Planning Ahead

Does anyone plan ahead anymore?  I mean, I don't know about the rest of you, but December is a killer month for me, my staff and my salon.  We are crazy busy each and every day.  Yet, there are still people who don't get it.  They must think that we are sitting around waiting to do their nails.

It's not only bad when people call the day that they want an appointment.  It's worse when they want it at a specific time, usually, 5:00.  Really?  I mean, come on.  If the salon you are calling is even half way decent, it is pretty safe to assume that they are not going to have an appointment for you on the day you call and they are never going to have the perfect time that you want.

How about the brides that call the week of their wedding wanting to schedule their nail and pedicure appointment for themselves AND their nine bridesmaids?  Really?  You have been planning this wedding for how long and you call five days before the big day and want us to magically produce 20 spots in our book?

So, if you want your nails done and have them look awesome, and have them prepared in a safe and clean environment, with legal products being used, PLAN AHEAD.  If you don't care about those things, I am sure a walk in place at the mall will be more than happy to apply a set of Chicklet nails with a side of infection.

--Nancy

Striking a Nerve - The Truth Hurts

So, it looks like our last post struck a nerve with a few people.  I guess the truth does hurt when you read it.  The difference is, what do you do with it.  Do you get mad and lash out?  Do you try to get even?  Or, do you take a good, hard look in the mirror and try to learn from it?

Looks to me as though those who are offended will not learn from it.  We get comments like "who is the miserable bish who started this blog anyway?" and passive aggressive postings on Facebook.  This is the perfect example of WHY this blog is written and contributed to anonymously.  We even let you comment anonymously.

I have been around the block in the past 18 years.  I have seen a lot and I have spoken up a few times too.  When I did, I was scolded and ridiculed.  I've been told a few times that "I will never work in this industry "I" will make sure of it" just because I called someone out on their bullshit.  This happens every day.  These too big for their britches people will try to black ball you from the industry.  I have seen it happen over and over.  Some of these top guns are the biggest bullies there are.

So, this is why this blog is here.  It's a way for you to say what you want with no fear of people trying to black ball you from the industry.  It's a way to tell your client they are acting like a jackass without them taking offense that you are telling them that, they can read it and see that they are being a jackass.  It's a way to tell your salon owner that she is being unfair.  It's a way to tell your staff that they need to shape up without having them take offense and all walk out on you at once.  This blog is all about making peopler THINK about their actions.  It's about making our lives a better place.

By holding all of our frustrations in, we are not moving forward.  We are not progressing.  Some of these things NEED to be said.  These things NEED to be read.  We NEED a place to say these things without the fear of being blackballed, ridiculed, singled out or bullied.

So, I repeat, if anything in this blog offends you.......please march back the hallway, go into the bathroom and look in the mirror.  Does the truth hurt you?  If it does, what are you going to do about it?

New Clients – Someone Else’s PITA

Don’t you just love some of these new clients that you get from other salons?  The best are the ones that come from the Discount Salons.  You know, the dirty salons, using MMA, cheap, fast, no appointment, churning out ugly, fugly nails all day long.

They arrive at your table with yellowed product.  Their nails look like a Chiclet.  The smile line is almost to the cuticle.  It’s a white tip with clear product over it.  It is, on that day, the worst set of nails you have ever seen in your career.  You think, this is going to be easy!  I am going to WOW her!  Think again.

These are by far, the pickiest clients.  They will tell you to take off a millimeter of length to make them even (even though they are already even).  They will fuss over the placement of one spec of glitter.  They fuss and muss about EVERY. SINGLE. THING. 

Really?  Seriously??  Did you take a look at your nails when you walked in the door?  Were you that picky when you got that set put on????  Oh, right, you couldn’t express yourself because your technician DIDN’T SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE.  I really doubt that you would have said anything anyway, so why be so picky now?  Your nails already look one million times better and I am not even half way finished!

Sometimes you get new clients from a neighboring salon that is not a Discount Salon.  You get bombarded with things like “That’s not how my other tech did it”.  Well, if you were so happy with that other tech, why are you not sitting in her chair?  Why are you in mine?  Seems to me you are looking for something new.  Something better.  Why not allow me to do that?  Why not allow me to do my job?  I promise you I will do the best job that you will allow me to do.

Sometimes you get rid of a Pain In The Ass (aka PITA)  Sometimes, you end up with someone else’s PITA.  The only PITAs I like have cheese in them.