5 Fears of People with Problematic Toenails and How Nail Techs can Help Now
There is an entire segment of People With Toenail Problems (PWTP). But instead of having them treated right away, they tend to hold off on suggestions they've either self-assumed, heard from friends, read from TikTok comments, (https://www.tiktok.com/@meticulousmanicurist) or learned from their recent visit to the podiatrists. But first, let's discuss the root cause of why PWTP's are not taking action.
Here's a quick summary:
People with toenail problems will go to great lengths to avoid painful nail sessions or extractions.
People with toenail problems don't like being shamed with unprofessional behavior by nail techs.
People with toenail problems don't want to take medications.
People with toenail problems fear needles and want to avoid them at all costs.
People with or without toenail problems generally avoid paying out-of-pocket for treatments when medical Insurance won't cover cosmetic toenail issues.
PWTP's turn to Google for home remedies. That's understandable, considering they want fast, cheap, and convenient solutions before going to a nail technician or podiatrist. So, they rely on tea tree oil, Vicks vapor rub, a 50/50 mix of bleach, and vinegar (which smells terrible). They maintain this routine for several months—which isn't so convenient, is it?
The home remedies can be such a chore—you know, 2x daily application, with all the sticky feeling and bad smell. And if those don't make the nails look better, PWTP will also
Cover the nails with nail polish (which prevents any topical solution to penetrate the nail plate)
Use socks and closed shoes (which can also indirectly worsen the fungus through sweat and other elements).
Generally, home remedies are counterintuitive when people don't see an improvement right away. People lose hope, which leads to putting off finding something that works and worsens the problem instead of solving it. People with toenail problems don't like being shamed with unprofessional behavior by nail techs. PWTP's may believe there aren't much nail techs can do at this stage. But this is the point when they should reach out for professional help, preferably from Nail Technicians who have taken advanced training courses like The Meticulous Manicurist Advanced Pedicure Course. Nail Techs who are Meticulous Manicurist Certified also offer a line of professional nail care products that do work. But! When they come for your assessment, do not shame or blame them for whatever home remedies they have done. Act accordingly, and provide the best nail care (so long as the case is still within the nail tech's scope of conservative nail care).
Here are a few typical comments from The Meticulous Manicurist Nail Tutorials' comment section.
"I am so done with having my feet look disgusting. "
"My whole adult life involved covering my toes or being embarrassed to wear sandals. "
"I seriously can't wait to get rid of this. "
"The hardest part is hiding this secret from my partner."
These are severe inner feelings that PWTP has. They've had enough bad feelings about their toenails (which they have probably carried for years or even decades). The last thing they want to encounter is a nail technician with a foul mouth, without proper work ethic, and making embarrassing remarks while working on the nails. To attract pedicure clients, be a professional from the get-go. You will not start this career with a complete appointment book, but word-of-mouth from a few customers can do wonders.
And when you start having PWTP as a client, shatter all their apprehensions with your best behavior, professional assessment about their toenails, meticulous and pain-free nail service. Don't be just another pedicurist in a discount salon who's always in a rush to finish service. Be outstanding, make the client feel good, and be memorable. They will surely not hesitate to book an appointment for the next visit and recommend you to friends with all their heart. People with toenail problems don't want to take medicines.
There's a popular anti-fungal medicine (generic name: Terbinafine) that doctors prescribe to fight infections caused by fungus. Depending on the case, this can be a good solution for fungal infections, and it's proven to be effective for some patients who can tolerate it. However, not all patients have the same experience. This medicine comes with side effects and may not be suitable when taken along with other maintenance medicines. Pregnant patients with fungal infections are also wary of taking this medicine, as it may also risk the baby's health.
According to one patient who takes Terbinafine (generic name), she has experienced:
Poor sleep
Acid reflux
Random stomach ache/ bloating
Low motivation & anxiety
Nausea
Increased migraines
General malaise
Here's what others have to say about taking Terbinafine:
"Every time I think I'm done with one side effect, another one comes along. I have never had so many weird symptoms in my life before taking Terbinafine."
"I could not handle the side effects after one month of treatment. I resorted to taking half a tablet per day instead of taking one full dose. The side effects aren't unbearable but thinking of 9+ more weeks of taking this medication makes me sad. I can't wait to stop taking it."
"I feel bloated and get random stomach cramps. I'm nauseous all the time and get random episodes of anxiety".
