Nail Career Education

Today I am reviewing YouTube channel Nail Career Education, by Suzie a 30-year nail tech professional who gives many technical and mesmerizing nail videos. In this video Suzie introduces her new product line that she collaborated with the nail manufacture company Joya Mia®. This tutorial is a beginner’s guide to working with acrylic. In reviewing this tutorial l will use the Second persona method, this method is the implied audience. My first step to use this method is to identify the author’s moral judgment, where they may stand ethically and morally. Second, I will find the characteristics of who the author believed their implied audience to be.

To begin I immediately noticed the implied audience, who are nail enthusiasts and DIY nail techs who have not yet mastered the technical application of the acrylic system. Suzie as partnered with a well-known nail company, Joya Mia®, creating a slow setting acrylic system. This makes is much easier for all the newbies who have vey little to no acrylic experience and it is also a low odder system. In recent months we all have experienced a shelter in place lifestyle, which makes all self-maintenance luxuries on the shelf. This video helps people who want to venture out and try to do salon quality nail enhancements at home. So, this product can be purchased without a nail tech license, again for those who are not professionals, but want to learn on their own.

This is perfect for someone like me, as I am a DIY nail tech and I started my self-education via YouTube using only builder gels. I cannot wait to get this kit as many other acrylic systems have an extraordinarily strong monomer odder and this one does not, so I can practice in my home without bothering my cats and my husband!

In my opinion Suzie’s moral judgment is too educate and provide her professional grade products to those without a nail tech license or diploma. This is fantastic as so many products on the market are no professional grade, and those that are will almost always require a license to purchase their products. Suzie wants to help the DIY nail tech and nail enthusiasts learn with the best products because it is so much easier working with a better-quality product.

Suzie believes her audience that she is appealing to wants to learn how to apply acrylic nail system, as most people are restricted to their homes and cannot get to their salon for nail services. I think she hit her target audience right on point! I really enjoyed this video as it totally relates to my skill level, and her tutorial is highly informative on how to use her new acrylic system. Please check out the video provided or the link here! As always, I hope you can check her video out and enjoy!

YouTuber Suzie presents, “How to Remove Your ‘Fake’ Nails Safely”, this video can be found on her YouTube channel Nail Career Education. This nail tutorial was inspired by the COVID-19 situations we all face today. Many shops and businesses are closed due to what is considered non-essential services or products. Nails salons fall under this shut down restriction, and many people who have enhanced nails or fake nails are experiencing grow out which can cause problems for them. Suzie breaks down the process of removing any enhancements safely and correctly without damaging the natural nail.

Suzie’s main inspiration came from the need to educate people of the correct and safest way to remove fake nails, because most people are having issues with the grow out with their enhancement they have on their nails. Suzie goes into detail of why removal of fake nails is so important and how it can save so much unintended pain and frustration. Breaking fake nails is extremely uncomfortable to say the least. Her tutorial’s arrangement is very structured as the technique she uses incorporates a step by step formula. She starts with nails that have been growing out to a more manageable short “natural” nail. Using a very precise grit grade of the nail files used are very important, in my own experience a very good quality nail file is necessary, especially if filing acrylic. In this video Suzie is just filing down a glue type material so she is filing very easily. I agree with Suzie as I personally use a 100 or 180 grit nail file when shaping and sculpting builder gel nails, never used on my natural nail bed. A good quality nail file at 100/180 grit grade is necessary to make this removal process work, as it will not work well with a cheap nail file. I really appreciate Suzie’s explanation of how the pinky finger can be held by the same hand, I never knew I could really hold my own pinky, the way she showed in the tutorial. Suzie explains how filing down the fake nail to the point where a very thin amount of the fake nail product is still left on the nail, this help provide a barer, and keeps the nails feeling very thin. This is easier said then done as you want to make the small layer flush with the natural nail bed without scratching the natural nail. A separate nail file at a lighter nail grit of 200/280 is needed, this will not leave scratch marks on the nail and crate the flush look a little easier.

The hand filing technique Suzie uses is necessary to get the fake nails off and keep the natural nail healthy leaving the nails feel strong, not like tissue paper. I have experienced the tissue paper situation from high school days where I have had salons file them off then peel them off using a nail tip, just horrific! My poor nails! I wish I had Suzie’s tutorials back then! I know there are many who are struggling now and having one’s nails done is one of the last things that should be an issue. However, in my opinion going to a nail salon is a type of relaxation for many and it gives a moment for pampering and that is missed. I hope that this video can help people give themselves a bit of self-care and pampering.

