salon work

[lola67]

Hi gals..... just wanted to get something straight in my head. I'm looking to do a nail tech course in the new year, and have pretty much decided what system to go with. The thing I'm thinking now is once you qualify with a particular company how does this work if you want to work in a salon? Can you only work in salons that use, creative, for example or do you always work independantly when working in a salon? Ideally I want do be self employed but am thinking that starting off in a salon is probably more sensible as you would have guaranteed income, and maybe do nails at home p/t. There are quite a few beauty salons and nail bars in Brighton but as far as I can make out they use a certain companies products.
Any advice from you guys would be great, you've given me some brilliant advice in the past. Even tho I'm not a nail tech, just a wannabee !! I've read some great stuff on here and seen some fab pics..... xx

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Every salon is different. Some may look for you to have an NVQ, some may look for training with specific brands, some may look for experience as well. Why not phone around your local salons and explain your situation, they will be able to give you advice on what they look for. It will also give you an idea if there are any vacancies coming up, and which are the nicer salons to work for by how they treat you on the phone. Salons are quite quiet at this time of year so they will probably have the time to speak to you. HTH

 

[bimbogeri]

Hiya Lola, welcome aboard
Glad to see another Sussex geek around! Off topic, we are trying to plan an xmas geek meet for southern geeks, so swing by the chit chat forum and look for the 'Calling all e/w sussex... etc geeks!'.
This is what we were taught on our l&p course with Graftons: in terms of insurance, if you have trained with one particular company or brand, provided your certificate is recognised by your insurance company, you are now 'able' to use any brand you like, in that system (ie, if you train with Grafton's l&p, you can then use Star if you want to, or Pronails, or Salon system etc etc as long as it is l&p). Obviously with some companies you can't buy their products unless you train with them, but from an insurance POV, if you trained with one brand but your salon wanted you to use another, this shouldn't be a problem.
In terms of what a salon would actually be looking for (such as training in their particular brand, experience etc) as Sassy said, the best bet is to ring around and ask some questions. If you're having a lucky day, you might even hit apon a salon that is looking for staff! I know some people on the Graftons course had actually been sent by their future employers.
Some salons will work on a basis where you have to use their existing product, however, if you are simply renting space in a salon that doesn't already have a nail tech, they may be happy for you to use whatever brand you trained with.
It's a bit of a case of swings and roundabouts because each salon with have a different take on things. Out of interest, what brand are you looking at going with?
Sorry, I probably wasn't much help, was I??
Lol x

 

[nailz666]

Hi Lola....I find most salons just want a bit of experience. The best thing to do is see if any salons are willing to continue training you 'their' way. Of course every salon is different and every product has there own way of doing things and sooner or later you will develop your own way. My best advice is get all the education you can and never think you know everything! Best of luck

Nailz666