Simplicity Rules - By Erin Snyder Dixon
Some weeks back, while working a show, I was approached by a nail tech. At first, I wasn’t sure how to take what she was about to tell me. She had been sitting in on a class and wanted to tell me how much she appreciated the simple, easy-to-create designs. She had been frustrated by classes that involved complicated techniques that she had found tough to master. She also had a hard time selling the designs to her clients. She wasn’t blown away by my intricately wielded brush and nail art skills—something that would have certainly fattened my ego.
As salon professionals we tend to be really proud of our creative endeavors. Funky colors, wild designs, and intricate work give us the shivers. We can’t get enough of them.
She went on to tell me about the types of nail art her clients indulged in. As she was talking, a light bulb went off in my head. As nail professionals part of what we do is entertain the clients and students with our wild, intricate and hardly wearable designs. While these designs don’t directly contribute to our bottom line in sales, they do entice people to take a closer look. These designs certainly inspire and motivate clients to talk about you with their friends, who in turn may become clients of the salon. As a nail professional it’s fun to craft nail art alchemy that begs the question, “How did you do that?”
The reality is that Risé had gathered us together for exactly that purpose—to nail designs that techs could master quickly and create over and over in the salon. It seemed so simple and I worried that techs would want something more complicated. Those nagging thoughts were probably remnants of me wearing my “nail tech” hat and needing to be entertained. Since then, the nail pros I have talked to have said over and over, “We need more designs for the average client.”
Fantasy nail art gives people something to talk about. Reality nail art gives people something to wear. I’m not saying that you can’t wear the fabulously unusual; I know you can and will. You are a walking billboard for your salon. The average everyday client needs suitable nail art choices too.
The truth is, as an educator, I struggle with keeping designs doable and still challenging and new. I would often worry about raising the level of difficulty. In reality there is still a huge need for simple easy to complete designs. These are the designs our clients take home on their fingernails. These are the designs we sell. These are the designs that directly fatten our bottom line. While fantasy nail art gives us an excuse to show our unconventional artistry. It gives us a chance to show off our stuff in the nail magazines and newsletters, which in turn gives the salon great exposure. It’s a large part entertainment.
So, as nail professionals, we really do need training in both areas: fantasy and reality. We need to stretch our wings and get creative with color, texture, and shape. As in many areas, striking a balance is a goal that does us good.
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