Nail Technician Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the nail technician job description, including duties, tasks, and responsibilities.

It also highlights the major requirements that you may be expected to fulfill to be hired for the nail technician role.

What Does a Nail Technician Do?

A nail technician is a person skilled in the art of decorating nails with colored varnish, transfers, gems or glitter to style and shape a person’s nails. They work in spas, beauty salons, fitness centers, etc.

The nail technician job description entails a number of duties and responsibilities including offering basic treatments such as manicures and pedicures, cleaning and filing nails, and applying overlays or extensions.

They are also responsible for painting designs onto nails by hand using an airbrush, a stencil or stamping.

They often undertake consultation with the client to check for any signs of skin problems, deformities or nail disease before treatment; they counsel clients on how to take proper care of their hands and nails.

The nail technician’s role also involves promoting the spa’s retail offerings by recommending nail care products to clients and engaging in activities that will foster repeat patronage.

They also perform customer service functions like welcoming all clients upon arrival at the spa or salon, answering all inquiries, creating rapport with clients to build a client list, and ensuring that any waivers or consent forms are signed by client.

They are responsible for delivering the ultimate beauty experience to every guest, at all times, by providing nail-care services that exceed client expectations.

The nail technician work description also entails performing housekeeping duties to keep the salon or spa organized, clean, and sanitary in order to create a positive and relaxing spa experience for all clients.

In carrying out their job, nail technicians may be required to do light work; exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move light objects.

They may also be required to occasionally lift and move up to 25 pounds.
To work as a nail technician, you require a High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED), vocational training, and a state appropriate Nail Technician License.

A professional course for a nail technician usually takes at least a year to complete, and courses will more than likely cover anatomy and physiology of the nails, hands, arms, feet and legs, contraindications that may arise, and identifying diseases and disorders.

It is important that nail technicians possess proper sanitation and sterilizing techniques. They should also be skilled in performing nail services safely, gel polish application, liquid and powder enhancements and hard gel enhancement tasks.

To be successful as a nail technician, you also require some role based soft skills. You must be able to maintain a friendly, enthusiastic, and positive attitude; active listening and communication skills; and strong work ethic with respect to punctuality, organization, and attention to detail.

The job requires working in the evenings, weekends, and even holidays; therefore, you must be willing to work a flexible schedule.

Also, nail technicians must possess the ability to quickly acquire and apply new knowledge and skills because trends change quickly in the beauty industry.

Nail Technician Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Nail Technicians perform a variety of functions in a beauty salon or spa, including manicures and pedicures, nail tips, extensions, acrylics, wraps, and other treatments.

The major tasks, duties, and responsibilities performed by nail technicians are shown in the following job description example:

• Perform basic manicure and pedicure services to clients and guests
• Build rapport with clients to retain them and maintain a full schedule
• Work towards the actualization of spa sales goals by selling appropriate products and services to clients and guests
• Maintain and report schedule accurately to manager or supervisor, and perform all treatments on services menu
• Perform various professional nail services for guests, and educate them about individual nail care needs
• Responsible for providing the highest quality of customer service to clients/guests
• Perform nail services following established guidelines for the service offering, and strive to fulfill guest expectations in the area of nail grooming, massage and exfoliation, and polish application
• Understand and use universal precautions when providing services, including assessing contraindications for guest before commencing all treatments
• Ensure the sanitary of all equipment, cleaning and disinfecting all tools on a daily basis
• Maintain and increase knowledge of nail care for both hands and feet and possess a complete knowledge of all spa services offered
• Understand and educate clients on the ingredients and product benefits for their nail care where applicable
• Exhibit a professional and well groomed appearance every time
• Answer guests’ questions/inquiries in a knowledgeable and professional manner
• Promote other spa/salon services by suggesting to guests other beneficial treatments offered by the spa
• Begin and end all treatments within scheduled time-frame, as well as recommend product for home use or self-care
• Maintain inventory and inform Spa Director or Supervisor about product needs in a timely manner
• Accurately document treatment notes and maintain client cards when appropriate
• Attend scheduled meetings and professional trainings
• Safeguard customer experience and report any incidents or accidents to a member of the management team.

Nail Technician Requirements – Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for a Successful Career

When seeking the job of a nail technician, recruiters or employers will generally require prospective applicants to possess certain qualities, skills, abilities, knowledge, etc. that will prove that they will be effective in carrying out the purpose, objectives, and obligations of the role in their organization.

Having these qualities, skills, etc. can help the nail technician to achieve a successful career.

Now, here are major employers’ requirements you may have to meet to qualify to access the nail technician position in most organizations:

• Minimum of High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED), plus a vocational training or professional nail technician course training
• Experience: Minimum of 1 year experience performing a wide variety of nail services; previous customer service experience is a plus
• Knowledge: At minimum technicians must be able to perform manicure, pedicure and gels
• Possess a working knowledge of shellac, gel and dip, and acrylics
• Must be able to maintain knowledge of all treatments performed and products used
• License: a valid State appropriate Nail Technician license or certification
• Customer service skills: Nail technicians need this skills to complete consultation with customers and handle all questions/inquiries; build rapport with guests and deliver positive customer experiences according to the organizations standing policy
• Communication skills: They require strong communication skills to explain various treatments/services to clients as well as educate them about retail offerings; how to care for their nails, and recommend relevant products to them
• Team player: Nail technicians work with other people, so they should be willingly to actively support group goals. They should be willing to show up on time and ready to work wherever needed to get the job done
• Selling skills: It is important for nail technicians to have selling skills to promote their company’s services and retail sales of the Spa, and have a level of comfort with product recommendation. This is because actualizing sales goals helps to absorb overhead of the business
• Physical dexterity: This position requires the following physical abilities: balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, tactile sense, repetitive motions, seeing, hearing, talking, and visual acuity
• Technical Skills: nail technicians must be skilled in operating the following tools: nippers, files, buffers, cuticle removers, polishes, acetone, foot file, lotions, scrubs, hot cabbie, and paraffin heater; to successfully perform their duties
• Apt to learn: The beauty industry is a fast-paced industry with frequent changes in trends. Therefore, nail technicians must be open to learning and investing in continuing education to Improve/update their skills through training programs, some of which are available in the spa, salon, club, etc.
• Flexibility: Nail treatment services may be required during weekends and evenings, and holidays; therefore, technicians must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays.

Conclusion

If you are an employer or recruiter hiring for the role of nail technician in your company and need to make a good description of the position that can attract the best candidates to the offer, this post gives you the right information and sample job description that you can apply to create one.

This article is also helpful to individuals interested in the nail technician career. They will be able to improve their knowledge of the kind of duties and responsibilities nail technicians commonly carry out, as well as what they require to succeed in the career.