Nail technology is an often largely misunderstood field. Many people think of nail technology as nothing but nail art and steady hands; they may see tutorial videos online and think they might be able to become a nail technician with only these videos and enough practice. However, this understanding of nail technology ignores an important part of nail tech.
As a matter of fact, nail technology is an intricate field with a lot of difficult concepts. Just because you know the basics of nail art doesn’t mean you can be a nail technician, and nail technology programs teach much more than just nail painting. Here’s what you need to know about nail technology’s intricacies.
Can You Be a Nail Technician Without a Nail Technology Program?
The short answer is no. The long answer is that not going through a nail technology program is essential for becoming a nail technician, both for legal and social reasons.
In some locations, you have to go through a nail technology program before becoming a nail technician. This may be a legal requirement, in that the local or state government has mandated the nail technology, which is becoming more common across the United States.
Additionally, even if it’s not legally mandated, you should realize that you’re unlikely to get a job if you don’t go through a nail technology program. Many salons have a policy of only hiring people who have the proper training, and a nail technology program is typically how they decide whether you have the proper training.
Understanding the Real Benefits of a Nail Technology Program
That said, are there actual benefits of a nail technology program? There are huge benefits you can achieve with a nail technology program, including the following:
- Skills
Of course, one main part of a nail technology program is learning various skills. When you attend a nail technology program, you’ll gain access to knowledge you wouldn’t learn anywhere else. After all, while a nail art YouTube tutorial can certainly give you access to some basic information, it won’t be able to give you instant feedback.
- Practice
Another important facet of a nail technology program that many people overlook is the fact that it forces you to practice. Practice is the only way you’re going to be able to improve. You can watch as many nail art tutorials as you want, but if you never put those skills into practice, you’ll be unable to put them into effect in a pleasing way.
- Teamwork
You might not think about this, but teamwork is going to be an important part of working as a nail technician. If you’re working in a salon, you need to be able to work with anyone else who’s also working in the salon. Additionally, you need to know how to get your customers to work with you and accurately express what they need from you.
- Passion
The last thing a nail technology program can give you is passion. Obviously, a nail technology program can’t directly give you a passion for nail technology. However, when you’re engrossing yourself in nail technology every day and doing nothing but practicing nail technology on the regular, you’ll either realize you’re not interested or you’ll uncover a completely new passion for the topic.
Conclusion
Although nail technology programs can seem unnecessary to an outsider, they’re actually very necessary. If you’re interested in becoming a nail technician, consider a nail technology program at both the Indianapolis, IN, campus, and the Lafayette, IN, campus. This program from Tricoci University of Beauty Culture can be a great option for anyone who wants to go into a nail-specific specialty, from manicurist to nail artist and beyond.