Just nails or beauty too?

[geeg]

I have to say I did find your mum's comments interesting... mostly because I have seen the exact opposite for years!!! I really cannot agree with her at all.

I have found that as a nail specialist, I was fully booked before, during, and after the depression that we saw in Britain in the 80's. The business grew during all that time.

I believe that women are devoted to their nail enhancments when they have them (not talking about the part timers, weekenders and party goers). These regulars would rather do without a meal than do without their nails. And having nails is a small indulgence that makes you feel like a million dollars when times aren't so good.

Foster those regular clients. They are the jewells that make your business. Nothing should be too much trouble for them. It is entirely up to the nail technician to build that sort of regular clientel ... it is the absolute KEY to your business being successful.

 

[Jaffacake]

It is entirely up to the nail technician to build that sort of regular clientel ... it is the absolute KEY to your business being successful.

How do you build that sort of clientelle though? When people come for nails i dont know wether they are going to be weekenders, party goers etc? Never seem to get the sort that would rather go without a meal! lol

Thanks for all your input, Kelly that would be great if you could show me at the next geek meet. x

 

[geeg]

You need to remember that I had salons, I was never mobile!

I'm not sure you will build this type of clientele easily from the mobile crowd.

Personally, I would just never go mobile. It wouldn't suit my temperament and I couldn't make the sort of money that can be made in a salon.

Salon clients are definitely more loyal, speaking generally, than home based clients. Different mentality altogether about service etc.

 

[HandyAndy]

There are several colleges that specialise in stand alone units. Brentwood adult education (local authority) offers all of the courses as individual units as does Brentwood Academy (the private one - very good). Both are 20-30 mins from Basildon the LEA one is the closest. None of these stand alone units will teach you specialised areas such as brazillian in their standard waxing classes. Brentwood Academy occasionally offers it as an advanced one/two day course. Southend does individual units (or used to). Private college at Chelmsford (Phoenix). I think that the longer the course you choose in waxing the better as you will have more supervision and you learn more theory which could be important. You also need to make sure that the courses you do will be recognised on your insurance.

There are various options for wax machines. These generally fall into 3 categories - wax pot which you will learn with at the LEAs and at Brentwood Academy and could spill in your car; then there roller system where cartridges are attached to a roller head - these don't spill and are probably more hygenic than the pot. Finally phd which is completely hygenic and used by mobiles and salons. It takes a little time to get to grips with but is a quick system. You will not learn these two systems in college but if you buy the phd kit and you can make it to an Ellisons training centre they have a one day course. There is also a video with the kit.

There are lots of advantages and disadvantages to the systems and there are lots of other things to say about the course. If you want to pm me with any questons I will give you as much help as I can. You could also check out the BABTAC site.

It seems to me that a lot of nail techs do spray tanning and Brentwood Academy does that course too.

 

[Just Jo]

Originally posted by geeg:
Foster those regular clients. They are the jewells that make your business. Nothing should be too much trouble for them. It is entirely up to the nail technician to build that sort of regular clientel ... it is the absolute KEY to your business being successful.

I have to agree with this I am building my clients and have found a few so far who i know will be regulars because they just love thier nails and how they make them feel ... they are older ladies who have now found the time for themselves and will save a few extra pennies for their hair and nails. They look forward to coming and they talk to me about everything in their lives ... I go out of my way to do something special for them ... and they do also ... one dear lady brought me a new bin ... only a small thing but so heartfelt and then some sweeties coz she knows i love sainsburys pic n mix lol and another brought a casserole for my lunch ad tea complete with crusty cob and butter These ladies make it so worthwhile and i love them
I have found this to be true in some of my mobile clients too .. again the older ladies ... they love the service and always are waiting with a drink etc ... what i do in this instance is try and get a couple of ladies together in one house ... saves me time and travelling and they can have a good gossip while having their nails done lol like a little community.
I am looking at home salon, mobile and salon based ... will do anything at the moment to get my clients lol
Jo xx

 

[AngieLHN]

HI, l have got the waxing kit, but l have'ent done a course, l only wax my friends and family, it is popular with them, and l make a few extra quid :biggrin: , l would like to do training in waxing, facials, and maybe back massage but l would'ent want to do the rest of it. l do get asked quite a lot by clients what else l do, they always ask if l do facials, but l don't think l would be able to do a course in just those things its normally the whole lot l think?

good luck you go of it xx :wink2:

 

[Jaffacake]

