Creating a Salon Where You Can Bring Your Children: 'I Have No Choice but to Do It'

I am a nail technician. It's also a part of fashion, but now I'm also involved in training. For those who have a complex about their nails due to habits like biting or picking at them since childhood, I help them by explaining that the pink part actually grows. I assist them in that process.

Many people end up with cuticles, but nails should actually extend as far or further than the fingertips. Ideally, they should be at that length, but due to habits like biting or incorrect cutting techniques, many people end up with cuticles. I help them return to the normal pink length.

When you apply pressure to the fingertips, there's a part that turns red, usually around the middle of the nail. That's because there's no bone beyond that point in the fingertips. So, if the nail doesn't reach the tip, pressure won't be applied, and the performance of the fingertips won't be optimal. Many people with cuticles often accumulate calluses at the boundary between the nail and finger, which is a common tendency among those with cuticles. This happens because the growing nail collides with the fingertip, turning it into calluses. If the nail naturally extended to the sides, there would be no collision, and calluses wouldn't form. This leads to a cleaner appearance.

People often think that the white part indicates growth. I hold a qualification as a nail-cutting instructor, but if you try to cut the nail aiming for the white part, you'll end up inserting the nail cutter between the nail and skin and cutting it off. Instead, you should align the belly of the nail cutter with the tip of your finger and cut only the protruding part. This way, you'll only shorten the part that extends beyond the fingertip, avoiding deep cuts. However, many people have been told since childhood by school teachers that the white part indicates growth, leading to a lack of knowledge about proper nail cutting and resulting in cuticles.

There's an organization called the Athlete Nail Association, and the qualification certificate I have is issued by them. It's a relatively new qualification, established about two years ago, so it might not be widely known yet. The Athlete Nail Association has many nail technicians, including those who were active in the athlete village during the previous Tokyo Olympics.

I'm running it alone now. Previously, I worked with my sister, but due to changes in her circumstances, I'm now operating alone. I've rented a room in an apartment and modified it for salon use.

I've always loved nails, and I became a mother at a young age. I noticed that there were few salons where I could bring my child, but even if I wanted to get qualified, working one-on-one with customers meant I couldn't pick up my child if they fell ill or needed to be picked up. So, I self-studied as much as I could, and when my child reached the upper grades of elementary school, I attended a school to get qualified and decided to open the salon. It wasn't easy. When I opened the shop, my child was still in middle school, so I chose a location close to home so I could rush there anytime. I've always wanted to do this, but the environment made it difficult. But I couldn't give up, and I thought, 'I have to do this.' Mothers want to look fashionable too, but I've seen many people struggling with the idea of leaving their children to do so. I thought, 'I have to do this.' It's a salon where you can bring your children.

Being a nail technician is not a nationally recognized profession, so in truth, anyone, even without qualifications, can start a business. But I want customers to feel secure, so I obtained the highest level of qualification, passed the upper level of the Gel Exam, obtained a machine qualification for handling nail machines, and acquired all possible qualifications to ensure a comprehensive setup for the salon.

I started during the COVID-19 pandemic, so customer acquisition was challenging. Since I didn't belong to any established organization from the start, I began with zero customers. I was also completely ignorant about business management, so I didn't know where to start or what to do, but I kept pushing forward.

Yes, I've had clients with ingrown toenails on their hands. One client was a massage therapist. Due to the pressure and the need to cut nails deeply, their nails became ingrown, causing significant pain. I helped them restore their nails to a normal shape.

Of course, all procedures require attention, but if I had to pinpoint the most critical moment, it would be when using machines, instruments, or nippers with blades. However, maintaining a silent environment can make customers tense, so I try to keep them relaxed. Tension can cause customers to clench their fingers, making it difficult for me to work. So, I engage in conversation to ensure a relaxed atmosphere.

Many fashionable nail salons end up focusing solely on 'What design should we do?' or 'Let's do this.' However, salons that specialize in natural nail growth or ingrown toenail correction tend to delve deeper into nail concerns. I believe in starting with healthy nails before enjoying fashionable nails.

It's the way they cut their nails. Many people develop cuticles or ingrown nails because they don't know the correct way to cut nails. The misconception that white nails equal grown nails or that white nails are the ones to cut is deeply ingrained. We need to change that, but there's still a lack of effort in that regard.

Of course, seeing customers happy is the best, but as a professional, I find joy in continuously learning and improving my skills by encountering various customers. It's a fulfilling environment where I can learn daily. When I see customers smiling as they look at their nails, I think, 'Let's go!' Hearing comments like 'Just with care, it changed so much' or 'This color is amazing' makes me want to provide even better service. Helping customers with their nail concerns and fashion is a wonderful profession, I believe.

Customers often say, 'It's like a dentist's office.' In reality, it's a compact version of the large chair integrated machines used by dentists. Just like dentists use bits to grind down teeth, we change these bits to care for the area around the nails. Grinding might make people think the nails will become thin, but it's actually about removing surface calluses or grinding down hardened calluses. It's quite useful.

For young children who come with their parents, we let them play inside a designated area. However, if they start crying, the mother's hands are in the process of being painted, so she can't hold the baby. So, we try to 'hurry up' or 'finish before they start crying.'

While promoting natural nail growth, I've noticed that teenagers' nails grow very quickly. Even among older individuals in their 40s and 50s who have nail complexes, there's a noticeable difference compared to teenagers, even if they start at the same point. I was surprised by the significant difference. Teenagers haven't started anti-aging, so their growth speed is very fast. Seasonal factors also play a role; nails grow slower during dry seasons and faster in summer when dryness decreases. Hair likely has the same components, so it also grows faster in summer.

My goal is to have a salon that can be established on a street-level storefront. Even in my current state, I have customers who know me, but I want more people with nail concerns to know that nail salons can help resolve their complexes. I want to make it more visible by having a storefront.

I will continue. I see it as a form of assistance, helping to resolve complexes or alleviate pain. I want to do this for a lifetime. I also hope to have two salons. With two salons, I can work while also enjoying a fulfilling personal life.

The harshest thing I can say is, 'Being a nail technician isn't as easy as it seems.' Since everyone's nail shape is different, I hope more nail technicians can empathize with their customers.