What nail techs can do: Nail technicians can provide a pedicure service to clients with nail fungus but cannot prescribe any prescription medication. Advanced and specialty pedicure services to address toenail fungus aren't offered in every salon. You can check the Meticulous Manicurist Academy Site map for a Nail Technician near you.
Conservative pedicure cleaning using The Meticulous Manicurist methods and techniques to get to the root of the issue has proven to restore toenails. Some Nail Technicians may hesitate to work on toenails that need extra care. I understand that hesitation.
It's either: You've been told that nail techs cannot treat nail cases with fungi. Or you're afraid because you're not adequately trained to handle fungal situations. I am telling you right now that it is OKAY for nail techs to handle nail situations with fungi. Pedicure care, trimming, shaping, and filing nails is our craft for any nail and is very well within our scope of conservative care. Just like we are allowed to service ingrown, impact, pincer toenails, you can refer to your State Board of Cosmetology Rules and regulations for confirmation. I also know that nail schools don't tackle pedicures in detail. Hence, your lack of confidence in handling complex nail cases is understandable. In my Global Meticulous Manicurist - Pedicure Certification course, I meticulously demonstrated how to address four types of nail fungus. My network is quickly growing, and Nail Technicians who have completed the training soon become booked up and in high demand. If you need the confidence to handle fungal nail cases and charge accordingly for this particular service, I highly suggest that you take my course.
People with toenail problems fear needles and want to avoid them at all costs. Whenever there's an unidentified nail problem, people quickly conclude that the only solution to treating it is EXTRACTION, including a needle to numb the area. First of all, NAIL EXTRACTION HURTS. While it is true that a person will be under anesthesia during the extraction, there are no words for the pain and inconvenience of after-care. Pain is one of the top reasons nail extraction is NOT an option for many nail problems. The healing process takes time. And sadly, people don't always have the luxury of "downtime" to wait for their nails to heal. They have to be on their toes and get back to work. But podiatrists (nail doctors) can only prescribe medication and do nail extractions: no soaking, no pedicures, none of that.
What nail techs can do: Contrary to popular belief, taking the toenails off is not the end-all-be-all solution for problematic toenails. Depending on the nail condition, there is another way to treat nails like these. Because the truth is: a lot of people don’t want their whole toenail removed.
The general public doesn't know that podiatrists don't give pedicures. Nail Technicians and Podiatrists' actual crossover is trimming and filing nails. Podiatrists don't do the cleaning services that nail techs provide. From the comments on The Meticulous Manicurist TikTok, it seems a large majority of the population doesn't understand there are two industries for a reason. One is Medical, and one is Cosmetic. A nail issue isn't always medical, only if swelling, redness, pain, and infection.
If the client wants to take the conservative/restorative route of nail care, we (Nail Techs) shall give it to them, given that their case is still within our scope (example: no open wound, no bleeding, no warts, no infection, etc.) As nail techs, please assess the situation correctly, and provide the best professional nail care they deserve.
People with or without toenail problems generally avoid paying out of pocket for treatments. Because nail fungi problems fall in the realm of cosmetic care rather than medical care, people with toenail problems can't rely on their Insurance to take care of the bill. Even when people go to the doctor specifically for fungal issues, they may end up paying out of pocket for treatment because the doctor can't bill the Insurance [specifically for nail fungus]. In some instances, they may depend on the patient's medical history and coverage, but many don't.
I am not advocating for nail techs to undercharge the special pedicure services. I advocate for you to be damn good and competent in providing conservative nail care. People with toenail problems would be more than willing to pay you with your premium rates even without insurance benefits.
It takes extra passion for offering pedicures as a specialty.
Performing advanced pedicure is not a glamorous job. It takes extra passion for offering it. It may look easy to do (the way I show it on my Youtube videos), but it takes a particular skill to maneuver the toes to contour the toenail without hurting and traumatizing clients. It can be challenging scary. Some might say disgusting and not worth the time for newbies. And when you have the option to provide fancy nail art and easy pedicures, it's easy to consider "advanced pedicures" as a side priority rather than a "must-have" service. All the more that this becomes a "blue ocean" for aspiring premium nail technicians. Passionate nail techs who have the heart (and stomach) to handle complex, problematic toenails are a rare breed. They are doing an exceptional job like all other highly-paid professionals from different industries. And they are reaping the rewards with loyal clients, reliable income, and high salaries.
If you want to be part of the thriving sought-after network of premium nail technicians, be a certified Global Meticulous Manicurist. https://academy.themeticulousmanicurist.com/