1st place in Colour enhancement

2nd place in Fantasy art

1st place in Photography art

Photo’s will be posted shortly

To MAGNETIC – Jackie, Allister, Vaughan, Tracey, Adam and Eloise – each and every one of you, you make a great team and as long as we have you as product supplier and business partner we are able to go the extra mile for all our clients.  From excellent products to great after hours sale assistance, WOW! You guys are awesome.

From Henda Du Plessis (Owner – The Nail & Beauty Clinic Kolonade Mall Pretoria)

Magnetic Nail Academy introduces their innovative new “Click on Brush System.” Simply the best way to store your brushes. The “Click on System” ensures that your brushes never get contaminated or damaged. The brushes are made from the best quality Kolinsky Hair. Your brush is your most important tool as a Nail Technician, so you should always use the best quality brushes to create the perfect nail. The “Click on Brushes”  will not only last longer but will also look stylish on your desk.

Get yours now. Call Magnetic on +27118699111 or send us an email at contactus@magneticna.co.za

Every month we run an educational, hour long hands-on workshop for people interested in Nail Technology Training. Our next workshop will be held on Thursday the 17th of February from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. We would like to invite you to come along and have a cappuccino and some cake with us, meet the team of trainers and get all the info you need about Nail Technology. We will also do hand’s on Gel, Acrylic and Nail Art demo’s. We will even show you how much Nail Tech’s in our area are earning just from seeing 3 – 4 clients a day! There is no cost for attending the workshop and you come under no obligation to sign up.

Just come along, have all your questions answered so that you can make the decision that’s best for you! If you are interested in joining us, send an email to contactus@magneticna.co.za and we will send you a personal invite. We will also have a full Magnetic Nail Academy Portfolio prepared for you on the evening.  (P.S. Feel free to bring along a spouse, partner or friend – just let us know for catering purposes)

So, for your own protection, how can you tell the difference between a professional Nail Academy and an Academy that will take your money but not give you a decent education? Firstly, never buy a Nail Course on price alone. There is a reason why courses are priced so cheap – you always get what you pay for!  Secondly, go visit the Academy and look at the training tools that they use. Find out what type of training hand you will practice on. Remember that a workman is only as good as his or her tools. If the training hand is anything like the picture below, our advice is simple – RUN!

The type of training hand used by unprofessional Nail Academy's

A training hand is a “false hand” that is used to train new Nail Technicians before they start working on real live models. In other words, it is preparation for the real thing. Take a look at the picture on the right. Yes, this is a picture of a glove used to wash dishes.  Here’s what most “Fly by Night” Academy’s will tell you when you sign up for their training. They will tell you to go to your local supermarket and buy a yellow dishwashing glove. They will ask you to fill it with flour and rice. Then they will tell you to buy some cheap tips and stick them to the fingers.  Here’s the problem with training on a hand like this. This kitchen glove does not have any side-walls, it also does not have any cuticles.  It doesn’t move like a real human hand, in fact it is nothing like a human hand or human finger.  You can’t become a Professional Nail Tech by training with tools like this.

Take a look at how we train at Magnetic. Here is one of our students practicing on what we call “Mrs Jones.” Mrs Jones is a mechanical hand that has replaceable fingertips, lifelike fingers that move like a human hand. Mrs Jones also has real side-walls and cuticles. In Magnetics Student

Professional Training Tools - Click here to enlarge

kits you get 100 different types of Nail Beds that can be attached to “Mrs Jones” removable fingertips. This allows you to  work on different types of nail beds.  This means that you can practice working on the most realistic, lifelike hand possible. If you happen to damage a Nail Bed, no problem, simply remove it an put another on. If you create a really good nail, you can even remove the Nail Bed and shop your friends how good you are.  After working on Mrs Jones for a few days, you will be confident enough to start working on real live models. One of the many reasons why our training is the very best is because we take education seriously and we use the very best tools.

For more information on Magnetic’s Nail Technology courses, contact us now on 0118699111 or send an email to contactus@magneticna.co.za.

If you are interested in finding out more, email your name, Salon name and contact numbers  to contactus@magneticna.co.za and we will contact you via phone and email with all the details

