Setting your nail service prices is one thing. Deciding what happens when a client needs an infill, removal, repair or additional nail art can feel like a whole other conversation.

Should an infill cost less than a fresh set because you're using less product? Should you charge for removal if the client is having another set? What happens when an infill takes longer than the original appointment? And how do you make sure you're actually being paid for nail art?

These are questions we regularly see within the HONA Community, so when one nail tech recently asked whether she should charge more or less for infills, we took a look at what other working nail professionals had to say.

And there definitely wasn't one universal answer.

Some charge less. Many charge the same as a fresh set. Others charge more or increase their price depending on how long a client leaves between appointments.

So rather than giving you a price list to copy, we're looking at the things you should consider when pricing infills, removals, repairs, nail art and all those little extras that can quickly add time to an appointment.

If you're setting your service prices from scratch, start with our Guide to Pricing Your HONA Nail Services

Should You Charge Less for Infills?

It can be easy to assume an infill should cost less than a fresh set.

After all, you're not starting from scratch and you may be using less new product.

But product isn't the only thing your client is paying for.

An infill can involve assessing the existing enhancement, dealing with any lifting, reducing bulk, reshaping, rebalancing the structure, preparing the new growth and then applying and refining the product.

For some nail techs, that takes just as long as a fresh application. For others, it takes even longer.

HONA Community Says...

When we asked our community, a common response was simply:

“I charge the same as a fresh set.”

One nail tech explained:

“I charge the same as a fresh set and base it on the time it takes to do an infill.”

Another told us:

“I charge £5 more for infills.”

And another explained that she charges more because her prices are predominantly time-based and infills take her longer.

The important point isn't whether you charge more, less or the same.

It's understanding how much time and work the service actually requires from you.

Ask yourself:

• How long does my average infill actually take?
• How does that compare with a fresh application?
• How much preparation and rebalancing is required?
• What products and consumables am I using?
• What does the appointment need to generate for my business to remain profitable?

If an infill consistently takes you longer than a fresh set, pricing it significantly lower simply because you're using less product may not reflect the true cost of delivering the service.

Should Nail Techs Charge for Removal?

Removal still takes time.

Whether you're soaking off product, reducing bulk or professionally removing an existing enhancement before beginning another service, that time needs to be accounted for somewhere.

That doesn't necessarily mean every removal needs to appear as a separate charge.

You could:

• Include removal within the price of certain services
• Charge separately for a standalone removal
• Add a removal fee when followed by a fresh application
• Include removal up to a certain point and charge for additional work

One HONA Community member explained that she builds most costs into her core service price and only charges an additional £5 for a full soak-off and reapplication because of the extra time required.

Her experience also highlights something else worth considering: simplicity.

She previously had an additional charge that customers found confusing at booking and payment, so instead incorporated it into her standard price.

There is little benefit in having an incredibly detailed pricing structure if your clients can't understand it.

Are You Charging Properly for Nail Art?

Nail art is another area where it's incredibly easy for small amounts of unpaid time to creep into your working day.

Five minutes here. Ten minutes there.

Across a full week of appointments, that can quickly add up.

And remember: you're not simply charging for the amount of product used.

A detailed hand-painted design might use very little product but require additional time, precision, creativity and years of developed skill.

There are several ways you could structure nail art pricing:

Nail Art Tiers

For example:

Simple
Minimal details or straightforward designs.

Detailed
More intricate artwork requiring additional appointment time.

Advanced
Complex, bespoke or highly detailed designs.

Per-Nail Pricing

This can work well where clients want one or two statement nails rather than a complete nail art set.

Time-Based Pricing

For bespoke designs, you may find it easier to price according to the additional appointment time required.

There isn't necessarily one right approach.

The goal is to create a structure that means your time and creativity aren't regularly being given away for free.

What About Nail Repairs?

Repairs are another area worth creating a clear policy around.

Think about the difference between:

• A repair shortly after the original appointment
• Accidental client damage
• A broken nail at an infill
• Multiple repairs
• A nail requiring complete reconstruction

You may choose to include certain repairs within your service while charging for others.

Again, ask:

Is this adding time, product or complexity to the appointment?

If it is, make sure you've considered where that cost sits within your pricing.

Having a clear repair policy also makes the conversation much easier when it happens. Your client already knows what to expect rather than you having to decide what to charge at the appointment.

Charge for the Service You're Actually Providing

Your pricing shouldn't simply reflect the amount of gel that leaves the bottle.

It needs to account for your time, products, skill, experience, overheads and the complexity of the service you're delivering.

So when you're deciding whether to charge for an infill, removal, repair or those extra ten minutes of nail art, don't immediately ask:

“Will my client mind paying for this?”

Ask:

“Has the work I'm doing actually been accounted for in my price?”

You don't need to charge for every tiny addition individually. You might decide to build certain extras into your core prices instead.

But however you structure your menu, make sure it works for both your clients and your business.

And if you're still working out what your core services should cost, head to our Guide to Pricing Your HONA Nail Services for our complete guide to building a pricing structure that works for you.