The big question, did you ever hand over money for an injury?

When you booked in your appointment did you say ”Can I please have a Full set of Acrylic Nails and 2 bleeding cuticles to go?”

I’m really serious, I, unfortunately now more than ever, hear stories about clients leaving salons with wounded fingers, not just red and sore but acually bleeding.

I ask these people the following questions when they complain to me about being injured:

1. Did the technician immediately stop using the tool that caused the wound?
2. Did the technician throw away the file or drill bit after they made you bleed?
3. If you were injured with a metal tool, did you see them disinfect it?
4. Did you think about the client that was sitting in the same seat before you?, Or the client before her?, Or the one before her?, etc.
5. Do you really think that you were the only client that walked out of the salon that day with a bleeding finger?
6. AND finally…….After receiving the injury, did you pay the technician money?

If clients continue to pay for these injuries, no matter how accidental it seems at the time, they are saying to the Nail Technician ”It’s really OK if you injure me”

Lets look at hairdressing as an example. If a hairdresser, acidentally nicks your ear with the scissors, more often that not, they would apologise (admit fault) and not charge you for the haircut. You would also acknowledge that it most likely was a once off genuine mistake.

If you went back to the same haidresser and it happened again at the next visit, would you be so forgiving?

Would you keep going back for more?

I don’t think so. There’s no way I would.

If you’re looking for a great nail tech, yes they are out there! Ask the Nail Tech what steps they take to prevent injury. Explain your concerns or previous experience. Remember you’re the PAYING customer you have the right to protect your health & safety. Open communication with your nail tech is paramount. Yes you can have acrylic or gel nails done WITHOUT PAIN, you just have to find the right technician.

Don’t support nail techs that don’t put client health & safety first.

Written by Christine Maher.

Executive Director, CNE (Senior educator of beginner nail technicians for 12 years and Nail tech for 20 years)