A client's comment about my cuticles made me redo my whole routine

Had a regular in Portland last Tuesday point out that my cuticle work looked rushed compared to the polish job, and she wasn't mean about it but she was right. I went back to using my 5-year-old nippers and started doing a dry manicure first before any soaking, takes about 10 extra minutes per client. Has anyone else gotten feedback that made them completely switch up a technique they thought was fine?

2 comments

2 Comments

wesley_adams29d ago

The dry manicure part makes sense, but nobody's talking about how your tools age and change grip over time.

the_thea1mo ago

The dry manicure thing is such a game changer once you commit to it. I switched maybe two years ago after a client noticed my polish lifting at the base, which was totally my soaking fault. Doing the cuticle work first on dry skin lets you see exactly where the dead tissue starts versus live skin, way more precise. Plus you avoid that over-hydrated skin that makes nippers slip and nick people. The extra 10 minutes honestly pays for itself because you're not doing touch-ups or fixing torn cuticles later, and clients notice the difference even if they can't say what it is. I'd say stick with it for a few weeks and see if your regulars start mentioning the cleaner look.