FAQ | HOW TO BECOME A SUPER FAST NAIL TECH! 

Thanks for this post. I too prefer quality over time. I started doing nails 25 years ago, and was always a perfectionist, i would work until the nails were perfect. Then after a couple years, I started working in the shops where they want you to get people in and out, and they would stress me out all the time about being slow. However, no matter what shop I worked in, no matter how much slower I was than everybody else, I always had the most clients request me. I used to be able to do a full set or fill of acrylic in 30 minutes, without sacrificing quality, because I was doing it for 11 hours/day. But I wasn't able to get creative, and eventually I got burned out and stopped doing nails for a couple years. Then a couple years ago, a friend asked me to help out and when I got back into doing nails, I realized how much I missed it and decided to continue doing nails again, BUT this time on my terms. I wasn't going to work for low prices, and I wasn't going to allow anyone to rush me. I worked in a shop where I was able to charge higher prices than the other techs, using products I wanted to use, and took my time, and had more loyal clients than anyone in the shop. Eventually, I left there because the other owner got more involved and told me i had to do 30 minute full sets, which I was not willing to do. I got my clients in and out in an hour, which was the time my clients had for their lunch hour, and my clients didn't complain. Now that I've been doing more gel than acrylic, my clients know to allow about 2 hours or so and they know that depending on what they want, it could take more or less time. Like my baby boomer clients who keep it real simple (and short), they're in and out in an hour to 1.5 hours, whereas, my clients who like to get designs, it can take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. But I don't stress about time at all, and they don't either. They appreciate that I take the time to care for their nails and make sure they look great. I too like to enjoy conversations with my clients, I even have clients who invite me over for dinner, and I consider them my friends. And that is worth so much more that trying to be a speed demon. Rock on! I enjoyed taking your class in Chicago.

I love hearing this, I'm constantly telling myself that speed will come but it's the quality of the nail which is the most important. I just love, love your work 💜💙

Love this vlog I am sick and tired of hearing nail techs go on and on about getting their times down. I completely agree with you. I'd rather spend 2 hours doing a great set of nails then get clients in and out producing the same basic standard and plain boring nails.

Tfs. I got my license in August 2014, and every salon that I tried working with has stressed about getting every service down under an hour, even a spa pedicure that has the works. I like to be thorough with the service that I give my client. I want them to relax and enjoy their time away from stress and worries of life for a couple hours. I'm not able to improve on my quality of work if I'm expected to put out a ten minute manicure or a 45 minute full set acrylic. You're the kind of employer that I would love to work with.

Love this video. I book 2 hours for each client also. I hate feeling rushed but sometimes when I tell clients the appointment is 2 hours they look at me like I'm crazy. I have had someone tell me they just don't have time to sit for 2 hours. I try to get faster but I also don't want to sacrifice quality.

Honestly thank you for posting this video....I've been doing nails for the past 14 years and I find I've gone from in my beginning years 1 hr tops to now minimum 1.5 to 2 ish hours. and was getting frustrated. Even though I know the nail industry has gone from basic polish or french to now exploded with art and lengths and shapes. And this all takes time!!! Especially if you want it to look great. You have no idea how happy I am to have stumbled on this video. I just needed to hear this. So thank you!!!!

I agree, when I was working in the salon it was a client every 1hr. but it does get stressful. you pick up time with practice, you have to focus on quality, not time. I stopped working in the salon too, and if I do any nails it's fun to chat, have fun and create amazing nails. thank you for this video! subbed xoxo 💜

I absolutely love your thinking! People should go to salon to have good experience and not because they want it done fast.

I have just started at a salon after 4 years of doing it at home on friends. so I can take 3 to 4 hours on anything from fill to full sets. fastest being 2 and a half.it is amazing how ladies have been so patient and appreciative of taking the time to do a nice set. But I do stress and I'm sure its down to application of gel so I, am going to get way more training no matter what the cost. one of which is with Celina herself in Victoria Canada. I just can not wait!

Love this video! Such a great response!!! I think many techs worry about time because they feel they should be fast so they're clients time isn't taken... When I first started I would take 3 hours start to finish on a full set. I would warn all my girls that I do take my time and I would always apologize for being slow. And to be honest they're responses were always "I love that you take your time everything looks perfect and not rushed"!

It is possible to give clients quality nails in 45 minutes. I do 11-13 people a day. All regular clients. I have to know how much time it takes so I can book the required amount of time for each service. Over time you will be able to gauge how much time you need for each service. When I started I booked 1 hour for fills and before long I was able to cut my time so I could get more clients in and still all quality and have a great relationship with all my clients. If it is taking you a long time your speed will improve over time so you can accommodate people who are trying to get in on your book.

