topic Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?) in Beauty

Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:31:26 GMT

Do nail techs need a license to do manicures/pedicures? Who regulates these places?

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

sidsmom — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:35:58 GMT

Buckle up...it's gonna be a bumpy ride. I recollect this topic discussed months ago...with many, many pages of 'discussion'.

Yes, all nail technicians require a license by the state they reside. They are a viable business & must be treated as such.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:37:56 GMT

On 11/11/2014 sidsmom said:
Buckle up...it's gonna be a bumpy ride. I recollect this topic discussed months ago...with many, many pages of 'discussion'.

Yes, all nail technicians require a license by the state they reside. They are a viable business & must be treated as such.

I was just wondering because I went to a salon yesterday and the lady doing my pedicure couldn't speak English.

Just wondering how she could be licensed in the U. S. if she couldn't read/speak English.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

sidsmom — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:39:07 GMT

ESL

English as a Second Language

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:41:13 GMT

On 11/11/2014 sidsmom said:
ESL

What's ESL?

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

brii — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:41:28 GMT

Yes, they should be individually licensed as well as the shop by the State.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:51:07 GMT

Yes they all need a license and they must pass state boards. Her license should have been hanging in the salon. Many salons in my area have all the licenses hanging together on the wall right by the front desk or some have them hanging at the individual stations where they are assigned.

There are a load of Vietnamese salons in my area. They all speak to each other in Vietnamese and speak very, very little English but they speak enough to converse with clients to know what the client wants.

There is a State Board of Cosmetology that comes in and does inspections of the salons to make sure everything is sanitary, licenses are up to date, there is a manager on premises, etc. However, I'm not sure how thorough they are and how often they make these salon visits. I worked in a salon for 4 years and state came in twice that entire time.

I became friends with a hairstylist who didn't speak any English when she first came to the US but passed state boards to get her license.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Tigriss — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:35:26 GMT

I second LipstickDiva. You should get to know the people working in your salon of choice. Look for their licenses as you wait/looking for a nail color.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:40:26 GMT

On 11/11/2014 Sunshine Kate said:
On 11/11/2014 sidsmom said:
Buckle up...it's gonna be a bumpy ride. I recollect this topic discussed months ago...with many, many pages of 'discussion'.

Yes, all nail technicians require a license by the state they reside. They are a viable business & must be treated as such.

I was just wondering because I went to a salon yesterday and the lady doing my pedicure couldn't speak English.

Just wondering how she could be licensed in the U. S. if she couldn't read/speak English.

Speaking English is not a requirement for a nail technician license. Most states offer licensing exams in multiple languages, especially where an entire industry relies on people who are non-native English speakers. Most states also allow an interpreter to help with language. The same is true of voting - you can get ballots in multiple languages or have an interpreter enter the booths. The United States does not have an official language and states who try to establish one usually fail.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Colonel Meow — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:44:02 GMT

On 11/11/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
On 11/11/2014 Sunshine Kate said:
On 11/11/2014 sidsmom said:
Buckle up...it's gonna be a bumpy ride. I recollect this topic discussed months ago...with many, many pages of 'discussion'.

Yes, all nail technicians require a license by the state they reside. They are a viable business & must be treated as such.

I was just wondering because I went to a salon yesterday and the lady doing my pedicure couldn't speak English.

Just wondering how she could be licensed in the U. S. if she couldn't read/speak English.

Speaking English is not a requirement for a nail technician license. Most states offer licensing exams in multiple languages, especially where an entire industry relies on people who are non-native English speakers. Most states also allow an interpreter to help with language. The same is true of voting - you can get ballots in multiple languages or have an interpreter enter the booths. The United States does not have an official language and states who try to establish one usually fail.

I was going to write essentially the same thing, but thought I would save myself the trouble by simply quoting Chynna.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

CatsyCline — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:54:29 GMT

have never seen a license hanging on the wall in a nail salon. $1.00 and $5.00 bills, yes.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

lulu2 — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:56:16 GMT

In our area there do not seem to be enough salon inspectors. There are so many salons. There may be a bunch of license hanging on the wall, but that doesn't mean they belong to the people working in the salon.

My hair salon has one nail tech. She is more expensive than the strip mall salons, but she is worth every cent. I see her clean her equipment, she hand files and listens to me.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

chrystaltree — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:58:07 GMT

I can't speak for every state but in my state, the techs do need specialized training and license. The techs always have the license on display at their work stations.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

redtabby — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:30:28 GMT

In my state the salon has their license hanging on the wall and each tech has her or his own license with photo at her station.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

suzyQ3 — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:02:15 GMT

I'm sort of surprised that the existence of non-speaking nail technicians is a surprise to anyone by now.

I think that it has been a wonderful way for many immigrants to make a living. I have been to several such salons and have always been able to communicate well enough in terms of what I want.

