Manicurists and Pedicurists

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Also known as:
Fingernail Sculptor, Nail Technician, Pedicurist

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ABOUT MANICURIST OR PEDICURIST CAREERS

Video transcript

Manicurists clip, cut, shape, polish, and paint fingernails and toenails - but that's only the visible part. Manicurists are really in the self-esteem building business. After all, when your nails look good, and your hair looks good, you feel good about yourself. The job appears quite simple, but as any successful manicurist will confirm, there is much more to it than clipping, shaping, and polishing a customer's nails.

First, there are the people skills. Having "your nails done" is always a social experience, so having a pleasant personality and being able to take a genuine interest in a client's life can be very important in building a list of regular customers.

Second, there is the matter of creativity. Customers depend on their manicurists to help them look their best. That mean being able to determine a person' s current needs and suggesting nail extensions, colors of polish or appliques. Manicurists may also use their artistic ability to create unique nail designs.

Like the barbers and cosmetologists in whose shops they often work, manicurists must be licensed in most states. It may also be necessary to complete a course at a licensed beauty school. But once you have the training and appropriate credentials as a manicurist, you can work almost anywhere.

SNAPSHOT

Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails. May polish or decorate nails.

Leadership	LOW
Critical decision making	LOW
Level of responsibilities	HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	LOW
Dealing and handling conflict	LOW

Competition for this position	LOW
Communication with others	LOW
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	LOW
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

Promote and sell nail care products.

Decorate clients' nails by piercing or attaching ornaments or designs.

Whiten underside of nails with white paste or pencils.

Use rotary abrasive wheels to shape and smooth nails or artificial extensions.

Schedule client appointments and accept payments.

Treat nails to repair or improve strength and resilience by wrapping.

Remove previously applied nail polish, using liquid remover and swabs.

Polish nails, using powdered polish and buffer.

Roughen surfaces of fingernails, using abrasive wheel.

Extend nails using powder, solvent, and paper forms attached to tips of customers' fingers to support and shape artificial nails.

Maintain supply inventories and records of client services.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others	Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Assisting and Caring for Others	Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Thinking Creatively	Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People	Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Customer and Personal Service	Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Personnel and Human Resources	Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Sales and Marketing	Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Production and Processing	Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Mathematics	Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Psychology	Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

TOP SKILLS

Active Listening	Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation	Actively looking for ways to help people.

Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning	Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Time Management	Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Coordination	Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.