Client Consultation, Communication and Business Practices
Consultation as risk management
The consultation form is your first line of defense. Capture medical history, medications, allergies (especially to acrylics, adhesives, and acetone), occupation, prior nail services, and known skin or nail conditions. Note anything that contraindicates service and document the referral you made. Obtain informed consent for new enhancement systems and patch test when a product is new to the client. Keep records confidential and stored securely.
Communication skills
Use active listening: face the client, make eye contact, and paraphrase what you heard. Ask open questions rather than yes-or-no ones. Explain realistic outcomes, timelines, and home care without promising cures or medical results. If a client requests a service you cannot safely provide, explain the reason in plain language, offer an alternative, and document the conversation.
Professional boundaries
Do not diagnose, do not share client information, and do not post client photos without written permission. Keep personal opinions and conflicts out of the service. Arrive prepared, honor appointments, and be honest about pricing before the service starts.
Business practices
Understand the difference between employee and independent contractor arrangements, including who withholds taxes, who sets prices, and who supplies product. Track income and expenses, carry appropriate insurance, and keep records. Price services to cover product, time, and overhead, and disclose add-on charges up front.
Traps
Options that reward diagnosing to sell a product, sharing a client's information, or posting photos without consent are wrong.
Rule of thumb
If it is not written on the intake form or in the service record, it did not happen. Document everything you observe and every referral you make.