Client insist on having cuticles cut

[Jo's Nails]

Hi
My boss has just rang me with a booking for tomorrow.
A client wants her cuticles cut I have explained to this client before that I don't cut cuticles and she didn't like it and walked out.
Again tonight over the phone my boss told me she wants her cuticles cut. I explained that I don't cut, I push back but I will remove any excess skin or anything flapping around but my boss didn't sound to happy either.
Could I use a cuticle softener on this client before I push back or will this interfere with her gel polish ?
I don't know what her nails are like or where she has been before but by the sounds of it they cut her and that's what she is used to. I feel I have to stand my ground here.
Am I being unreasonable?

 

[laurakate]

Stand your ground. The client is asking you to do something dangerous and your boss should support your refusal to do that.

 

[blossom]

Agree with laurakate, cutting is not a procedure which should be carried out... she is wrong, you are right
Cutting the cuticles (or more accurately, eponychium) leaves them open to infection
I doubt your insurance would cover for that should there be any comeback so you could be sued personally
It's a massive deal and you're putting yourself on the line here xx

Sorry just realised your question lol, you could soften & push back just dehydrate thoroughly before your gel polish x

 

[Jo's Nails]

Could I use a cuticle softener on her first if they are really bad. I always do a dry manicure and don't normally soak before gel polish.

 

[NancySyd]

Hi
My boss has just rang me with a booking for tomorrow.
A client wants her cuticles cut I have explained to this client before that I don't cut cuticles and she didn't like it and walked out.
Again tonight over the phone my boss told me she wants her cuticles cut. I explained that I don't cut, I push back but I will remove any excess skin or anything flapping around but my boss didn't sound to happy either.
Could I use a cuticle softener on this client before I push back or will this interfere with her gel polish ?
I don't know what her nails are like or where she has been before but by the sounds of it they cut her and that's what she is used to. I feel I have to stand my ground here.
Am I being unreasonable?

You are not being unreasonable, but you are going to have to make a powerful case for your boss in order to prevail. The first thing to do is to use the right terminology, and establish that you know your stuff. Clarify the distinction between cuticle and the eponycium. Go online and find a number of good articles on it like this http://www.nailsmag.com/article/767/in-the-thick-of-it, preferably by someone like Doug Schoon - https://www.facebook.com/doug.schoon/posts/10205152745922562. Then find some insurance cases related to this. Put it all together into a package (electronic or otherwise) and present it to your boss.

You should definitely use a cuticle remover like Cuticle Away, but make sure to rinse and scrub it off or it will interfere with gel polish.

 

[Jo's Nails]

You are not being unreasonable, but you are going to have to make a powerful case for your boss in order to prevail. The first thing to do is to use the right terminology, and establish that you know your stuff. Clarify the distinction between cuticle and the eponycium. Go online and find a number of good articles on it like this http://www.nailsmag.com/article/767/in-the-thick-of-it, preferably by someone like Doug Schoon - https://www.facebook.com/doug.schoon/posts/10205152745922562. Then find some insurance cases related to this. Put it all together into a package (electronic or otherwise) and present it to your boss.

You should definitely use a cuticle remover like Cuticle Away, but make sure to rinse and scrub it off or it will interfere with gel polish.

Hi, sorry I do know the correct terminology, I was using the same words my boss was using on the phone and didn't think when I wrote post.
I have downloaded some information and pictures to present. I only have an ASP cuticle softener in the salon so I will have to use that if they are that bad.

 

[linzi]

I'd be looking for a new job if I were you; your boss sounds like an uneducated money-grabber.

I, too, would refuse to cut the living tissue and work on educating the client as to how her treatments should be carried out.

And no, I wouldn't do a wet manicure before shellac/gel polish application.

 

[user 111574]

Hi
My boss has just rang me with a booking for tomorrow.
A client wants her cuticles cut I have explained to this client before that I don't cut cuticles and she didn't like it and walked out.
Again tonight over the phone my boss told me she wants her cuticles cut. I explained that I don't cut, I push back but I will remove any excess skin or anything flapping around but my boss didn't sound to happy either.
Could I use a cuticle softener on this client before I push back or will this interfere with her gel polish ?
I don't know what her nails are like or where she has been before but by the sounds of it they cut her and that's what she is used to. I feel I have to stand my ground here.
Am I being unreasonable?

As you say you don't know what her nails are like, perhaps you should reserve judgement until you have actually completed a consultation with this lady? Clients often say they want something but don't use the right terminology,as we would use in our professional trade.

Personally I would take the client, complete a fresh consultation, discuss what outcomes the client is looking for and what her long term goals are for her nails. This is about managing your client's expectations, understanding and ensuring they are realistic. Then you can give advice about her salon treatments and what home care she needs to be doing in between services to achieve her goals.

For her gel polish service today I would complete it as normal, no soaking but soften and push back the cuticles, dehydrate well, apply gel polish, finish, apply a rich hand cream that then soaks into the cuticles and you can manually push them down & back so the overall impression is that her cuticles have been treated and look better. The client should use a cuticle product at home daily - whatever your salon sells, there's plenty on the market.

 

[NancySyd]

Hi, sorry I do know the correct terminology, I was using the same words my boss was using on the phone and didn't think when I wrote post.
I have downloaded some information and pictures to present. I only have an ASP cuticle softener in the salon so I will have to use that if they are that bad.

Sorry, I did not mean to imply that you did not know the proper terms, just that you ought to use them in talking to the client and your boss, and use this as on opportunity to educate them.

 

[Jo's Nails]

Sorry, I did not mean to imply that you did not know the proper terms, just that you ought to use them in talking to the client and your boss, and use this as on opportunity to educate them.

No it was my mistake my brain wasn't working/being lazy and I reverted back to improper terms. Xx

 

[Jo's Nails]

Hi, my client came in to day she was having her nails done to go on holiday. She did have a thick layer of cuticle on most nails and the eponychium was stretched up the nail. She was very worried about her " cuticle's" and wanted them cu/removed. There was a little resistance from her at first.
I explained that I don't cut and why, that what she was referring to was actually eponychium, what it does, the reason why it's grown back fast and thicker if it's cut as a way of the body defending its self, that bit of skin is meant to be there. She was Ok with it and was actually surprised that nobody had ever told her this before.
When I pushed back it was easy the skin was not as hard/dry as I thought.
I gave her after care advice and booked her in for her next appointment.
I'm so glad I stuck to my guns.
Thank you for all of your advice. Xxx
It's difficult sometimes to change the minds of others, especially when facing a group colleagues/clients who all think the same way which can make me doubt myself so thank you all. Xx

 

[AcidPerm]

Sounds like you did a great job and gained a long term client. Well done you!