Here’s why you shouldn’t neglect the one colour manicure
By Katie Barnes | 12 June 2018 | Expert Advice, Feature, Tech Talk, Technique
Educator and award-winning nail technician, Katie Barnes, reveals why its important to realise your one colour polishing skills – as well as extravagant nail artistry…
Seeing outrageous and eccentric nail creations posted across social media can have positive effects on the industry. It showcases the skill and imagination of techs and, often, their ability to push design boundaries – as well as what can be created with nail products (other than just a nude design on a short nail!) – but when is it too much and detrimental to the industry?
When there’s such a heightened sense of being ‘over the top’, it’s only natural that we need some time to wind down and reset. I personally hope and am glad to see many techs go ‘back to basics’, which is a positive move for our industry.
Already, I am seeing a lot of European techs opting for perfectly polished one colour enhancements. This may seem dull to some, but in fact it is actually a sign of a return to the essence of the craft. A perfectly polished nail is a true skill to a nail tech’s quality of work and although many fob this off a simple service, done perfectly it is a difficult and essential skill that will set you apart from your competitors.
Returning to a basic one colour or pink & white service means there’s nowhere to hide when clients’ nails are lumpy or misshapen. With the removal of nail art, it means the focus must return to fundamental quality, and I think this is a really important movement in our industry. Any nail tech can create a set of average nails and cover their mistakes with nail art and accessories, but the true pros will show when the challenge is to create perfect nails.
Many techs think that a ‘back to basics’ course is beneath them and this could not be further from the truth wherever you are in your career. We all have bad habits, it’s part of human nature. Can you honestly say that you picked up and mastered 100% of everything that you learnt on your beginner course? It is not possible to do so, whether your course was just two days or two years. Whatever beginner course you undertook, continuing your education with basic skills is paramount for true understanding of every element required for the perfect foundation. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was a master nail technician. A true master understands and appreciates the fundamental basics of enhancement structure and skills and never stops building on this knowledge or skill.
There will always be a place for extravagant designs in the industry to showcase a tech’s talent, for competitions and for photographic work but this will not create the substance of a nail business. Long lasting, well executed nail enhancements and services will. Don’t run before you can walk and hone your basic skills first.
Love Katie B x