Nail Technician Schools

Nail Technician Schools

Nail care is one of the biggest areas of growth in the booming spa and beauty industry. NAILS Magazine reported that there were almost 350,000 nail technicians and over 58,000 nail salons in the United States in 2008. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of manicurists and pedicurists will grow by 28 percent between 2006 and 2016. That's almost three times the average growth rate for all careers! No wonder nail technician schools have become so popular.

To take advantage of this incredible growth curve, you may want to enter nail technician school as soon as possible.

Demand for Nail Technician School Training

Manicures and pedicures are the mainstay services provided in the nail care industry. Many women—and a growing number of men—view these services as essential grooming requirements. With the proper nail technician school training, you can maximize your income by building a loyal clientele who schedule these basic and luxurious services regularly. In stressful times, many people crave the comfort and renewal of a lengthy manicure or pedicure, including massage, aromatherapy, detoxification, paraffin dipping, or other add-on services.

The increased popularity of manicures and pedicures is due in part to clients wanting to look and feel great on special occasions. They're looking for unique nail beautification services, especially when getting ready for a big date, a wedding, a party, or some special event. According to NAILS Magazine, colored acrylic nails, gel toenails, and nail art are among the most popular services currently being offered in nail salons. Exotic custom colors and designs, such as sculpted stiletto nails and Fimo clay slices that look like fruit applied to the nail with a layer of acrylic, are also trendy and popular.

The Fast Track to Your New Career

Many nail technicians receive their training from cosmetology school. Choosing to go to cosmetology school is a great idea if you want to keep your options open by learning how to do hair, makeup and skin care, as well as nails. The drawback is that completing a cosmetology school program takes up to four times longer than a nail technician school program. In addition, you probably won't learn as many nail care techniques in cosmetology school because the teaching emphasis tends to lean toward hair styling, rather than nail care.

With a diploma from a nail technician school, you could be working in a nail salon in as little as six months. You can then spend the rest of your career building your skills and delighting your loyal customers.

Return to the Spa & Massage Career Center home page.

Looking for Spa and Massage Schools?

Try our Spa, Massage & Beauty Schools page. There you will find a comprehensive list of schools which offer program descriptions. You can also request information from the schools that interest you most.

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
Nails Magazine, 2009