Why you shouldn’t choose a one-day nail training course

Award-winning educator, Hannah Garbett of Staffordshire Nail Academy,  reveals the implications of learning the art of nails in one day…

Hannah Garbett

Do you want to be a ‘pro’ or a ‘have a go’?

If you want to become a nail tech, that’s awesome news. But if you want to become one in a day, then that’s not so awesome. 

Nail tech life isn’t being ‘just’ a nail tech and painting pretty colours and designs. It involves us taking responsibility for a real person’s wellbeing. A nail professional must be equipped with the knowledge to educate clients on the best system that suits their needs and how to care for their nails. A nail pro must listen to a client’s nail goals and maintain their nails.

Our desks are our labs at which we should be creating safe enhancements that last for our clients. 

No matter who you are, I really don’t think you can learn all of this in one day.

A nail course should cover more than dipping a brush into a product container and making a nail. Health & safety is paramount, and you must know how to set up your work area and keep your tools sanitary.

You also need to know the natural nail anatomy inside and out. You must be able to identify what nails you can and most definitely should not work on to keep not only your client safe but you and your other clients safe, too.

Safe preparation of the natural nail, correct product placement, ratio, structure, length, cuticle work and safe filing practice all need to be instilled from the start of a nail career.

Infills; have you thought about infills? Did you know that once established as a nail tech that infills can make up to 80% off your business? How can you learn to correctly infill if you only train for one day? Your nails need time to grow to infill.

I have been an educator for eight years and a nail tech for 14 years. At the beginning of my career I was shocking.

Honing your craft takes time and lots of practice. So, I urge you when looking for a training course please don’t go for the fastest and cheapest. 

This may seem like an pain in the backside to have to complete a work pack prior to training, to have to go back to your training provider several times over the space of four, six or eight weeks and to have to complete a portfolio and sit an assessment. Trust me, your educator has a method to their teaching even though that may make you want to poke them with your brush! They care about you and your future clients. They want you to succeed in your chosen vocation and begin your nail journey with confidence and knowledge.

It would be so much easier for your educator to send you on your way after a day of learning and wish you well, but you need to find not just an educator. but a mentor who will support you and make you the best nail technician you can be. That takes dedication; from you both.

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