A Nail Tech Searching For A Job? This Is For You

    Successful people in any industry do the following: Define their goals, plan ahead, keep an open mind, and continue to learn.  To find out about nail care locations and possible job locations that are hiring or interviewing for future positions, consider several of these methods:talk to nail techs in your area who are employed they will know of any available positions, check the classifieds, talk to distributor sales consultants, (if you have a good school) check the school bulletin boards, mail out your resume to local salons and spas, check out websites of nail product companies and see if they know of anything.

FOR RENT or for hire? It's my business right!?!?!?

    Once you have graduated beauty school, the next question is where am I going to work?  I realize I have touched on this topic a little here and there, but this thread is about what to look for and what to realize when finding that right little salon just for you.  Booth renting can be an enticing option when you are craving flexibility without the responsibility of an employer dictating your schedule. Some of the perks of booth renting include taking charge of your hours, choosing your products and keeping all your earnings. On the other hand, if you are looking for an environment that provides mentorship and education, booth renting may not be the right choice for you.
    One important factor to consider before booth renting is the location of the salon. Is it in a good location? Notice the streets around, what businesses are around, and what type of clientel do you think will come in based on where you are located?  A salon that is located in a busy shopping area can be beneficial because your customers already frequent the area and will be more likely to swing by your salon. In addition, it offers the opportunity to network with nearby businesses who can send new clients your way. There may also be the possibility for more walk-ins. If there is another person providing the same services, find out the salon's policy for how walk-ins are assigned.
     Another aspect I tend to look for is parking.  Be sure to take a look at the parking situation. This is critical. If parking is difficult to come by, you may lose clients who do not want to deal with the hassle. I have been to salons that had the most badass hair dressers and nail techs.  Those salons also had a good reputation, the only thing holding them back from a 5 star rating was their parking.  Older clients do not want to walk, that is if they can.  It can be hot here in the bootheel of Missouri so to think of walking on those hot days are simply not an option for myyself as well as others.
    Consider how well you interact with the demographic that frequents the location. Do you vibe well with pampered princesses or do you bond better with "everyday people?"  Do you like children?  I can tell you what I DON'T deal well  when it comes to client's children: I hate kids (I have a 5 year old of my own, love her to death), but other peoples kids I can't stand.  I got a job as a nail tech not a baby sitting nail tech.  I love my older clients, but there are a few that tend to be bossy I hate those clients.  You cannot please everyone, but you can find a place of employment that will make you happy.
    One HUGE factor in where I will be working is the enviornment itself.  I am a team player, I am trustowrthy, and friendly.  I've found others aren't the same.  Working in a miserable environment takes a terrible a toll on your business and psychological state.  I went to school with a good attitude, little did I know what I was walking into.   The horrible enviornment took its toll on me.  If it had not been for my amazing husband I don't know if I would have even made it (I would have probably quit).  Beauty school is THE hardest thing I have ever done in my 28 years of living. Choose a salon with a pleasant atmosphere where you will feel comfortable. Ask how many other people are renting the same type of booth as you. Things could get competitive if there are several people with the same type of business.  Are there any thieves among them?  Having your stuff messed with is frustrating, and if you mess with my stuff it's a sure fire way to have it out with me and it ends by your head being ripped off. 
Consider the price of the booth rental and how many clients you will need to service to make it worthwhile. Review all your expenses for the tools of the trade. Ask yourself if you are good at record keeping. You will need this information when paying your taxes. You should also be informed what the rental includes. Will you have to pay extra for laundry? Is there a secure area for your equipment?
    The length of the salon owner's lease can also affect your decision. If a new owner takes over there could be many changes implemented including a rent increase. A written contract insures there are no misunderstandings between you and the owner. Everything that each side agrees to should be included in the contract.
    Now I am going to let you in on a secret of mine.  When scoping out a booth rental location, test out the salon for yourself as a secret shopper. People may be on their best behavior if they know you are a perspective renter. You will be able to see the dynamics of the salon from the customer's point of view. Do the people working at the salon appear happy or can you feel tension between them? Test the salon twice by having a savvy friend make an appointment for a service at another date and critique the shop for you. Make sure to let you secret shopper friend know your criteria.
   Getting a job is stressful, but putting in the right work to find the exact match for you is well worth it.  I enjoy doing nails, and I enjoy the art of it.  I can do this every day for the rest of my life and be happy, but only if there is no immature salon drama.  So it's like buying a house, take your time to find your home. A home that speaks you, and at the same time you are so happy you can't stand it.

