Editorial

Nail Art 2.0

NAIL ART HAS SEEN ACCELERATED GROWTH IN THE PAST DECADE - from airbrushed acrylics and French manicures to custom designs, which include (but aren't limited to) ice cream cones, Swarovski crystals, and diamond-infused polish for a one-of-a-kind look. While the demand for intricate, custom-designed nail art has risen through the roof, it can be difficult to keep up with the times. Does one need to be an expert artist to offer nail art? What are the best ways to show off a portfolio of work? How should nail art be priced? Don't worry, we have the answers.

BY IRENE CHAO
NAIL ART BY DALLAS SAUERS

NOT AN ARTIST? NO problem!
A common misconception is that you have to be a talented artist to offer nail art in your salon. "This is completely untrue," says Gelish CEO & founder Danny Haile. "There are so many innovative new products these days that make it easy and convenient to offer nail art to your clients." Taking note of this, Gelish decided to launch Trends, a new line of instant nail art that is offered in different colors and textures such as dots, glitters, and flakies. The best part? It lasts up to three weeks. Layer Trends with traditional Gelish colors or wear them alone. It instantly updates a onecolor manicure into a fun look that your clients will love...and it's easy for the nail technician to apply.

VISUAL NAIL-SPIRATION
Looking for nail art inspiration? Can't quite figure out how to apply rhinestones? The answer is YouTube. Talented nail technicians often take their skills to YouTube to offer both novices and experts advice on step-by-steps for basic skills. The site is not only perfect if you're looking for advice, but it's always ideal for showing off your skills to the public. Think about it like this: Imagine the YouTube website visitors as potential clientele. Use this as your platform to give them a glimpse of your capabilities and show off what you can offer them.

MARKET YOURSELF
Create a portfolio of all your work and set up social media sites for both you and your salon - brick and mortar or mobile. Nail art is visual and this is the perfect way to show your clients what you can offer them. And the best part? It will cost you close to nothing to set up these sites for yourself. With the rapid growth of social media, salon visitors often turn to the Internet to seek out the nail art they want, which means you can easily capitalize on this. Lastly, be sure to follow your favorite nail brands and take a look at how they're marketing their products. Social media pages such as Facebook and Twitter can often offer insight into new product launches.

MAKE THAT MONEY
Nail art rule #1: Do not undercharge for your nail art! "Often, I find nail technicians don't charge enough for their nail art," says Gelish Dean of Education MaeLing Parrish. "This is your time and energy that you are investing into your client and you deserve it!" At Parrish's salon, Nail Sensation in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, she charges $1 per minute for nail art on each finger. And if the client decides she wants nail art on all 10 fingers, Parrish offers a discount. For acrylic nail art, Parrish starts at a base price of $50, with each additional acrylic color costing $5 extra. "A great way to merchandise your nail art in the salon is to display nail art pops with designs and include the pricing on the pops," adds Parrish. "This way, clients will know that if they decide on a flower or ombre design that takes 10 minutes, they'll also understand that it will cost them an extra $10."

Nail art is great way to add additional income to your salon, but the first rule of thumb is to always be passionate about what you do and have confidence in your work. This way, you'll shine bright in front of all your clients, no matter what's on trend or what's in style.