Colleagues or enemies?

My name is Maria and I’ve been working with nails for the past five years. During that time I’ve come to realize that there is a competition between us nail techs. Often I find that it’s mostly when clients decide to change salons. It leads to some sort of fear, an insecurity that whispers things like… “you weren’t good enough”. And of course the the sad feeing that you have now lost a client that maybe you’ve seen every moth for a long time.

So how does one handle this and turn it in to something positive?

For one thing – I think that we all need that competition. Especially for us nail techs that usually work alone and without close colleagues. We need to have some sort of inspiration around us.

It’s very easy to lean back in your chair and get comfortable, telling yourself that you know enough. But usually that is when you will start to loose clients.

Try seeing your competition as coworkers instead. Get to know them!

Follow them on social media, give them positiv feedback on pictures they post, maybe suggest a lunch-date, pop your head in and say “Hello!”. It’s those small and easy steps that will put your relationship on a new and more giving level. Once you get to know one another you can use each other to run ideas by and go to events and classes together. You can also discuss you prices so that you both can have a decent salary.

Often bashing down on another nail tech is really, let’s face it, fear. Fear and anxiousness about not knowing what kind of challenge you have to face.

But if you get to know your competition and start to see them as friends or colleagues it is much easier to feel happy about a nice set of nails that they’re posting. You will know the hard work they put in and how they, just as you get super happy about likes and comments.

Plus! Taking bad about your competition will only reflect badly on yourself.

One other thing…

You can only do YOUR best, that’s all you can do. The clients will end up in the salon that is right for them – where they feel at home, where the price is right or where they are most happy about the result. It is simply entirely up to the client where they want to spend their money.

I think the best thing for us nail techs is to work together when it comes to dividing customers. If you get sick or when you’re on a vacation, help each other out! Clients appreciate when you can recommend someone else when you don’t have the time.

In the end I think this will get you the clients that you are most happy with. People that will like your work as much as they like you. We can’t get along and that is why we need each other.

So, get to know your new colleagues! I promise, it will be worth it!

// Maria

Instagram: @iaekfeldt