Accessories have long been used as the ideal pieces to boost one’s looks in an easy yet effective way, but sometimes even the smallest details can have a big impact on an outfit. Take the example of nails – they may not be something that people easily notice about you, but having fun, colourful, and neatly done nails can certainly add some interest to your whole ensemble.
Whether it’s choosing a nail trend based on your zodiac sign or something long-lasting like dip powder techniques, the fact is that nails can be the finishing touch that can put the whole outfit together. In addition to highlighting a look, most women adopt this beautifying trend because they like it and not because of men. Knowing how much this practice leads to a sense of happiness and a boost in confidence brings about a rewarding experience for the nail technician as well.
What Supplies Do You Need for a Nail Business?
One quick search through the vast range of online nail supplies and you’d come to realise there are far too many types of products on the market, which can add to confusion. To make the matter simple and hassle-free, it’s important to start with the basics, which would come down to:
Nail Clippers
Starting out as a newbie, or with your own salon, means you’d need to get the bare necessities. To make sure you provide your clients with the best service and result, it’s advisable to invest in quality clippers and avoid the cheap options that could damage or break the nail. Depending on what you’re going to be working on, whether it’s just the fingernails or the toenails too, it’s advisable to look for strong designs that could even cut through acrylic nails.
Nail Files
Whether it’s finishing up after clipping, shaping, or removing some of the top coats of nail polish, you’re going to need files, and a variety of them too. These are crucial nail supplies that are available in different models, so you’re going to need one of each for your business, including the natural file, the acrylic file, and the e-file. The natural is fit for smoothing out and filing down the natural nail, whereas the acrylic is made for the finishing touches of acrylic nails.
As for the e-file, it’s a multi-purpose device that can make the filing process much easier and more efficient with the click of a button and a range of accessories and bits. Some of these are even designed to make cleaning piece of cake as they can fit under the nail.
Cuticle Pusher and Oil
You may or may not want the cuticles pushed, but the truth is it makes it easier to add the products to the nails and create better and longer-lasting results once the cuticles are prepped and pushed. For that reason, you need to add the pusher and oil to your essential online nail supplies list. Along with the pusher, you might want to get cuticle nippers in different sizes to get rid of that layer with ease and smooth it out perfectly before the application of the oil.
Nail Polish and Remover
These two are supplies you need to get in bulk. Choose them with different colours and ingredients, including vegan brands that are gentle on the nails, skin, and animals, so you can suit the different clients and attract a wider client base. While we’re at it, you might also want to get plenty of base and topcoats for an extra layer of shine. And cotton pads, lots and lots of cotton pads!
Nail Dryer
If you don’t want to see your client’s patience decline throughout the beauty session, then it’s in your best interest to get dryers from your chosen nail supply store even if you’ve bought nail polish that dries more quickly. Be sure to get two separate models: one for the hands, and another for the feet.
Nail Art
This could be freehand art if you’ve got a steady hand and plenty of creativity, airbrushing or applying stickers and stencils. Regardless of which you opt for, you’re going to need different brushes varying in thicknesses, some scotch tape, Q tips, toothpicks, and tweezers.
Acrylic Supplies
There’s no doubt acrylic nails are popular, so you might want to win your clients’ hearts by investing in all the bits and pieces that have to do with this type of nail trend. Getting a kit that consists of all the essentials, such as nail tips, powder, liquid, shed-free brushes, shape display/swatch sticks, and a dappen dish, is a must-have.
UV Light
Gel nails are another trend your clients might be after, so getting a specialised UV lamp is simply mandatory. Depending on the price you’re willing to pay, and the convenience you’re after, you can choose from the standard UV lamp that can be plugged into your mains socket, the LED lamp that shows you the dry time, or the mix of UV with LED that has a speedy charge and doesn’t need to be plugged in.
Station/Desk
As you can see, you’re going to need many tools to begin with, so you can’t do without a desk that offers ample work surface as much as storage compartments and drawers for you to neatly organise every item and keep it within easy reach.
Be sure to check the measurements, and see if you can fit it in the space, besides minding the colour and design. It’s also advisable to display your collections of nail polish on a fancy shelving system to showcase the brands and colours.
POS System
It doesn’t matter if your business is small or big, you’d certainly benefit from the addition of a POS system. It makes it easy to track your profits and clients, and at the same time, it can make it easy to make bookings and check upcoming appointments, so you can save up both time and money in the long run.
