous tuition fees. Tharnay says an NT course in Arizona is $6000, I found one online in Michigan for $10,000. That is absolutely insane!!! No wonder there are so many people doing nails outside the industry, who the hell can afford that? When I was in beauty school the entire course was only $1500! And that included books and the student kit. But that was a long time ago, this country wasn’t in a recession then, people weren’t losing their jobs… and back then, let us not forget, financial aid ran aplenty. There were also pell grants (grants that don’t have to be paid back), scholarships, and several agencies that were allotted a certain amount of funds for special circumstances, such as mothers wanting to go back to school.
Good luck trying to find ANY of that now. I’m again going to repeat something Doug Schoon said to me, we cannot stop the people on youtube posting bogus videos, so lets try to educate them. But those who fall into Tharnay’s category: indisputable desire to learn nails the right way, but unfortunately have not happened upon means and opportunity yet. These are the ones we should be mentoring. Tharnay and others like her are going to be licensed one day, and in order to keep this a thriving industry with an impeccable reputation, don’t you think it would be in everyone’s best interest to work with these ladies and show them the ropes? Think about it, this is the type of industry that is only as good as the professionals within it. Beauty school isn’t enough anymore, the industry has advanced for beyond the basic understanding of nail technology that’s taught in school. They need us. Do you really have the heart to deny to others what you yourself can’t imagine living without?
Imagine waking up tomorrow morning completely striped of your entire career. No education, no license, no tools, no supplies—nothing!
What would you do then?


I hope that what I’ve just said will serve as some small neutral tone that will bring together the professionals and and those on their way. I’m not talking about youtube wannabes who’s only interest is having subscribers, I’m talking about the ones like me (us) with acrylic flowing in our blood, (metaphorically speaking, of course), the ones who close their eyes and don’t see darkness but China Glaze colors, the ones who talk on the phone and doodle new nail art designs… that’s right, I’m talking about the ones who were born to be nail technicians! Let’s stick together and stay an industry to be reckoned with!



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Permalink Reply by Yamira Arroyo on October 12, 2010 at 9:23am

I completely understand and agree with what you have to say. I have no problem with the newcomers and individuals whom have a passion for nails such as we do. My advice to them is that if you really want it go after it I'm not here to crush nobody's dream because I still have my dream to accomplish. I just think this discussion was blown out of proportion.
I personally give props to Tharrany and any other individual out there who go out and buy books and material and self educate themselves that's something that makes me say to my self "hmm well atleast we know she has a lot of interest and likes/loves what she is doing to take to that level"
What bothers me as I stated in the discussion is these girls going out and buying these cheap acrylic kits and performing nail services on other individuals and recording themselves and they have the least bit clue of what the hell they are doing. The reason why it bothers me so much is because other individuals watch these videos and go on and perform nails services on them and their friends so where does that leave my clients and my money? It leaves my clients and my money at the hands of an uneducated uncertified individual which is not what I planned for but it's happening and apparently their is no way of stopping it.
We as nail techs know that females are always on the hunt for good service but also a good price so if her uneducated friend does them at home and she likes how they look shes not going to step foot inside my salon or your salon because her friend is willing to do her set or fill for a few bucks so I have one potential client less and as you said LadyNailz this is what feeds your kids and gets the bills paid so we know we can't be having this go on even though it is and it will. I didn't expect this discussion to escalate to where it has like I said before I'm not here to crush your dream of becoming a certified nail tech or having your own salon yadda yadda yadda I don't mean to offend anybody I just wanted to see how many of ya'll out there in the field felt the same way I did and see other opinions and points of view.


Tharrany I dont know if you have tech schools in AZ but if you do try checking them out if you havent already done so and check if their is one that offers the nail technology program if there is I'm pretty sure that a course in a county tech school will be much cheaper than one in a private institute. I know this because I went to a tech school that offered this program and it was waaaaayyyyyy cheaper than a private beauty school. Hope this helps and may your wishes of being a licensed nail tech be fulfilled soon. You do great work! =)



As to others who have read this post my intentions are not to offend anyone so before posting a rude comment keep that in mind. We are all on this site cuz either we are extremely passionate about our career, are here to learn a few things from our fellow nails lovers, or just simply love looking at other ppls work.

Permalink Reply by LadyNailz on October 12, 2010 at 7:17pm

Hi Yamira,

I have to agree with you. This discussion got a little heated, but in the wrong direction.
If we keep anger and hostilities out of the discussion, we’ll all be better off for it.
As a professional you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about, in the way of unskilled people taking clients out of your chair. That is never going to happen. And I apologize if my post was not clear on that. But the people out there (youtube or elsewhere) who are not licensed and performing nails services for money or for free, are NOT a threat to us or our industry. You may have a client leave in favor of a cheaper salon price, or go to a neighbor girl who learned nails from youtube videos… But in the end they will come back to you. I promise you, there are a lot of people out there who know the difference between Prada and Wal-Mart. And because of that—I have NEVER in 27 years lost a client to a discount salon. Not even when I was unlicensed.
What is hurting this industry is the public mistaking professional nail techs for the unskilled people of youtube. Mistaking dirty discount salons for all salons. The rumors of damaged nails, adverse skin reactions from mixing acrylic chemicals, the incorrect information about nail care… the public thinks those people are licensed. And so, are lump-summing us into one category. The unskilled people doing nails, and the discount salons are causing the media headlines that scare the public into avoiding beauty salons, while we take the rap for it. That’s what is hurting this industry.

But like I said, it has no bearing on our clients. A cheaper price might catch their eye at first, but all they have to do is take a look at the work AND THE SERVICE!
Believe me, you can clearly taste the difference between hamburger and top sirloin.
And baby my clients know I am prime USDA choice!!!

: )

Permalink Reply by Tharrany Mc Donald on October 13, 2010 at 11:59pm

I do agree. The topic got a bit heated. And I appreciated the positive feed back from Yamira & Ladynailz. Thank you. This site is suppose to be for everyone to network, meet new people, to get educated & to see all types of different nails last but not least to uplift each other & support one another in ones endevours. I too truly can not stand how the youtube videos by the unlicensed nail techs have gotten out of hand. I have seen some crazy ways that they apply acrylic or explain nail prep. But they dont preech on sanitation which is the most important thing to practice everyday as if it were just taught to you. I also have noticed that there are more unlicensed nail techs on youtube than there are licensed.

Permalink Reply by iMnAiLiN'tHeMnOW on November 14, 2010 at 1:58pm

I bet that if we all flag those youtube videos (the main culprit is myglitternails), they will get the message that this madness needs to stop!

Tharrany, I wish you the best in getting licensed soon. Your type of passion cannot be taught in school , you were born with it.

We as professionals need to help groom the professionals of tomorrow. Each one, teach one.

Permalink Reply by mandy butler on November 10, 2010 at 10:59pm

I totally agree,i can understand that it is expensive to have your nails done but they have little knowledge on diseases etc. I remember going to college thinking i knew everything but i learnt so much more. If you want to have your nails done a little cheaper then book into the college salon and your nails can be done under the watchful eye of the tutor and then should the student make a mistake it can be sorted by a professional,i know when i was at college we really struggled to get clients,this way you can support students/ future nail techs and keep the colleges going,giving the students the experience they need

Permalink Reply by LadyNailz on November 14, 2010 at 6:01pm

Girl, you are absolutely right. ( iMnAiLiN'tHeMnOW) I wish I had the time to take
each one under my wing, there are so many who are so clueless, but a trained
eye can see that several of them have real potential. Sadly it gets lost in their
attitudes. Just off the top of my head I can name at least 6 posters on
YouTube who have the heart of a true nail tech. But their inability to accept
criticism is what keeps them an amateur. Until they can learn how to take a punch,
they will never be ready for this kind of work.
And it’s sad because we need good techs in this field, but this is NOT the place for the
easily offended. I don’t get it. How does an amateur have the nerve to get offended when a professional tries to help them? Where do these egos come from? Such a shame.