Oh my, theres so much to think about!! LOL. If it were my choice I wouldnt choose to go mobile, I would much rather have a salon, rent space, be home based etc, but i work part time at the moment and it has to fit in around my 2 children, aged 10 and 8. I dont earn huge amounts in my day job but at least its regular income that i can rely on. I know what you are gonna say Geeg, you cant make it work unless you commit to it 100%. But i cant afford to give up the day job and rent space or whatever and not get any clients, still need to pay the bills. Its catch 22!! thats why i chose mobile cos i thought i can target the clients who maybe need an evening or weekend appt but have maybe young children and find it difficult to get to the salon, and my hubby will be here with the kids whilst im out working.... maybe in a few years i would be able to rent space etc when i havent got to be at their beck and call to collect from school etc etc.... I do try to make it professional though even though i am mobile, i wear whites, have all the equipment with me etc, my friends saw it all for the first time and were suprised at how professional it all looked. Surely there are people who NEED mobile appointments that would be regular clients? If i did it home based then im not offering anything they couldnt get at the salon if they had children etc........

 

[Sassy Hassy]

I lost some of my most loyal and long standing clients when I moved into the salon, they loved the convenience of a mobile tech, came into the salon a few times, but apologised profusely and said they need the mobile style as it suits them best.

I just think there is so much more choice now, and I don't think we are living an age where loyalty counts like it use to, JMHO.... and I am the most loyal client going, just don't think most others are.

 

[Sparklepink]

i have done the whole beauty thing at college but the way i look at it i am a nail tech not a beauty therapist
i started off by doing nails first then did beauty full time at college...i didnt pay anything for the fulltime course but i paid extra do to artificial nails... im so glad i did now...lol
i wanted to specialise in nails and luckily enough i got a job in a local salon and havent looked back
i agree with geeg on being salon or home based i couldnt be mobile...it just wouldnt suit me... i like knowing that i have everything at work and that work stays at work... home is separate plus my mum cant stand acrylic odor...lol
im nt saying that doing nails mobile or from home is bad... not at all lots of geeks out there do that i just know it wouldnt suit me... i guess id become far too lazy...if it was cold and wet i just wouldnt wanna go out....lol
on the beauty front i loved doing waxing at college and of course nails....maybe its because you get an instant result and can see what you have done...facials were never my thing...i hated having them and doing them!
if you want to go into doing beauty then i think you should go for it.... as well as being a fab nail tech you can supplement your income with additional services...pedis i think are a fab thing to offer with relation to doing nails everyone wants lovely tooties especially in the summer

Jess
xox

 

[Warwick Wendy]

Gals if you think the Lost Wages wax would bring tears to your eyes :cry: try the Tiffany Box, all the areas are waxed until you're left with a small square at the front, it's then.........wait for it!!........ tinted Tiffany Blue, .... then and only then are diamonds added around it :Scared:

 

[dawn74pink]

HI, l have got the waxing kit, but l have'ent done a course, l only wax my friends and family, it is popular with them, and l make a few extra quid :biggrin: , l would like to do training in waxing, facials, and maybe back massage but l would'ent want to do the rest of it. l do get asked quite a lot by clients what else l do, they always ask if l do facials, but l don't think l would be able to do a course in just those things its normally the whole lot l think?

good luck you go of it xx :wink2:

Before I decided to complete my NVQ Beauty I did individual courses with VTCT, I did a waxing certifcate, Holistic Facials certficate and a Intense 12 week Swedish body massage certficate. Then decided later that I wanted the whole lot so I took those qualifications and added them to the NVQ.
I did these at my local college on a part time basis, they were short courses starting from 12 to 15 weeks.

You can read about these courses on the VTCT website.

Dawn

 

[LBR]

I went to college and did two nights a week for a year and came out with an NQ in Beauty Therapy.

It covered:-

Mani & Pedi
Eyelash/Eyebrow Tinting
Facials & Facial Massage
Makeup

The cost of the course was around £500 but you could add another £150 for the kit and at least the same again for other bits and bobs that never came with the kit.

I then did a 14 week course for an NQ in Waxing as it was not included in the original course I did. This couse was £72 then you bought your own kit to practice at home and ultimately use in the business.

Hope this is of use.

 

[Warwick Wendy]

HAHAHA!! If you gals think the Lost Wages wax would bring a tear to your eye :cry: ...you should try the Tiffany Box.......You wax all hair except for a little square left at the front.......then....wait for it......you tint the hair 'Tiffany Blue'...and add diamonds around it AAGGGHH!!! :suprised: