Branching out into nails

[vc0302]

Hi guys

Have searched for the answers on here but can't seem to find the answers to all my questions so please point me in the right direction if I have missed something somewhere.

I am a qualified Level 2 & 3 beauty therapist, therefore I have my Manicure & Pedicure certificate. This allows me to buy Shellac and I do my own nails in Shellac often and practise a lot in it. Do I need to do the Shellac course to be insured to offer this as a treatment or does my Manicure Pedicure certificate count?

Also I've been looking into offering gel services which I know I would need to do another course for, but say if I were to do a generalised Nail Technician course, would that mean I'd be qualified/insured to offer it as a service in all brands (CND, Calgel, Biosculpture, IBD etc) or do I need to do the branded course on top? My only reason for not going for a branded course straight off the mark is if I trained in Calgel/Bio would I not be able to then do treatments in CND etc? Or apply for jobs that have a different gel brand?

It's also worth mentioning I only want to work with gel and tips/enhancements, I don't want to work with acrylics. Does anyone have any suggestions what kind of course I go for?

 

[blossom]

If you hold a mani certificate you are ok to do shellac.

However a shellac course is beneficial although not essential xxx

 

[Nails<3]

If you want to work with CND, biolsculpture etc then you need to do a course with them.

You can do a nvq in nail technology and then a conversion course in your chosen brand or go straight to a brand you want and train with them but most good brands need you to do a conversion course to get most out of the product.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using SalonGeek mobile app

 

[beautyxperts]

Some product houses do not expect you to train with them if you have completed a nvq nail technology course, however it is recommended you do a conversion with which ever product house you choose to get the best from the products. Cnd shellac course is great to gain a better knowledge on how it works, why it's different from a gel polish and correct application.
I trained in beauty 2/3 levels then went onto train in acrylics & gels after (long time ago no NVQ in nail tech was available!) with star nails, then a conversion with creative after - I've since trained with Cnd every time plus bio sculpture (you have to train with them to purchase), shellac etc.
Can I ask why you choose one system over the other (acrylic over gel?) x

 

[2012salon]

I'm not sure if I help but if you have a mani pedi cert already then your half way done if they (college/beauty schools)!accept your mani pedi cert and give you an nvq with the remainder of units left or required. When I did my nvq it was mani and pedi and one enhancement and nail art, then paper exams - salon duties etc.
I chose uv gel. I did a cnd shellac course since my nvq but I did experience gel polish during the course. I waited a year before doing my nvq as there's so many choices & decisions to make xx

 

[princessamie]

Check with your insurance as to whether you would need brand specific training.

Its probably best to have some sort of training for applying gel polish but not entirely necessary. You'll learn quite a bit from it though and the courses aren't too expensive, I'd defo look into it.

The best advice I ever received - "Work smarter, not harder". Thank you, geeks!!

 

[Cindy2021]

Insurance told me I needed specific training. They said I am only insured for the exact wording on my certificates...manicure, pedicure and acrylic nail enhancement. I now need to do a gel polish course to be insured for that x

 

[princessamie]

Insurance told me I needed specific training. They said I am only insured for the exact wording on my certificates...manicure, pedicure and acrylic nail enhancement. I now need to do a gel polish course to be insured for that x

Are you with abt? Sounds similar to what they told me

The best advice I ever received - "Work smarter, not harder". Thank you, geeks!!

 

[Cindy2021]

Are you with abt? Sounds similar to what they told me

The best advice I ever received - "Work smarter, not harder". Thank you, geeks!!

Yep! Initially they said I didn't need the gel polish certificate so I spent several hundred pounds on kit then found out I need to do the course too! I'd have done it the other way round if I'd known. Any training can only be good though x

 

[vc0302]

Thanks so much for this guys I've found it all so helpful!! I would like to train in a specific brand but only once I've done my research etc first. I do have a brand in mind but would like a general all round certificate as a basis.

In reply to why I prefer gel over acrylic, just personal preference really. I would rather work with gel than acrylic.

 

[Alison_CalgelUK]

Hello vc0302!

I work in the training department at the Head Office of Calgel so if you would like some more info please don't hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email:

01582 798920
[email protected]

Alison