Their speaking in their own language to one another doesn't bother me in the least, but I did love that Seinfeld episode.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:48:11 GMT

On 11/11/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
On 11/11/2014 Sunshine Kate said:
On 11/11/2014 sidsmom said:
Buckle up...it's gonna be a bumpy ride. I recollect this topic discussed months ago...with many, many pages of 'discussion'.

Yes, all nail technicians require a license by the state they reside. They are a viable business & must be treated as such.

I was just wondering because I went to a salon yesterday and the lady doing my pedicure couldn't speak English.

Just wondering how she could be licensed in the U. S. if she couldn't read/speak English.

Speaking English is not a requirement for a nail technician license. Most states offer licensing exams in multiple languages, especially where an entire industry relies on people who are non-native English speakers. Most states also allow an interpreter to help with language. The same is true of voting - you can get ballots in multiple languages or have an interpreter enter the booths. The United States does not have an official language and states who try to establish one usually fail.

I figured a nail tech could take an exam in their own language. If they can't speak English well, (and I've seen them not understand AT ALL), then how can they read English directions on a container? How do they know the disinfecting solution from something else?

Also, do the cosmetology salons for nail techs have Vietnamese teachers? The majority of nail salons in strip centers are Vietnamese.

In my area, it's almost impossible to find a salon tech that can speak English. Or, it's so little that I still have a hard time communicating.

As far as the nail tech's license in public view, I haven't seen that. A certificate would be easy to duplicate and not sure I would trust it anyway.

I'm getting very discouraged at what I'm seeing in these salons. I just might have to give myself manicures and pedicures.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

sunshine45 — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 00:01:41 GMT

the salon i go to has all vietnamese technicians. their english is certainly not perfect, but they understand me well enough to know the services i want and how i would like them done. each technician has their own station and their photo license is hanging on the wall behind them. the nail salon itself has its business license on the wall. the licenses are issued by the state and they are routinely inspected.

my favorite part?......they do an EXCELLENT job and i end up looking good and feeling relaxed.i am headed there tomorrow for a manicure and pedicure. it is also very clean and well run with a manager there for any potential problems.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Carmie — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 00:15:22 GMT

In Pennsylvania, it takes 300 hours of instruction and you must pass a state exam to get your license to be a nail tech.

You must have your license displayed in the business. Please look for the license of the nail tech. It will have a picture of the tecnician on it along with a state seal. If there is no license, LEAVE.

Did you know that having your nails done in a shop can lead to man different types of infection and diseases? Some of these infections can be very dangerous. Think MERSA, HPV, Mycobacterium fortuitum (boils), H1N1 and warts. There are many more.

Everything MUST be sterlized and be 100% sanitized between clients. All license techs have learned proper sanitation techniques.

In my shop, each client has her own mani-pedi tools. After use, they are sanitized, dried and stored until the client's next visit. They are not used again on any other clients. We also line the table with a clean towel...nothing is used on more then 1 client if possible. Foot baths are lined with a clean towel and finger bowls are sanitized very carefully.

I have personally seen the results of nail diseases and nail infections spread in a salon, I can tell you it's not pretty and it is very costly to treat.

One of my friends has a 12 year old daughter who received a manicure at a birthday party spa day. She had a hangnail that became infected after her manicure. She had to have surgery on that finger last week. The doctor said it was the worse he has ever seen.

Please be very careful.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Margo Channing — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:21:58 GMT

I have my own tools I bring with me. My tech is a 35 year old woman. SHe is an American. Cleanliness and sterilization are not problem, she's a total professional. And I know what our state regulations are, I tutored several students for the cosmetology exam. I have been known to walk out mid-mani when I see violations.

Re: Nail Techs (Need A License?)

Susan25 — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:35:25 GMT

On 11/11/2014 Carmie said:
In Pennsylvania, it takes 300 hours of instruction and you must pass a state exam to get your license to be a nail tech.

You must have your license displayed in the business. Please look for the license of the nail tech. It will have a picture of the tecnician on it along with a state seal. If there is no license, LEAVE.

Did you know that having your nails done in a shop can lead to man different types of infection and diseases? Some of these infections can be very dangerous. Think MERSA, HPV, Mycobacterium fortuitum (boils), H1N1 and warts. There are many more.

Everything MUST be sterlized and be 100% sanitized between clients. All license techs have learned proper sanitation techniques.

In my shop, each client has her own mani-pedi tools. After use, they are sanitized, dried and stored until the client's next visit. They are not used again on any other clients. We also line the table with a clean towel...nothing is used on more then 1 client if possible. Foot baths are lined with a clean towel and finger bowls are sanitized very carefully.

I have personally seen the results of nail diseases and nail infections spread in a salon, I can tell you it's not pretty and it is very costly to treat.

One of my friends has a 12 year old daughter who received a manicure at a birthday party spa day. She had a hangnail that became infected after her manicure. She had to have surgery on that finger last week. The doctor said it was the worse he has ever seen.

Please be very careful.

Great post and very informative. I have read similar stories about how important it is for nail technicians to be licensed and understand how to properly sterilize.