I strongly suggest this video to anyone who has “fake” nails, buy higher quality nail files and can be found on Amazon. I cannot find high quality nail files at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid. I have been to all of these stores, in my area, and they didn’t have the high grit like Suzie recommends in her video (100/180 grit). I have purchased a good quality set of nail files that have multiple nail grits, check out Amazon or Universal Nail Supply, both online and easy to purchase from. I have included the video above or in the link here! As always, I hope you enjoy the video and please take care and give yourself some pampering you deserve it!

The Second persona method is the implied audience. My goal today will find
out the author’s moral judgment as to where they may stand ethically or
morally. I will then identify the characteristics of who the author believed
the implied audience to be.

Right off the bat I would say that the implied audience are the nail
enthusiasts, DIY nail techs. These days lately people cannot go out and get
their nails done due to many if not all nail salons shut down, as most
non-essential business. The implied audience are people who love getting their
nails done, people who even religiously rely on their nails looking good.
Suzie, the nail professional I’ve been following for years now, is a YouTube
creator and provides detailed and incredibly addictive video tutorials, all on
how to create beautiful nails as well as to keep healthy nails. This video
Suzie breaks down a press and brush on instant French nails!

In my opinion Suzie’s moral judgement is just, she clearly wants to provide people
who want to do their nails at home (without higher technical skill and equipment/products)
showcasing an instant French nail kit. This kit is purchased at Walmart, Rite
Aids, etc. Suzie goes step by step reading the instructions the kit comes with,
lending her 30-year experience to clarify all of the steps. Most people who get
their nails done; they typically do not have any type of nail enhancement application
skill set. This is a great example of how ethically Suzie provides her
education, she’ll give all the information one needs to apply a cheaper nail
kit with her own professional experience, for free. This video was not sponsored
as well, so she earned not money as well.

This goes to show that Suzie is uses her moral judgment in a just and right
way as well as ethically provides education without financial gain as well. Suzie
wants to help people get through these crazy times. The music she connects with
her tutorials is soothing and provides relaxation. I have said it many times
before, but Suzie’s videos are somewhat of a meditation, you’ll be surprised of
how relaxing it is to watch her nail tutorials.

In my opinion Suzie believes that the audience she is appealing to have
access to the store Walmart, in this way the audience can try the instant
French nail at home. As most of us are in quarantine so keeping up with a nice
set of nails is a bit harder to do. This video Suzie is trying to help the
audience she believes to want to upkeep on their own nails.

I believe that she targets her audience correctly and effectively. I
personally don’t need to get this kit as I am a DIY nail tech with enough skill
set and higher-grade nail products. But that being said, I think it would be a
fun experiment to try. I really enjoy all of Suzie’s nail tutorials, please check
out the video I have provided above or click the link here. As always, I hope
you have the time to check this one out, you may want to do your own nails this
weekend!

I will be using the Narrative method for this video found on YouTube channel, Nail Career Education and creator Suzie creates these beautiful gothic nail design at the request of one of her avid followers. The Narrative method which can be a storytelling style based on reality or fiction and depending the context of the story can make or break a good story. This is a short but fun narrative. Suzie creates a nail design based on one of her fans, who Suzie call a “very persistent viewer”, who has been requesting gothic designs on nails.

Suzie explains in this tutorial that she wasn’t too familiar with gothic style regarding nails, and so she does research (as she reality does) and stays up to 2 am preparing for this gothic nail design. She presents her set in a gothic themed ambiance and includes music which lends to the gothic theme of this video. She has asked her niece who is follows the gothic lifestyle to fill in as her nail model and who represents a gothic style. She researched the types of styles and colors that can be considered gothic. This video is based on reality, as this is a very technical and artistic tutorial on how to get these nails.

When viewing the video, I recognized that the narrative here is not only about the gothic design, but also the beauty behind gothic designs and the variety of style within the gothic look. Suzie goes all out with this design, and provides an inspiration using this design. I can honestly say before watching this video, I thought this was for Halloween, but as I watched it, I felt that Suzie really captured the amazing beauty behind rich dark colors and can be worn whenever throughout the year.

The music added to this video along with the background setting, lighting, digital enhancement (fake smoke) all came together to fit the narrative of this gothic nail design tutorial. Suzie will usually go into a step by step section of a tutorial when creating the base of the nail and the length with monomer and acrylic powder. However, she ended up fast forwarding up to the design of these nails, I fell that this was a smart move on her part, as creating this design requires so many steps already, adding more steps could be overwhelming to some viewers. This applies to beginner DIYer nail techs.

I have to say I’m inspired by this video, even though my style is almost the complete opposite, this design shows a whole new view on how gothic can be absolutely beautiful! I would even wear what her niece is wearing. To conclude this was a great tutorial and I may try this look on myself come this fall, I can’t give up my bright spring and summer colors when I just got them out. I hope you check out this video, please see the video included above or click the link here, and as always, I hope you enjoy!

Today I’m reviewing YouTube channel Nail Career Education, Suzie is the nail tech professional who provides free nail education along with many inspired nail designs. I will use the Pentad Method to analyze this video. The Pentad method is composed of five elements developed by Kenneth Burke, this method starts with what, where, who, how, and why (the motive).

Suzie is the creator of this channel and an expert in the nail tech world. This video she goes into detail of how to apply acrylic nails on yourself, and this requires one to use the opposite hand. The “what” is the application of the acrylic product using one’s opposite hand. The “where” is the scene Suzie presents in her YouTube platform, this is a free education site and geared towards helping people who are typically the main audience which are the “who”, as this a very specific niche category of tutorial channel. This can also be the “how” as the agency is YouTube, this is Suzie’s media platform where she provides all her free educational tutorials on how to create all kinds of nails.

This is a very technical video, so this was quite tricky to critique this using the Pentad method. However, the “why” or the motive of Suzie’s video was to show how tricky it is to do your own nails using your opposite hand as most people are not ambidextrous. Although her purpose was to show how to do this, her main purpose for her motive was to show that this technique is difficult and that practice over time will help anyone become a better nail tech.

This video has over 561,000 views, and according to some of the comments the purpose of her motive is working, see some comments people left on this video and as you can see like most of her comments are positive, her motive definitely is effective to motivate her audience, even nail enthusiasts into DIYers.

I know this is how I started. I was just cruising through YouTube like millions of people do every day. I stumble across this channel and I’m hooked, she is the best teacher for this craft. I now have a skill set that can someday turn into an income generating hobby. I have to agree with Suzie as she is absolutely spot on, as I do my own nails, inspired by Suzie, I feel that when I do my opposite hand I get better every time, although it is a chore and sometimes I want to go into the nail salon and have them do that one left hand! Another part to her motive is also encouragement for beginner nail techs or DIY nail tech like me, she is always very encouraging and tries to provide as much information to make the process of learning this technical and artistic side to nails as easy and fun as possible. Overall, I feel that I got to experiment with the Pentad method using this video, provided by Nail Career Education, please check out the video here. I’ve also included the video in this post above. Check it out and as always enjoy!

I love this design that Suzie made in this video. I will be using the Neoclassical (pathos, logos and ethos) method. This video is like most of her videos showcases tutorials on how to create nails in detail. Along with the detail she provides, she also displays her love of nail art in her excitement while creating her nails. Suzie gives her viewers all the steps on how to recreate her nail designs.

The tutorial made a lot of great points as I am a DIY nail tech, and as I do my own nails, she makes it easy for me to follow her. It’s also easy to get excited by her attitude while she creates something super cute or beautiful. Suzie is a very cheerful personality, this is her ethos part of the Neoclassical, and as an instructor as well as an artist she makes her tutorials fun in both regards. She matches her background displays and she is thoughtful in the selection of music she chooses, matching the mood of the nail design she creates.

The combination of her background and music also creates a soothing effect while watching the video, which lends to her type of character she portrays. I like to think it’s a true reflection of Suzie’s character. This type of art is very detailed and creative, but it’s also technical and requires a form of logic to create the proper nail which Suzie always shows in all nail tutorial videos.

Suzie also answered viewer’s questions in her video and one question a viewer asked was, “Is your new kit geared for Professionals, Students, Non-professionals, Nail enthusiasts, of for all the above?” – Janeen Utley. This was a good question, and Suzie’s answer was just perfect, because it shows more of her character (ethos), her response, was “It’s geared for everybody…it’s why I started the YouTube channel, so everybody can learn for free.” I love this about Suzie, she views that the nail tech industry is restrictive to Non-professionals, as higher quality products are only available to licensed nail technicians.

This video was a great demonstration of her spirit when creating nails, a viewer is not just educated while watching this video, but also inspired by her cheerful and excitable reactions to her nail design. This makes me want to create this design, like most of her videos, I feel very inspired to try something that might be intimidating or difficult to do, but I know I can rely on her super awesome tutorials.

Suzie’s channel represents the best things about what YouTube is, she wants people to have access to free nail tech education, which is expensive and she loves her craft so much that she sells her own products to everyone, not just licensed nail technicians. I always enjoy watching her tutorials and I’ve learned so much from them. This video is one of my favorites I hope you can watch a little, I’ve provided her video above, and a link to her channel here. I hope you enjoy!

Criticism Post #2: Neoclassical (Canon)

YouTuber Suzie presents, “Jelly Nails with a Chrome Twist”, this video can be found on her channel Nail Career Education. The nail look was inspired by shoes from the 80s and her many viewers as they were looking for a guided tutorial of how the trend Jelly nails can be accomplished. Suzie dives into a particular product she uses for this video as well as break down each step as she creates the beautiful 80s inspired nails.

