Terrific Careers at Your Fingertips By Laurie McLachlan Brown
Do you enjoy making others look good by giving manicures, massages, or pedicures? If so, then starting your career at a nail technician schoolone of the nation’s fastest-growing beauty industries—might be just what you are looking for.
Nail technicians are licensed professionals trained in nail art, artificial nails (tips, sculptures and wrappings), manicures, pedicures, and more. As the demand for good personal appearance grows, so do jobs in this all-important sector of the economy. In fact, there are currently more nail beautification job openings than can be filled, which is great news for emerging artists.
To qualify for licensure, manicurists must complete a program at any of the top nail technician schools—typically 12 weeks of instruction—and then pass the required state exam. A school’s curriculum usually includes courses in the following subjects:
Anatomy of the Nails, Cells, Skin, Skeletal, Muscles, Nerves, Circulatory
Artificial nails, including gels, tips, capping, wraps, silk, fiberglass
Bacteriology, including diseases and disorders
Manicures and pedicures, including hot oil, paraffin, spa, French, American, etc.
Nail artistry
Reflexology
Sanitation and Sterilization
Treatment of Hands and Feet
Ethics, salon management, customer service, marketing strategies
Once licensed, you’ll find plenty of professional opportunities at top salons, day spas, hotels, cruise ships, and more. From bridal consultations, to product endorsements, simple manicures, to a complete reflexology massage, each day will bring new opportunities for you to express your creativity, and help others feel good about themselves.
And, as your reputation as a talented nail artist grows, so will your client base and income potential. Many manicurists and pedicurists go on to open their own salons or day spas, others become teachers at beauty academies, and some earn additional income as beauty product sales representatives. The options are limitless.