Thank you for this Celina. The first salon I was at the owner was all about timing and continually beating me down about time. Fresh out of school! Once I switched salons and was able to do what I wanted, how I wanted, without the constant brow beating it has been amazing at not only how much my time has improved but my quality as well. Even the clients that followed me through the change of salons have commented about how much better the whole experience is.

This was such a helpful and informative video and especially coming from a nail tech such as yourself Celina! From the time I've been following you on Instagram I've always wondered how long it takes you to do nails. When I started in nail tech they only show you the basics with filing full nail sets with a 180 Grit filer and hardly have any practice or experience with a nail driller. My first time doing a full set took me five hours! from five to four and now one and a half or two hours max. Though I do let my clients know the time it will take before working on their nails. Thank you for the video!

thanks a lot! I had to drop clients cos I wasn't fast enough for them but I do choose quality over quantity as well and take all the time I need to do my sets! if they're not happy they can go somewhere else... and then come back again! 😎💅

thank you so much for this video! I've been working as an apprentice for a year and a half and am about to take my final test for my license. it takes me about an hour and a half to 2 hours to do a new full set with art. I feel slow but I want to do my best. I'd love to be faster but I know it will come with time. makes me happy to know someone as well known as you is the same. I'd love to take a class but I live in Alabama and no one ever comes here. lol nails are booming her for sure so I learn from RU-vid. thanks for being awesome!

Thank YOU!! I thought 2 hours was too long... But I need this time to do my job well and SOCIALIZE!!!! We are not robot and we choose that kind of profession coz we like people. I totally agree with you. STOP STRESSING!!!!! And I am talking to the clients too!

Thank you so much, seeing this video has made me feel a lot better about me liking to spend the time getting nails pretty and no worry about people wanting a fast visit coz that's not the was I roll :) thx

thank you so much for this. being fast takes practise everyday and it takes time lol i hate when potential cliënts call me and ask how long does it take for a set with or without nailart ugh i hate it and during also rushing me im like girl leave me be or get out. and then you dont have tot pay me60,- or more im really cheap cause im slow (3hrs) but im really hygienic and have top quality products and first but formost i do it with love. i really needed this i dont like that n and out shop thing. i know girls who do that and for them is money making bussines. Every hour there is a cliënt its like is it your pasion or you see it as quick money making. im not going tot compare myself tot others. its just not reality and everyone is different. Your awesome & love your ig

Thank you so much im a new tech and my job I had. Was about time . all I new was 20min for one nail at state broad lol so I m boss want pedi done in 25mi . acrylics then one hour. I lose all confide and now afraid to go work I needed to here this.

So glad I came across this video. Thank you Celina. I have always taken my time and made sure that I do quality work on my clients. However, I work in a salon where everything needs to be done in less than an hour and it stresses me big time. The girls I work with file people in and out like they are on an assembly line and I just don't like it. I was feeling like I should quit doing nails because I watch these girls and I feel so out of place. But seeing your video has helped me to re-evaluate and now I know that I'm just going to keep doing me and take my time.

Brilliant X took me time to realise this because of the pressure you get when you get qualified. Every teacher should say this to their students. X

Thank you sooooo much for this video !!! I'm just starting out and it usually takes me about 2.5 hrs from start to finish . I always start to feel really stressed towards the end and end up not doing the best paint job 😐. Everything else turns out great, other than the paint .... 😪. This helps reassure me once again .... I was losing hope so thank you !

Thank you so much... I was getting so stressed about TIME now I know on what to concentrate... QUALITY over the time

yep, it is what it is! could do a set in one hour, then there is gel polish on top, then nail art on top, etc. could be up to 3 hours some times. Yeah, what used to be hour and half tops, is now much longer due to add ons, shaping etc. But I love the social side, and hope clients do too. Basic French sculpted, which I hardly ever do now is the fastest I guess, no painting involved, but everyone is into nail art! Nice to hear we all feel the same though. 😃

I know this is an old video, but it applies very much now as it did back last spring. I just wanted to let you know that my very first "practice" client and first time ever using acrylics took me 10 and a half hours with a half hour break in between!! By the second hand I was kinda getting the idea about l&p ratio. The first hand looked like clear melted lava splodges! The most time was spent on hand filing!! But at the end they looked lovely and my client was very pleased with them.

Yes! You can't rush art!

I feel so much better now! I have been out of the salon for about 5 years, but I still have a very good friend that I do her nails every 2 weeks. We do her fill, repairs, extentions in gel, gel polish and stamping. It takes me 3 hours usually. I was feeling like I was just taking tooo ling on her, we do socialize quiet a bit too. I'm feeling better about the timeing now. I have been doing nails for over 20 years and still don't think I can do a set in an hour.

Again, thanks for your honesty.

