Do you have to be Artistically Talented to be a Nail Tech?

There are so many pictures we see on social media of incredible paintings and drawings- artworks in their own right- done on nails. These masterpieces can make the idea of becoming a nail technician, or even just improving your skills as one, seem daunting.

You might think you can’t compete with other nail techs and feel utterly discouraged when your best attempts at this look like something only a mom of a small child would be proud to hang on their fridge. BUT I’m here to tell you that you SHOULDN’T.

Because while nail technicians are artists, artists are not necessarily nail technicians…

Let me break that down!

Creating a perfectly structured and streamlined nail is in itself a difficult skill, and an art. It takes years of dedication, hard work and passion for someone to achieve this level of mastery in the craft of nails. 

An example of perfecting the nail structure

A detailed illustration done on a nail

Being able to draw and paint realistic scenes and pictures, whether it’s on a canvas or on a nail’s surface is also a skill, an art, and is honed with the same amount of effort as mentioned above.

To come across someone who has developed skill and mastery in BOTH of these art forms is RARE and shouldn’t be expected as the norm. Why? Because they are entirely DIFFERENT crafts, in completely different mediums. 

Contrary to what you may see online, MOST nail technicians cannot paint or draw realistic portraits on the nail (or on anything for that matter). But this doesn’t lessen them as technicians or effect their businesses because MOST clients don’t want drawings, they want beautiful, reliable nails. And that comes down to nail structure, not what happens to be on top of it.

Nail art and embellishments have seen a huge rise in the age of social media. We see a lot of it online, because it catches attention and generates clicks. The more detailed or pushing the limits they are, the better. But as far as everyday wear for our clients goes, while they may want some glitter, gems, stamping or basic shape designs, they don’t- and certainly shouldn’t- expect you to be Van Gogh.

Drawing and painting is an incredible skill. Sculpting nails is also an incredible skill. 

Let’s respect them as the separate crafts that they are.