A nail technician drew attention online for how she handled an inquiry from an individual interested in training for a Russian manicure.
A Reddit user on Monday, January 12, posted screenshots of a conversation involving a Cavite-based nail artist who had opened four slots for individuals wanting to learn how to do a Russian manicure.
In the exchange, one person expressed interest and the nail tech replied that an individual payment of P5,000 was required.
When asked how legitimate the training was, the nail technician responded, “Ilang percent need mo dear (rolling-on-the-floor laughing emoji) joke haha.”
The individual replied with a question mark, prompting the nail tech to respond, “Wait, dear, post ako ha, abangan mo if legit (smiling-with-tears emoji).”
The Redditor later shared screenshots showing the nail technician responding to comments from Facebook users who called her out for her tone when dealing with inquiries.
“Nabasa ko lang ‘to kasi dumaan sa feed ko and found this relevant comment, which, obviously, this nail tech couldn’t handle. Kahit anong galing mo, kung ‘di ka professional humandle ng potential students [or] clients and even take constructive criticism, your business [or] service won’t last,” the Reddit user said.
“Technical proficiency must go hand-in-hand with professional communication. Siguro papatok ka sa masa, but if you go higher and deal with actual people who can possibly open more doors for you, and you act like this; it won’t work,” the Redditor replied.
On Facebook, a commented told the nail tech that “it’s not difficult to answer things in a professional manner.”
“If someone doubts your authenticity and what you can offer, as a master of your craft, you should show receipts, certifications, or results. Most of those people who ask don’t do their research (yeah, we can’t control them). But the best way to gain trust is to answer in a good way. If they still doubt after giving a proper answer, that’s on them na. It doesn’t look good on you,” the Facebook user wrote.
The nail tech responded that she is “not a pro [professional]” and explained that being a “jokester” is part of her personality.
“Palabiro ako, be! Ganyan ako sa students ko, kung hanap niyo professional magsalita, dun kayo, ‘wag sakin. Seryoso niyo sa lahat ng bagay. Kaya nag-post ako para mapanatag ang lahat, baka akala scammer ako,” she commented.
The nail tech added that her playful, unserious approach is how she interacts with her students.
“Wala akong time magpaka-professional. Dinadaan ko sa biro mga students ko para kampante sila sakin,” she said.
The nail tech later posted on her Facebook page: “Pag mag-iinquire kayo sakin ha, pasintabi na agad sa sagot ko, ‘di ako pro. Dami niyo pinupuna sakin!”
The Redditor who noticed her post and comments wrote, “Proudly screaming ‘unprofessionalism’ as a personality is sooooo weird.”
Meanwhile, communication plays a crucial role in establishing credibility and effectiveness, particularly in the tone used to deliver a message.
“Tone has a significant bearing on how well people work together. If communication has a positive tone, 62% respond more quickly, 57% are more responsive to future requests, 48% address the concern or do the work at a higher quality, and 59% perceive the sender more positively,” an article from Forbes reads.
The article added that creating the right tone involves being “business-like but friendly,” “confident but not arrogant,” “concise but not curt,” “compelling but not emotional,” and “authentic but not inattentive.”
