5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting as a Nail Tech
When you’re first starting out as a nail tech, it can feel like you’re supposed to magically “just know” everything — from anatomy and products to pricing, policies, and how to talk to clients. I definitely didn’t.
Looking back, there are a few things I wish someone had sat me down and explained clearly at the beginning. I’m sharing them here in case you’re in that same in-between place: excited about nails, but a little overwhelmed and unsure where to start.
1. Your Body Is Not Replaceable
When you’re new, it’s easy to focus only on getting faster or making clients happy — and completely ignore your own body.
I wish I had known:
How much posture, chair height, and hand position matter
That small aches and pains are early warning signs, not something to push through forever
That taking breaks, stretching, and setting up your space properly is part of being professional, not “lazy”
You can always buy more product. You don’t get a new back, neck, or wrists. Protecting your body from the start is one of the best investments you can make in your career.
2. Policies Aren’t Mean — They’re Necessary
I used to think that having clear policies would make me seem strict or unfriendly. In reality, good policies protect everyone.
Things like:
Cancellation and rescheduling guidelines
Late arrival boundaries
No-show policies
How you handle refunds or fixes
…all help your clients know what to expect and help you avoid resentment and burnout.
The key is to write policies that are:
Clear and easy to understand
Communicated upfront
Enforced kindly but consistently
You can be warm and flexible and still have boundaries. Those two things can exist together.
3. “Cheap” Pricing Doesn’t Build Confidence
A lot of new techs (me included) start out thinking:
“If I charge less, people will book, and then I’ll feel more confident.”
But undercharging usually leads to:
Overworking and under-earning
Feeling resentful or exhausted
Attracting people who don’t value your time or skills
I wish I had understood earlier that pricing is not just about “what other people charge.” It’s about:
Your time
Your product costs
Your experience and education
The kind of clients you want to attract
You don’t have to charge top-tier prices as a beginner, but you also don’t have to work for almost nothing. There’s a middle ground that respects where you’re at and respects your future.
4. You Don’t Have to Know Everything to Be a “Real” Nail Tech
When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like:
You’re not “legit” until you know every product, every design, every technique
You shouldn’t charge real prices until you’re perfect
Everyone else has it figured out except you
The truth: no one knows everything, even years in.
What matters more is:
Being honest about what you can and can’t do yet
Being willing to keep learning and improving
Taking safety, sanitation, and client care seriously
You’re allowed to be a work in progress and still be a real nail tech.
5. Education That Explains the “Why” Is Worth It
There’s a lot of free information online — and some of it is great. But a lot of it is:
Out of context
Incomplete
Or focused only on trends and designs, not foundations
I wish I had invested earlier in education that actually explained the “why” behind what I was doing:
Why certain prep steps matter
Why some products work better for certain nails
Why policies, pricing, and communication are just as important as application
Good education doesn’t just give you more steps to memorize — it gives you understanding and confidence you can build on.
If You’re in That “In-Between” Stage Right Now
If you’re:
Just starting out and feel overwhelmed
Mostly self-taught and worried you’ve missed important foundations
Already working with clients but feel like there are gaps in your knowledge
…you’re not alone, and you’re not behind.
This is exactly why I created Before You Begin: Foundations of Professional Gel Nails and why I offer mentoring for nail techs — to give you the kind of clear, supportive education I wish I’d had at the start.
Ways We Can Work Together
If this post is resonating with you, here are a couple of next steps:
Learn about the Before You Begin course
A beginner-friendly, theory-based course that walks you through anatomy, sanitation, policies, pricing, business basics, and more — so you actually understand what you’re doing, not just copying steps.
→ Before You Begin: OverviewExplore 1:1 mentoring
If you’d like more personalized support with your specific situation — whether that’s technique, clients, pricing, or confidence — mentoring might be a good fit.
→ Mentoring
You don’t have to figure everything out alone. You’re allowed to ask questions, get support, and build your career on solid ground.