Nailgasm The Nail Art Movie link included

    There's a mini movie targeted at nail technicians.  "Nail Art Movie: Nailgasm" explores the endless creativity and work that goes into nail art.  This movie enbodies the global culture as well as its many fans.  The movie shows the taboo aspects of nail art as well as the artistic avenue of the art form.  Nail art is "an artform" that has morphed into many different areas in the past 20 years.   Find out why nails are making the headlines by watching this 4 minute 35 second film.  Here's the link to watch: http://www.nailpro.com/nail-art-movie-nailgasm 

Enjoy I did!

Job searching tips for nail technicians

      There are several things that can stress out a nail tech, one of mine being where I am fixing to go work at.  Do I want to work in one state or two? Where do I begin to look for work?, these are just two of my questions that I have been asking myself here in the past week.  I felt it best to share what I have found.  There are several ways to find work.  One of the best ways to look for salon work is in the good ole country boys newspaper.  If the school you attend is actually worth a hoot, you school (if good) will sometimes have a list of salons looking for new nail technicians.  Craigslist also has job opportunity listings, and you can post your resume as well.  A great idea for those of us to get our hair done, ask at the salon you frequent.  Check Nail Pro has the Savvy Salon Column and sometimes the featured salon will also be hiring.  Perform search engine searches for salons in your area to figure out where you might start asking at.  Network network network, you can't imagine how with the web being so accessable, you can promote yourself!  One last idea to get yourself into a good job is asking the local salon supplier like sally's, cosmo, or state beauty supply, if they know anyone hiring.  These are the best tips I have to help you and me both land the job of a lifetime.

MSRA, Amputations, and Sanitation

    Kimberly Jackson is a young lady who contracted MSRA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) in 2006.  She visited a nail salon she had been to many times in Fort Worth, TX.  Kimberly contracted MSRA from that nail salon.  She contracted MSRA from a pedicure.  After contracting MSRA she later suffered a massive heart attack from this disease.  Kimberly's ordeal happened in 2006, but in November 2009, a client in Alabama had been cut by an emery board several times in her visit.  That Alabama client noticed swelling, soreness, and redness.  The Alabama client had contracted MSRA, and because she sought medical attention immediately, she was able to avoid having 5 of her 10 fingers amputated.  In 2008, 18,000 people died from MSRA.  As nail technicians this can be a possibility, but we can also do the best we can to prevent such horrible ordeals.
     What is MSRA you may ask?  Well, let me explain it to you in short form...MSRA is a bacterium that caused skin infections and has become resistant to most forms of antibiotics.  It is spread by a person who is infected by the bacteria (sometimes unknowingly), and then that person actively touched and contaminated the impliment, surface, or other.  Infection most easily infects someone by a breach in the skin, ie. hangnail.  Everyone carries the infection, but only a few exemplify symptoms.  A person who colonizes MSRA will not show symptoms, but people with it show symptoms that look like red, swollen, and tender known as cellulitis, and there might also be pestules or boils as well. 
     There are three steps to help prevent MSRA.  Sanitation, disinfection, and sterylization are the three steps to assure MSRA is prevented as much as possible, and don't your clients deserve such respect?  We as nail technicians need to sanatize everything that can be sanatized and dispose of all non sanatizable items after used on every client.  It does not matter if the client sitting across from you is your childhood friend you have known for years.  That friend could very well be a carrier.  One of the reasons I use a towel that can be washed on all communible surfaces, is because I am preventing the client from touching surfaces as such.  It is your responsibility and no one elses to keep your clients healthy.  With that being said, your salon owner should also give you enough time between clients to effectively sanatize and disinfect your station so that you do not spread this bacteria.  Also certain clients may also have a disease that lowers their immune system, so also be aware of that.  Lupus is a disease that lowers the body's immune system.  Clients with a diease such as that will be 10 times more likely to catch the bacteria, so a client consult form would be a fantastic idea and document any disease under the medical background section.
    I hope I have opened your eyes to a bacteria that I know was never discussed in cosmotology school. We covered Staph in our textbooks in school, but never did we discuss Kimberly's story or how infectious this bacteria is.