We all know that the global beauty industry is worth billions and billions of dollars per year. What amazes me more is that it still grows each year. This means that nobody considers beauty as trivial. Every cosmetic salon nowadays offers haircare, skincare, makeup, manicure, pedicure, face fillers, all sorts of chemical pilings, massages, literally the list is endless, and it goes even further.
But preparing for a career in cosmetology is not an easy task at all. It requires education, training, and state licensing. You can decide to become an expert in many fields, but today I want to dedicate my attention to nail experts.
Is all that effort worth it? Can you earn enough money by crafting bold nail designs? How much do nail techs make is what you will find out in this post, so read on.
What Nail Techs Exactly Do?
Nail technicians usually work in salons or spas; there are also nail techs that operate their own business, so they work from home or visit you at your place. Nail techs are also called manicurists if they work on fingernails or pedicurists if the field of their work is toenails. But mostly, nail techs do both toenails and fingernails.
Their duties are:
- Cleaning and trimming nails and cuticles
- Applying cuticle treatments
- Filing, shaping, and buffing nails
- Applying artificial and acrylic nails as well as nail tips
- Polishing nails
- Applying nail art
Do Nail Techs Make Good Money?
Nail techs earnings depend on a number of factors such as:
- Employment type – Do they work a part-time or full-time job
- Years of experience – This is logical since the longer you work, the better your technique is, and the list of your clients is bigger
- Geographic location – This is, unfortunately, true; no matter how good you are, you will need to adjust the price of your work to the current state and area where you are working
So the only answer I can give you now is yes, some nail techs earn very good money from this art. On the other hand, some are not doing so great but still earn enough.
A nail tech with an impressive client list will make a pretty sizable income, especially if the creativity is on point. This will only attract even more clients.
Thinking About Becoming A Nail Tech?
If you want to be successful in this business and make good money, you will need to work on your skills constantly. Step up the game and put in a lot of work to create a list of regular clients that are okay with paying higher rates for your services.
It would be best if you also advertise your work, and we all know that good marketing will lead to great things.
If you master these three simple rules, your work and your client list will expand significantly; therefore, you will earn a lot more money. Okay, so it is not all roses. A few factors are still completely out of your control that can prevent your business from rapid growth.
How To Figure Out Your Worth As A Nail Technician?
Well, there is with all the help you can get from the internet. Learn more about the general market and the current market and trends that are high in demand in your region.
Focus on your competition and their prices. What makes you stand out from your competitors? Ask around to find out how high is the salary of other nail techs in your surroundings. All this will help you become more confident and teach you how to properly value your work and charge your services to your clients.
In case you are starting in a salon or spa, all this information will back up the numbers you are asking for when you are negotiating salary with a potential employer.
You will also need to ask yourself what is your desired income. Do you have any specific skill that you can use to maximize your income? Or if you do not have that skill, are you willing to invest in developing that kind of skill? It will require some time and money, but it will pay back at least double.
Set long-term and short-term goals and develop a plan. Remember, there is no such thing as dreaming too big; you are the only one who can make or break your business.
Tips For Making More Money As A Nail Technician
In the last few years, we’ve been witnessing that the only sky’s the limit when it comes to fashion, makeup, and nail art. So don’t be afraid to unleash your inner creative beast and rock this thing out.
Let’s take a closer look at what you need to focus on to improve your income.
1. Develop Your Skills Always
Think about which nail art designs clients are willing to pay the most for. Figure out your clients, and you are halfway there! The easiest way to maximize your earning potential is to identify your ideal market and develop the required skills to cater to this market.
Is your regular client someone who prefers a natural set of nails instead of all the cool and insane nail art we can see these days on social media? Or are your clients those girls that want one-of-a-kind artificial nail design? Maybe your clients are in need of a medical-pedicure expert?
Think about it and choose your specialty so you can dominate it.
Become a go-to nail expert in your region simply by choosing a work field you are most comfortable with and constantly work on your skills. It is that simple, believe me.
2. Create An Impressive Portfolio
Nothing speaks more languages than an impressive portfolio.
Show your potential clients what you’re capable of through a portfolio. You must think like a client and not like a nail artist. If you have similar skills as your competitor, the client will most likely go to that artist that offers its service for a lower price.
A good portfolio will show why people should choose you over others. Your portfolio should showcase your best work and what is unique about your work.
3. Build Your Name
The key to success is love for your work. You must stop thinking about it as a job and start thinking about it as a business. Develop your name and brand and cultivate it. This way, you will build a strong reputation in this industry.
Decide what is that IT thing you want to be known for. Is it the quality, reasonable prices, or time that you will always make for your clients (emergencies, still making a spot for them even when you are packed)?
Be aware that everyone uses the internet nowadays and first check up on comments and reviews before trying out something new, so work on your brand and develop your social media marketing skills.
4. Expand Your Network And Client List
When you are your own boss, you can make yourself a flexible schedule and be responsible for all the decisions, but without an impressive client list, you won’t be able to fulfill your money earning goals.
Work on opening up your network, meet new people, meet professionals from this industry, and learn from them. This way, you will get all the insider news about trends; if they are too busy, they may even refer their clients to you; if they follow you back on any social media platform, they will help you gain much-needed exposure.
Always carry your business cards with you, and don’t be afraid of offering your services.
How Much Do Nail Techs Make – Summary
It is not easy to say how much nail techs make since this dramatically varies, but I can freely say that the price never goes under $12 per hour. The internet sources claim that nail techs earn around $30000 per year, which is not bad at all.
Take this info with caution since some nail tech earns even double that amount while others will maybe hit only $20k per year. The price range is dictated by the state and region where you are working, so you can always consider relocating your business if the current situation is not working for you.
I sincerely hope this post will help you build up your work or encourage you to start working as a nail tech. Until the next reading.