The big mistake nail students make on a training course

Are you about to take the leap into the nail industry, or are you signing up to learn a new service? Hannah Garbett, educator at Staffordshire Nail Academy and distributor of Astonishing Nails products, warns of the key mistake students make on their journey…

Hannah Garbett

Signing up for your first nail course to begin your new career journey is a mega exciting time. You may be eagerly awaiting that first day of training at which you can finally get your hands on your kit and create awesome nails like the techs of Insta-fame.

Hunger, passion and excitement to create these nails is fantastic, however if I could give any budding new tech just one piece of advice it would be: Don’t run before you can walk!

Make sure you nail the basics first. As an educator, I focus on teaching my students the fundamentals of correct nail preparation, tip application/form fitting, product ratio (for L&P acrylic), product application, structure and shape.

I will only teach this in one colour, normally a cover powder, at first, so that my students can see their product placement.

I can’t stress enough how important the above is before you start to work with coloured powders with different consistency, encapsulating glitter and confetti, adding intricate gel designs and adding bling to the nails with crystals. 

If the foundation isn’t solid, the nails won’t last – and no amount of pretty colours, art and bling will change that.

I have witnessed so many students and newly qualified technicians become disheartened and have their confidence knocked because they haven’t focused enough on the basics. So, do yourself the biggest favour and take your time. You will become a better technician and understand the design process so much more when you have the perfect canvas on which to work.

Follow Hannah on Instagram and check out her training courses, here.