As for myglitternails, she is one of several girls I tried to help, but threw the help back in my face.
The way she was slopping primer all over her skin, OMG, I wanted to die. But her and her ego deleted my comment. So I was like, whatever. When you loses your nail plate, don’t say I didn’t try to help you.
But yeah, she better be a little more careful about the toxic waste she’s peddling, she might find herself on the business end of a serious law suit. She has no clue what the ingredients are in the crap she sells.
She has no MSD sheets for the products she's hocking... she's going to be a contributor in someone getting seriously hurt. But I guess there's always going to be someone around every corner wanting to make a quick buck, with no clue what their doing, or who they'll hurt.

Permalink Reply by Tinaincredible on March 16, 2011 at 1:53pm

I understand where you are coming from. But a lot of people like me, who can not afford to go see a professional, look online for videos posted by people who do their own nails. I do understand that not everyone on youtube is a pro nail tech, but at the same time, I am constantly searching for any makeup, nail, beauty advice I can get. 

 

If there is a video, and the finished product looks appealing to my eyes, then I will be trying it at home. A few years ago I lost a job where I made more money than I do now. So I had to re-evaluate my financial situation, and that meant that I would not be taking any more trips to the nail salon, hair salon, or buying expensive bath and body works. I even make my own homeade foot scrub to do my own pedicures.

 

Again, I do understand where you are coming from, OP. You went to school, you paid for it, took the time to learn, and become an expert in your field. You have a right to voice your own opinion on all of these non professional videos floating around on the internet. Unfortunately this is just a sign of the times we are in. I went from paying $400 (and somebody told me that was cheap) for my hair to now making my own wigs. Just show people how fabulous you are, make your own videos, and draw new clients to your business.

 

 

Permalink Reply by LAT!FAH LYNN on March 16, 2011 at 9:09pm

yeahhh gurll i feel ya!! take me for example i am not a professional. i have not gone to school or gotten certified or anything like that! but dont get me wrong i LOVEEE nail art and basically anything to do with nails!! i could see myself getting into that field of work bc i admire what yall do and the talent yall showcase...however even though i love nails and nail art it dosent mean imma go buy those lil kits that teach you how to do it?? i think that is like really a waste of time.. we have beautiful talented people out their (everyone on the site) that put everything on the line to do what they love- NAILS. they give lots of time and money to learn all the tricks of the trade and all the correct and safe ways to do nails, and by going out and buying one of those dam kits and not going to a pro and giving them your time and money so that they can do something AMAZINGGGLYY WONDERFUL for you ..i think its a bigg kick in the ass to everyone who works so hard to get certified.

soo gurl im with you lets get those dam kits of the shelfs and all yall talented gurls out there!!!!!!!!!!

 GREATT JOBB EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! GIVE IT UP TO THE PROS!!!!

Permalink Reply by La-la on April 10, 2011 at 9:20pm

Ok!! I know Im so late on this post. But im new here and this Blog was the main topic. But I understand what she is saying and I feel that she is mainly taking about the fact that they are on the internet explaining how to do nails with a $15.00 home kit. Yeah thats a bit irking because there are some professionals out there that should be instructing those that wont to learn instead of the ones that dont know what they are talking about. I myself didnt go to school. (Not because I cant afford to but because Im already working on another degree) but I have a passion for nails and thats my living, I am working towards getting my license. So until then, Ill contiune to satisfy my clients.

Permalink Reply by Ramona Myers on January 24, 2012 at 3:33pm

Those DIY kits are good for 2 things: 1) inspiring natural talent to become licensed talent. or 2) creating clients that have an appreciation for what it really takes to make a beautiful set of nails.

Permalink Reply by Tamika S. Croffer on January 24, 2012 at 5:15pm

Miss Myers u is so rite, because I'm a license cosmetologist and love what I do but when I see yall talent is just beautiful wit out words & I give yall props & hands up, I know how 2 do a little bot of nails nut my love have always been hair, so I understand where u coming from, so keep up the good beautiful work because yall desires ever bit of it if yall clients don't see what yall talent is worth let them go god will send u 2 more trust & believe

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