6 mins
TECH FOR Techs
REBECCA HITCHON gets the scoop on high-tech launches, decodes hot topics & sources tech-savvy tips for your business
Artificial intelligence in the nail salon
There’s a term you’ve likely come across in 2024 trend reports or future industry predictions: artificial intelligence (AI). Whether you’re open to the idea or fearful of computers being able to perform complex tasks, there’s no avoiding the influence of AI on the nail industry. Here, I explore how nail businesses are interacting with AI: good and bad, to understand how the technology is shaping the future of the sector.
Customer service bots
Keeping on top of client queries can be challenging, so what if AI could help? It’s a concept that Essex and East London nail salon business, Dream Nails, has introduced with its AI nail expert, which can answer questions about treatments, pricing and more via a web and WhatsApp interface.
“In my view, AI will advance the way we do business, interact and allocate time, and you should only be fearful if you are not willing to adapt,” shares Thanh Vu, Dream Nails’ CEO. She notes that initial reactions to the AI nail expert have been positive, with clients praising the benefits of its 24/7 availability. Dream Nails techs have also been able to spend more time focusing on their nail work and client connections.
Thanh Vu
But how has the Dream Nails team ensured a reliable customer service experience with the AI assistant? Thanh tells me it all comes down to teamwork. “Staff of all seniority levels have helped to train the AI tool to answer over 1,000 common customer questions related to nails and Dream Nails,” she says. “We have also tried to catch it out with trick questions and each time it has faltered, we have tailored the algorithm accordingly. If the AI assistant is unsure, we always direct the customer to contact us via phone or email.” The Dream Nails team also regularly tracks sample conversations to ensure the tool is providing satisfactory responses.
This is just the start, as Thanh reveals that plans for the AI assistant include appointment booking and management services, with a quick message all that will be needed to book an appointment. Dream Nails also intends to introduce an AI picture generation and recognition tool, where nail designs can be artificially generated and imagery quoted for different Dream Nails branches.
And it’s just the start for AI’s uses in the general salon experience, according to Thanh. “I envision AI eradicating the need for a large number of administrative staff, with a senior staff member overseeing the technology,” she reveals. “I also believe AI will take an active role in pricing models, where prices will fluctuate depending on demand and supply, and in last-minute appointment filling, via automated messaging of suitable clients with targeted discounts.” www.dreamnailsbeauty.com
Nail inspiration
Pros
Tilly Booth
“I started using AI chatbot, ChatGPT, to inspire my nail art after seeing how an Instagram user had produced imagery with the tool,” says Tilly Booth, owner of SPRKL Beauty & Nails, South Wales. “I enjoy seeing it create graphics from a topic that I am struggling with, then chatting back and forth to tweak the idea.” She notes that seeking nail inspiration in this way eliminates the risk of not properly crediting techs on social media.
“I start my ChatGPT conversations by introducing a broad subject, such as ‘a colourful, wavy pattern’, then add prompts to modify the style, such as ‘add glitter’ or ‘simplify the design to make it appropriate for nail art’, which often presents how it would look on a nail,” Tilly continues.
Instagram: @sprkl.beauty
Tilly shares how she uses ChatGPT to inspire her nail designs.
Cons
Claudia Sear
“Clients sometimes ask if I can recreate a design that has been AI-generated,” reveals Claudia Sear of Claudia Sear: Luxury Eco Nails, Sussex. “Signs that a style has been produced using AI are perfect-looking skin, nails with extreme high shine, and depth or layering that would be impossible to achieve on a client’s nail.” The pro shares that techs shouldn’t feel pressure to create AI-generated designs that are unobtainable, but notes that clients who provide these as inspiration should be responded to with care. “It’s important not to make them feel silly, so although I point out that they’ve provided an AI image, I highlight design aspects that I love and suggest elements we could include in their style,” Claudia says.
Instagram: @claudiasear.nails
An AI-generated Valentine’s nail design, requested by @laurel.dxb.
ChatGPT was the AI tool with the most traffic in 2023, boasting over 14 billion visits according to writerbuddy.ai.
Copy generation
Tima Reshad
Do you struggle with copywriting for social media, your website and newsletters? Don’t let this part of your role get you down, as AI can help, shares Tima Reshad, founder of Liftlab Beauty, London. “AI tools streamline the copy creation process, quickly generating engaging and relevant material,” she says. “They help maintain a consistent brand voice, saving valuable time. The Liftlab Beauty team has found that using AI for this purpose has enhanced the business’ online presence and kept clients informed and engaged without extensive manual effort.” www.liftlab.beauty
The global beauty and cosmetics AI market is expected to reach $13.3bn by 2030.
Freddie Moross
Music choices
It’s not just your business operations and nail art creations that can be aided by AI; the music you play and therefore client experience you create can be assisted. It’s a concept we’ll be noticing a lot this year, reveals Freddie Morros, founder of wellnessfocused spa music streaming service, Myndstream.
“The world of artificial intelligence is transforming the music industry, and its impact on wellness music is just beginning to emerge,” he shares. “This year, we can expect to see the issue of copyright resolved so that AI-powered tools to enable personalised and adaptive music experiences can come to the fore. AI-powered music solutions have the potential to revolutionise the way we experience music in spa settings, offering tailored and personalised experiences that enhance the overall wellness journey.” www.myndstream.com
Product pick
Millee Barton
Millee Barton of Millee Barton Nails & Beauty and The Academy, Barnsley, launched artificial intelligence guides last year. “AI has not only helped me to streamline my salon practices, but sparked endless creative ideas. I’m dedicated to empowering and inspiring other professionals to unlock the full potential of AI to elevate their businesses, by demystifying this technology and providing practical insights and real-life examples,” she comments. “I’ve carried out extensive research, collaborated with AI experts and refined complex concepts into easy-to-understand content. I’ve also drawn from my own experiences with AI.”
Topics covered in the guides include managing social media and streamlining salon operations using AI, how to utilise the technology to inspire nail and beauty designs and how to incorporate AI into an education curriculum.
The guides are available via www.milleebarton.com
Coming soon...
Expected to launch this month via the Apple App Store, OUTOFHAND (OOH) allows nail enthusiasts to play with virtual nail art looks on their hands, thanks to AI and augmented reality (AR). Ten nail artists, whose clients include Rihanna, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, have collaborated with OOH for the launch and will provide digital nail looks for the app, when new collections land on a weekly basis. Subscription plans allow celebrity collaborations and limited-edition styles to be unlocked, and users can share their virtual nail looks as social media photos and videos, plus order designs from the app as custom-sized, 3D-printed press-ons.