It’s easy to undercharge for nail art, but with high-street competition rife, it’s more important than ever to price your services correctly. Award-winning tech Natasha Barker explains how to ensure you get paid what you’re worth

All images: Niche Nails & Beauty

Are you nervous about pricing nail art – charging clients less than you should to ensure they don’t go to the salon down the road? When a client shows you a picture of what they’d like, does the thought of fitting the intricate design into their tight appointment slot turn you cold?

It’s a natural worry to have, and we’ve all been there, but there are some simple ways you can expand your nail art offering without compromising on time or the finished look for your client.

What nail art should I offer?

The quickest and simplest nail art option to add to your repertoire is a sprinkle of glitter or a splash of metallic foil. Whether it’s a full set of rock star nails, an accent nail or the popular glitter ombré, this technique can be done without adding any time to your standard gel-polish appointment, all the while boosting your income. Charge between £1 and £5 per nail for this add-on, and watch clients come back for more.

Stamping is another great way to add more to a look without putting too much pressure on yourself. It is the answer to quick, consistent and intricate-looking designs, and there are hundreds of stamping plate options to choose from that will keep your menu fresh.

This nail design method can also be mixed with other techniques such as chrome and glitter, making it a versatile and fun addition. It usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes to do a full set of stamped nails, so charge an extra £10 for this service.

For many, the most dreaded type of nail art is freehand. When teaching this technique, I see the fear that learning the skill brings, but on the flipside, I also see the joy in techs’ eyes when they master it.

So, should you be scared of it? Hell, no. With the right tools and practice, you will surprise yourself with what you can achieve, but the key is to keep working on the method behind the scenes until you’re confident enough to add it to your menu.

It’s also worth noting that this technique takes much longer than the other two mentioned, so give yourself at least an extra 30 minutes to complete the treatment on all 10 nails and remember to charge more than a standard gel-polish appointment for this work. I recommend adding an extra £15 minimum to the bill.

How do I price my nail art correctly?

An easy way to work it out in the short term is to price the art per nail, but this could prove too complicated a method in the long run; because as more customers find out about your nail art offering, you’ll soon find you’re not just doing the odd accent nail here and there, but full sets using multiple techniques. This could add a lot of time on to your standard gel-polish appointment for very little financial gain.

When this happens, you need to alter your price list to incorporate the extra work. The first option is to have a fixed-priced “add-on” to your standard treatment, which gives you an extra 15 minutes, depending on the technique, to complete the look. This should be charged at £5 to £15, depending on the method used, on top of your gel-polish manicure price.

The second option is to have set-price treatments offering different nail art appointments. For example:

• Standard gel-polish manicure – 45 mins – £30

• Gel-polish manicure with basic nail art (includes two accent nails) – 50 mins – £35

• Gel-polish manicure with advanced nail art (includes glitter fade/foil/chrome or detailed accent nails) – 60 mins – £40

• Gel-polish manicure with detailed nail art (includes stamping and glitter/hand painting /multiple nail art) – 75 mins – £45.

This pricing can be modified to suit your nail art options and different staff members, from trainees to pros, giving everyone a chance to improve their knowledge.

Natasha Barker is owner of Niche Nails & Beauty in Oxfordshire, which won Nail Salon of the Year at the 2019 Professional Beauty Awards. Barker is also a CND education ambassador and Light Elegance educator.

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