Suzie’s main inspiration was not only given by her viewers, but her memory of the 1980s fad of jelly shoes which included a variety of colors. The most popular color was a neon pink and that’s the color she chose for this tutorial. Keep in mind this video was made 2018, today most people don’t care for this style of nail polish called, “jelly nails”. The arrangement of her tutorial is very structured as the technique she is using requires an exact step by step process. She starts with a bare “naked” hand and she removed her previous nail set before the filming of the video. The use of nail forms was clearly explained, as I do my own gel at home this was a great tip, and I may experiment with this knowledge in the future. Suzie explains how taking the time to figure out how to work gel will make it easier to understand how this nail building technique is created. I have to say I completely agree with her as I work with gel, and when I first started it was extremely frustrating as I was unaware of how to use it. As I practice and take my time, I’ve learned to work gel product, and I find it extremely fulfilling. The style of this video is pretty and fun as the backdrop of glittering lights secures the mood of excitement. The music on Suzie’s videos are always enjoyable and upbeat, I find myself swaying to the music every time, Suzie makes it super easy to watch her videos, even my husband will sometimes watch a video with me!

The hand filing technique Suzie uses is clutch to creating the perfect shape of a pointy almond. She has explained how to file a dip away without loosing the shape, these tips are what I’d call teachable moments, and how you can take a beginner tech’s nail to expert tech’s nails. The use of two colors to create the look, “Jelly Nails with a Chrome Twist”, she used a silver metallic gel polish only in the center of the nail, the free edge was left to utilize the clear gel. This makes the jelly style polish can then become a truly jelly like look, as it mimics the 80s shoe looks in hot pink.

In my opinion I believe this video would make any nail enthusiast or someone who gets their nails done want to try out this “jelly” look, it’s very 80s and super cute! However, I’d get a different nail shape, as Suzie points out that she scratched her palm a bit with her own nails while filling, and she suggested that not having this shape of nail around children. This was a very fun video to watch, and I may try this style out sooner than later as summer is right around the corner! Check out this fun and educational video below and you just might find yourself swaying to the music, enjoy!

Today, February 09, 2020, I reviewed You Tube channel, “Nail Career Education”, video titled, “Raising Your Prices? Work on Others Work? … Nail Therapy with Suzie” (to view the video reviewed today please follow the link here). Using the Rhetorical Situational method, I will analyze the 3 main categories that will break down this video. First the discussion between Suzie and her two guests, Cheryl McLaughlin and Debbie Duxbury kick off with the conversation on how surprised they are to learn about a new taboo in the nail industry, which is nail technician turning away new clients because they don’t want to work on nails they didn’t due prior. This is something Suzie is absolutely against, and as they try to understand the idea behind the movement it’s still begs the question as to why? It’s how a nail tech earns a living, why would they turn away a new client just because their nails have been done elsewhere? In Suzie’s understanding it seems that the new nail tech doesn’t want to work on another nail tech’s work out of respect. The discussion goes on to examine price and the point of what is good and bad business practices. Suzie strongly believes that raising prices ties into a nail tech’s confidence, as well as knowing your worth. Nail tech’s will question their value of themselves, and the quality of their work. Suzie said that she didn’t raise her prices for 10 years. She goes on to say that was bad business practice, but as learned from it since. The quality of work goes hand in hand with price, and confidence is key to raising prices. Suzie use the analogy of fine dinning vs. eating at McDonald’s, it’s a meal, but not the same quality and experience. She explains that most likely you loose a couple of clients, but by the math, it’s worth it. A nail tech must take into account that overhead and product price increase on a yearly basis. As there is more demand from clients, there are additional expenses that come into consideration when raising prices. Another important message of this video is on “Mixing”, the veteran nail techs in this video highly recommend using the core line of a product within the same brand, as mixing brands can cause contact dermatitis. Mixing can cause serious allergic reactions, pick with one core system.

Using the Rhetorical Situation method I will break down the video in 3 categories. First, the immediate necessity of this discussion between three seasoned nail technicians is to let other nail techs, nail tech students, and the DIY nail tech group. The information given is greatly needed in the nail tech community. The second is finding the audience the video is targeting, this would be myself lumped into the DIY nail group, including people within the nail tech community. Finally the third category, what where the presenters in the video constrained to not talk about or the opportunities provided to them? This goes without saying the video is a “how to” tutorial of running one’s own nail tech career. The speakers are are willing to exploit the opportunity on Suzie’s YouTube channel, and with the best intentions. They are simply reaching out to people like myself with constructive criticism on how to operate as a nail tech.

This is a very informative piece on nail tech etiquette, pricing, mixing do’s and don’ts. Check out the video below! Thanks so much and enjoy!