The Problem With Social Media "teachers"

Eep! I just realized it's been over a year since I have posted anything!  Ah, life tends to catch up with you doesn't it? Well I have tons of post drafts just waiting to be edited and I hope to start geting them out there for you soon!

Just a few years ago, we had to rely on books and in-person teaching and an occasional online forum (hi, beautytech.com!) to learn and collaborate with people.  Social media is amazing and the ability to share ideas, learn, network and more is there at the click of a mouse button.  Instagram is a fantastic place to see other tech's work. YouTube has a proliferation of videos on "how to do nails".  Facebook has groups galore with nails as the subject. It can be the best place to learn new things. Or the worst.

I follow a number of people on Instagram and YouTube - online nail "celebrities" - and am appalled at the number of problems I see being shown in the short videos they post. And so many of them are offering classes - even though they have never trained to teach and are using outdated and potentially harmful techniques.

I am not saying don't use social media, just to take what you see with a grain of salt. Over filing the natural nail, too much liquid and mixing product lines are all things I see online way too often. As an informed tech, it is up to you to do your research, know what is acceptable and what is not  - and when you see a tech online doing amazing nails - except they are slopping monomer all over the finger and mixing acrylic brands - you can take the good ideas that you see and leave the bad techniques.

Do what you can to keep this industry safe and healthy! There is no point pointing out to the tech that they have a bad habit or were poorly trained - you will get called a troll and there will always be people to stand up for them no matter how much you make sense  (been there!)

Keep Learning!!

Non-Licensed Nail Technicians

I try to keep this blog as un-opinionated as possible, but with this subject there really isn't any scientific proof that I can post :)  So, this post is opinion based, but with rational arguments.

In the nail industry, the issue of having unlicensed nail techs reading our "trade secrets" or contributing to our forums is very polarizing.  Either people don't care or they care a lot!  I used to be firmly in the "non-licensed techs should not even be on our forums" bucket, but have since moved to the other side of the fence, and here is why.

We all started somewhere.  I personally did my own nails for many years before I decided to go to school for nails.  As a professional, I would rather the "do it yourself" types are following proper procedures. The thing is, they aren't going to go to a salon to get their nails done anyway, so why not give them the knowledge they need to avoid allergies, injury and infections? Plus there is still at least one state in the US and many countries in which nail techs are not licensed. (Now, that boggles my mind, I feel it should be universally licensed but I don't make the laws. I digress...)

Now with my stance comes a caveat: if a license is required in your locale, in absolutely no situation should an unlicensed technician be performing services on another person. Period.  Do whatever you want to yourself, but do not open that can of worms by working on someone else.

1. It is illegal.
2. It is unsafe - for the tech. Even if you do everything properly, clients sue for ridiculous things (in the US at least).  And if you are not licensed you have absolutely no recourse and no insurance that will cover you since you are practicing without a license.
3. It may be unsafe for the client. Unlicensed techs do not necessarily have the knowledge on sanitation that a licensed tech should have. 
4. If you are planning to eventually get your license and you are discovered performing services without a license, you could be banned from getting a license!  This could be for a couple years or it could be for life.  Again, it depends on your locale.
5. It degrades the industry financially.  Already the nail industry has been degraded by the activities of non-standard salons undercutting pricing and with unlicensed techs charging next to nothing, legitimate techs cannot make a living and leave the industry , leaving it to the people who charge next to nothing (and when you charge next to nothing you have to skimp on something, sadly that is often sanitation.  But I digress...again). 
6. It degrades the industry in the eyes of the consumer. Suddenly, consumers expect nails to be cheap, painful, cause infection and damaging to natural nails. (and I am generalizing here, but how do you think those misconceptions came about?)

What are your thoughts on this somewhat controversial topic?