Thank you thank you thank you!!! Finally someone that understands me and I understand you... 💜♊️💜

Love the video and so true. And you have compassion and the love of doing nails.

I got my nail enhancement last year and I founded that time was my stress. Thank you your advice help me a lot

Good advice Celina.

Thank you so much for sharing your Insight on your dues and don'ts. I stress out a lot about time and I love the idea on making notes for yourself with your little timer clock. Very inspirational thank you so much for sharing.

That’s the beauty of working for yourself!! Entrepreneurs that’s major goals! But I work commission at a salon. Great advice!

I’m getting ready to work doing nails. I also like to take my time to do quality nails. For now, I’m going to be practicing on myself, family and friends

I love this video because it’s completely correct I do 1-1/2 to 2 hour bookings because I didn’t get in to this career to be on a customer treadmill. I like to socialize and talk and give them the opportunity to get my full attention. Thank you for sharing how you think that’s ok too

Hello im kay I have been listening to you talking. I take my time I am a learner. I like to do gel Moor than acrylics. I was with a nail school and I done 30 hands I was ment to do 60 hands but I became ill with the smells of acrylic. so I went on to gel, but I do it for my own self. I'm not trained to do anybody else's. I paid lot of money just to do acrylics which they do not tell you that you have to keep buying the stuff each time you have done so many hand it's not write somehow. so I done the first art exam and passed that but that was lot of money as well but all they keep on about is their products. so I'm just sticking to my drawings and learning about one stroke painting, I hope I have not border you to tears thank you for sharing you advice. xx

THANKYOU !!!!!! I know this video is old and you probably wont see this post but your advise is invaluable I allow 2hrs per client but sometimes over run and sometimes on time or under for all reasons given and my clients keep coming back !!!! For most of my clients their time with me is not just about nails & the feeling is mutual including especially those who are terminally ill However in an attempt to strike a balance and need to increase my workload I am going to advertise a QUICKY lol appt alternative to those who want to be in and out Tho I have found over past 5yrs they are the clients who bring the most challenging nails !!!!! Thanx again I love your work and how you say it as it is x

Thank you! I dub thee my spirit animal! Thank you SO much for explaining what i try to explain EVERYONE .. we can't be super fast fresh out of school . Not all of us .. are super fast. As one said. We won't sacrifice quality for time. Cause Quality is safety. Safety is good health. Our job is to protect our clients. Our job is .. to make them happy and love their nails. Our job ultimately. To practice the passion of our craft. Again thank you so much Celina. You're my new hero!

YEAH! thank you. I do not like to rush anymore. I enjoy the clients I have, some a quicker and some take more time.

sometimes it takes me 3 hours. ugh thats what i mean . i want to be 1 hour!

i have to worry about time due to needing to keep onto a schedule.. i have roughly 6 or 7 clients a day so most time scheduled is 1 hr apps or 1.5 spaces

same. thanks for this!

Thank you so much for this video. Not sure what date it was uploaded, but I have lost my MOJO for doing nails since being a nail tech for 14 yrs. Took a break 3 yrs ago bc I felt "broken" from constant visitation with my wonderful clients. Now I so want back at it as I'm passionate about doing nail. I am NOT ARTISTIC as you are but I did quality nails. Any suggestions for me to get back to my "love" and "job"? PS: I so enjoy you funny ways with videos..😊

I agree 100 % i book acrylic sets 2 hrs. Gel polish 1 hr...... but I'm still working on my shape..... please so a video on shape.....

I love your video.I feel the same way.Thank you!

I agree with your opinion of 100 percent.😍😍

I actually do worse when I’m rushing. I’m just starting out and my boss is asking me to time myself. But right now my priority is getting my application and steps right. The first thing I ask is if they’re on there day off or their lunch break? So I know how much time I have to work with

I love ur style ! I wish I could be so amazing like u ! 😢😢😢😍😍😍

Thanks for this perspective!

Thanks

Thank you!

I catch a little anxiety feeling like my client is ready to go 😅 so I've been kinda hard on myself about time...

Where did you get your curtains?

Great advice! Thx

When your income came only from working on clients did you focus more on time? If so did you do your sets faster or still no, still booked two hours per client?

My perfectionism prevents my speed increase but I'm working on that.

Love ittt????

Would you ever travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Canada to teach a class?

As a customer, I hate the in and out feeling. 😔😔😔😔.

Better quality nails just take time period

Are yo just going to NYC or are coming to LA

Im doing nails for 1 month and i take 5 to 6 hours :/

Thanks so much Celina. I needed to hear this. Sensible advice!!! Art and quality cannot be rushed.😘 Leah @luxnailsbyleah

This was a great tip video but now that you are famous you sell your own gorgeous things so expensive to buy 😣

Is being a nail tech as bad as everyone says it is??