1. The biggest complaint I received relates to the Nail Tech and her skill when buffing. The ladies said that they hate it when the Nail Tech is rough and buffs the client till they bleed or their fingers hurt the next day. This was the single biggest complaint amongst the ladies and some of then expressed their opinion in no uncertain terms!
2. They hate waiting and having their appointment delayed because the previous customer was late. The ladies believed that the Nail Tech must be strict with late clients because this has an unfair knock on effect.
3. In general, the ladies shared that they don’t like to go to Nail Tech’s who are still in training because they lack confidence and are still too slow.
4. They hate feeling awkward when they walk into a business. Instead they would like to feel at home. Therefore the business must be user friendly, staff must not wait for the client to come to them. The ladies loved it when staff stood up, smiled and came over to the client.
5. Many of the ladies said that they would like to see prices clearly and displayed almost like at a fast food restaurant. Three of the ladies shared personal examples of wanting to go into a salon for set of nails but didn’t because they were worried that they didn’t have enough money on them. Clients don’t like to ask for the prices, it makes them feel self-conscious. Some of the ladies shared stories of walking into a salon and feeling stupid when they were short of money.
6. Clients don’t like Nail Tech’s with an attitude. In general most of the ladies shared that they get “attitude” from younger Nail Tech’s and Beauty Therapists. If they get attitude, they simply don’t come back.
7. More than eighty percent of the ladies expressed that they feel intimidated when the staff, particularly the receptionist looks like a beauty model that is absolutely flawless.
8. The ladies unanimously agreed that they hated therapists who smoke! Their feelings on this issue were very strong. In the last year and a half, I have consulted with a number of nail businesses that struggled to increase their customer base. The reason, Nail Tech’s who smoke.
9. They hate it when you come back with a problem and all you get is a blank stare and a Nail Tech who says something like, “I don’t know why the nail lifted…” The client want the Nail Tech to acknowledge that you have a problem and then to take responsibility to fix the problem.

Pay attention to what these ladies shared, but even more importantly, get your own target group of customers together and listen to them. The answers you get will be more valuable than hiring an expensive marketing consultant.

I found out with a big shock that I have wasted the last 7 years of my nail art and nail tech live because I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT NAILS  compared to your standards of education and technique.  I would love to make a huge move and start using only Magnetic. Could you please contact me so that we can set up a date for me to do my conversion training.

Thank you for showing me that I need more training and a strong product company behind me.

Kind regards,

Patrize Carstens

What do you like about Nail Tech / Nail Business?

a. One of the things I picked up immediately is that all of the ladies interviewed look for a Nail Tech with two qualities. If the Nail Tech has these qualities the chances are high that the clients will stay with her for a long time. The first thing the customers looked for is a dynamic, interesting personality. Consumers like going to a Nail Tech that has people skills and was fun to be around. Secondly the ladies wanted to see a visible passion for doing nails. Quite a few of the ladies present told me stories about how they had sets of nails done by girls who clearly had no interest in the client and even less interest in nails. The ladies unanimously stated they disliked being served by a Therapist or Technician who has no passion and no personality.
b. When it comes to price, the ladies were very clear that they wanted quality and value. When I questioned the ladies as to how they define value, this is the response I got. These particular ladies were not looking for the cheapest deal on the market, to them, value meant they were prepared to pay if the Nail Tech was good. What was important for them was getting a quality set of nails that lasted. If they got quality nails that were well designed and also lasted, then they didn’t mind paying a premium for it.
c. The ladies stated that they liked being educated on what was new in the market, the latest trends, products and news but only if the Nail Tech educated them as to how the trend, product or service benefited them in a tangible way.
d. Because most of the ladies I interviewed worked full day, time was of major importance to them, more so than money. Consequently, they liked speed, nails done in two hours or less. They usually did not have all afternoon to sit and have a set of nails done. Many of the ladies did point out however, that they did not want speed if it meant that the Nail Tech cut corners or sacrificed the quality of their set of nails.
e. The ladies loved it when their Nail Tech went out of the way to squeeze a customer in, especially in the case of emergencies. They appreciated it that even when their Nail Tech was fully booked, she made a plan to help them in the case of unforeseen breakages. For example, you are on your way to a wedding and you break a nail. One lady even noted that this “extra-mile” service actually fostered long-term loyalty
f. The ladies told me that they like it when the Nail Tech gives them what they ask for. A few of the ladies told me that they often go into a salon, and when they want a specific system, colour or shape, if the Nail Tech doesn’t like that specific shape or colour, she refuses to give it to the client.
g. Even though the ladies like a fun, outgoing Nail Tech, they also like a Nail Tech who listens and empathises with them. I.e. the Nail Tech is a “Psychologist.” Even though a Nail tech is fun and outgoing, she still needs to maintain her professionalism. With regard to this issue more than half of the ladies did not enjoy it when the Nail Tech “hung her dirty washing” out for the world to hear.
h. They liked convenient operating hours. Half of the ladies did their nails most often in the mornings, the other half found that afternoons and even early evenings suited them most. The ladies even suggested that some nail bars should open later in the mornings while working till seven or eight one to two nights of the week. If you want to use your operating hours as a part of your marketing strategy then make sure your hours suite your clients preferences not yours.
i. They like it when the Nail Tech educates the client on a step by step basis as to what products, tips, tools etc are being used and why as the set of nail is being done.
j. The ladies loved it when their Nail Tech took the time to teach their clients how to do home maintenance.

In next weeks post we will talk about the things that customers dislike in a Nail Tech.