Three Key Survival Skills Every Nail Pro Needs To Know

"Once you realize that you have identified a passion, invest in yourself. Figure out what you need to know, what kind of experience and expertise you need to develop to do the things that you feel in your heart you will enjoy and that will sustain you both mentally and economically."

- Martha Stewart

How does a nail pro stay relevant in today’s market? What can a nail artist do to thrive? What tools are essential to milk all the benefits of working in the nail industry? We’ve broken it down to three indisputable things a nail tech can do to chase down the primary goal of taking care of business and leading that good life: Education, Practice, and a Social Media Platform.

DON’T BE A DINOSAUR
Did you know the closest living relative of the T-Rex is a modern day chicken? Now what does this have to do with nail techs? Dinosaurs, now extinct, at one point evolved into chickens. Say what? It’s a great reminder that life as we know it is always changing and unfolds in unimaginable ways. We can’t predict the future or the challenges we might face; even the catastrophic ones. What we can do is embrace the possibilities that come with change. Evolution is the key element of survival of any creature big or small. The theory of evolution applies to a successful salon business, too. Your survival in nails depends on your ability to adapt to new things, a hunger for knowledge and steady stream of quality education. Maintain your clients’ interest with new techniques or be prepared to watch them slip away. Keep your existing skills razor sharp. YouTube is filled with tutorials to satisfy any current trend and every kind of curiosity. Take your education into your own hands.

PRACTICE IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT
First you get the knowledge then you get to practice. It’s as simple as that. Binge watching all the baking shows on NetFlix doesn’t mean you can actually crack an egg. Watch it all you want but it’s not the same as actually doing it. It’s going all in and getting your hands dirty. It’s trial and error. It’s falling down like learning to walk or riding a bike. You make all these mistakes; then something just clicks and sticks with you. So if you want to get better at nail sculpting, hand painting, e-filing or creating content, just practice. Do the reps. It’s the only way.

TECH AND TECHNIQUE
Marketing has always been essential for the survival of a nail business. Your talents are a gift meant to be shared with the world. The goal is growth and exposure. Outside of technique, getting comfortable with all the Social Media Platforms for marketing is a true business life-line. FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, that’s where all the eyeballs are. You need your business to be where all the eyeballs are. An online presence is absolutely crucial; it tells your unique story and acts like a lookbook and menu of services. Show them what you love. It will never be a waste of your time to post. The habits and discipline we’ve developed through our daily social media feed are 100% transferable. It’s a winning formula that applies to any type of business and the learning curve couldn’t be easier. Start out by posting content regularly; multiple times a day. Feel free to follow our lead if your stumped for content. Refer back to one of our many Instagram posts and Biz Talk vlogs on YouTube for tips on how to ramp up your online presence. After almost 3 years of growing our social media program; we know it works. It honestly saved us and it can save you, too.

**This is an adaption from our YN Biz Talk playlist on YouTube, “3 Key Things Every Nail Pro Needs”.

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