Time Tips for Techs

How to manage and save time at the nail table, as a student, new or experienced nail technician.

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For Nail Tech Students

When you’re learning it’s hard NOT to think about your time. You’ve had your nails done; you know how long it usually takes. You’ve experienced the feeling of sitting in the chair while the tech meets your requests. However, remember, you are learning. As soon as you walk in that education room, do not look at the clock! Time should not be your focus. After all, how can you do something fast when you don’t even know how to do it yet? You can’t. You need to develop your skills and style first and foremost. Once you are creating nails you are happy with on a consistent basis, then you can learn how you can cut your time down. You can’t do it the other way around.

Tip: First, learn to create nails properly, then practice doing it faster.

For New Techs in the Salon

Time is one of the biggest issues for nail techs and clients in the salon. Both parties count on it. Nail technicians need to get their clients done within a certain time frame, as they are usually booked back to back. Clients have their own schedules as well- work, errands, other appointments, picking up their kids, etc. When you are just starting out as a nail tech, this can be a difficult space to navigate because you’re still building your clientele. You will have many clients that you haven’t met before, which means you don’t yet know what they want done in their appointment. Clients have no idea what is involved in a nail fill, a new set, nail art or even in just fixing a nail- and they don’t have to- it’s the nail technician’s job to lead the way and help them understand what to expect. 

Tip

When you’re first starting out and taking lots of new clients, make sure to schedule in ample time for their appointments. This way, you’ll have enough time to adjust to whatever their needs may be. This will also reduce stress for both of you. If either of you are pressed for time, there will be tension and that’s the last thing you want your client to experience during their appointment. Not to mention, a day of appointments like this would NOT be fun for the tech. 

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Scheduling in that extra time for initial appointments with your clients will also allow you to set the tone of your relationship with them. They will see that you are taking time to get to know them and to understand exactly what they want and they will respect and appreciate the kindness and calmness you have brought into their day. Building a solid client-tech relationship is key when building your clientele. The result is return customers.

For Experienced Techs

You’ve built up a strong clientele and find yourself being booked back to back as a daily routine- congratulations! Now, how do you keep on schedule while maneuvering time pitfalls and complications such as late or over consuming appointments?Tip: While your client is waiting for their appointment, present them with your nail/gel polish wheels so that they can decide what they’d like before their appointment even begins- or at least by polish time so that there’s no added time for this decision.

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For late clients, try to include 10 to 15 minutes extra per appointment for this issue in particular. If you have a client who is notoriously tardy, try booking their appointment 15 minutes after you actually tell them to come. A bit of a sneaky trick, but it’s an effective one. Then there are those clients who show up a full 30 minutes late, where half of their appointment is gone and yet they still expect to be serviced! For these extremely unpunctual ones, go ahead and begin their appointment when they arrive, but as you reach the halfway point, tell them that you only had enough time to do the one hand, charge them for both and then suggest that they book a time to come in and have the other done when they’re available. You can bet that they will come back! After all, they’ve already paid for it. The reason to do this is so that you don’t waste the hour that you have booked for that client. If they only show up for half of the appointment, then they only get half of their service, but you still get paid for your time.

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When it comes to clients who like extravagant designs, suggest that they send you pictures of what they want a few days before their appointment. You may need to extend their appointment time frame and/or find the proper products so that you are prepared to fulfill what they want.

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If you find yourself really tight for time (as it often happens), consider keeping another desk where you can polish clients and set them under the light to dry while you begin your next client. This is a small timesaver, but you would be surprised of the difference it can make cumulatively to the end of your day. The table can also used to fix one nail repairs while a current clients hands are in the light. This way you're not switching clients backing forth you are just switching tables. 

These tips will help you save time and they may even get you out of a jam or two that you find in your day.

Remember though, that each client has different needs and perspectives, so while doing nails as efficiently as possible is a valuable skill to develop and utilize, not every client you come across will appreciate this in the same way. Some clients like to take the process slower. As the saying goes, “time is money,” and while that is true, think of it more in terms of value. Taking your time with each client may seem counterproductive, but building a good foundation this way will ensure you a lasting and loyal clientele, which is extremely valuable.