If you want a beauty career in Nepal but cannot decide where to start, the honest comparison is usually between two courses: the 45-day Professional Nail Course and the 14-day Professional Lash Course. They differ in cost, time, startup investment and the kind of business they lead to. This guide compares them properly so you can pick on evidence rather than on which sounds more appealing.
The two courses side by side
| Professional Nail Course | Professional Lash Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 45 Days | 14 Days |
| Fee | NPR 1,50,000 | NPR 55,000 |
| Level | Beginner → Advanced | Beginner → Advanced |
| Kit | Full professional nail kit | Full professional lash kit |
| Client return cycle | 2–3 weeks (infills) | 2–3 weeks (infills) |
| Typical service price | NPR 2,000–4,500 | NPR 2,500–5,000 |
| Appointment length | 60–90 min | 90–180 min |
Both include practice on real models, a certificate of completion and internship support. Full details are on our academy page.
The Professional Nail Course (45 days, NPR 1,50,000)
This is the longer course because nail technology is genuinely broad. Over 45 days you cover:
- Acrylic nail extensions — the stronger, more rigid system
- Gel nail extensions — lighter and more flexible
- Manicure, pedicure and gel polish application
- Nail art and design techniques
- Dry manicure preparation, which is what actually determines retention
- Practice on real models throughout
Why nails is the most stable client base in beauty
Nail clients are the most habitual customers in the industry. They come back every two to three weeks, year-round, regardless of wedding season or festivals. That predictability is worth a lot when you are building a business from zero — you can forecast income in a way that a bridal-focused artist simply cannot.
Startup costs are also moderate. You need a table, a lamp, product and good ventilation, not a large space. See what the services you would be offering look like on our acrylic extensions and gel extensions pages.
The honest downsides
It is the biggest commitment on this list: 45 days of your time and NPR 1,50,000. Nail work is also physically demanding — it is close-focus work on your hands and neck for hours, and ventilation genuinely matters for your long-term health when working with acrylic monomer.
The Professional Lash Course (14 days, NPR 55,000)
The fastest route into the industry. Over 14 days you cover:
- Classic lash extensions — one extension per natural lash
- Volume lash extensions — hand-made fans for density
- Hybrid technique — blending both for texture
- Lash lift and tint — no extensions required
- Isolation technique, which is what protects the client’s natural lashes
- Practice on real models
Why lashes is the fastest route to earning
Lowest fee, shortest course, smallest space requirement. You need a bed, a lamp and a kit — many lash artists start from a room at home. Like nails, lash clients return every two to three weeks for infills, so repeat income builds quickly. Our client guide to classic, hybrid and volume sets shows what you would be selling.
The honest downsides
Appointments are long — a full volume set takes up to three hours — so you serve fewer clients per day than a nail technician. The work is also extremely precise, and the eye strain is real; good magnification and lighting are not optional. And because isolation errors damage clients’ natural lashes, the margin for sloppy technique is narrower than people expect.
So which should you choose?
Choose lashes if…
You want to start earning within a month, your budget is limited, you plan to work from home or a small rented chair, and you have the patience for slow, precise, repetitive work.
Choose nails if…
You can commit 45 days and NPR 1,50,000 upfront, you want the broadest and most predictable client base, you enjoy creative work (nail art is a genuine differentiator), and you want a skill set that supports a full salon later.
Choose both if…
You are planning a salon rather than a single-service studio. The 2-month Combo Course at NPR 3,10,000 covers multiple disciplines and works out better than stacking individual courses. Offering nails and lashes together means one client can book two services, which roughly doubles the value of every person who walks in.
What about brows and PMU?
Worth knowing before you decide: brow permanent makeup has the highest per-client value of anything we teach. A single microblading appointment is NPR 15,000 and nano brows are NPR 32,500. The one-week Microblading and Microshading course is NPR 95,000. The catch is a higher skill bar and semi-permanent consequences for mistakes, which is why many artists start with lashes or nails, build a client base, then add PMU later.
After the course
The graduates who succeed do the same things: they keep practising after certification, they photograph every result properly, they take the internship, and they price honestly at first and raise prices as their portfolio strengthens. The certificate opens the door; the portfolio is what gets you booked.
International students
Both courses are open to students from outside Nepal, with visa guidance and accommodation support. Fees in USD are on our international courses page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nail course cost in Kathmandu?
The Professional Nail Course at Artistry Academy is NPR 1,50,000 for 45 days. It includes a full professional nail kit, acrylic and gel extensions, manicure, pedicure, gel polish, nail art techniques, practice on real models, a certificate of completion and internship support.
How much does a lash extension course cost in Nepal?
The Professional Lash Course is NPR 55,000 for 14 days and includes a full professional lash kit, classic, volume and hybrid techniques, lash lift and tint, practice on real models, a certificate and internship support.
Which is better to learn first, nails or lashes?
Lashes if you want the fastest and cheapest route to earning, since the course is 14 days and needs only a small space. Nails if you can commit 45 days and want the most predictable, year-round client base. Both have clients returning every two to three weeks for infills.
Can I learn both nails and lashes together?
Yes. The two-month Combo Course at NPR 3,10,000 covers multiple disciplines and is better value than taking separate courses. It suits anyone planning to open a full salon rather than a single-service studio.
How much can a nail or lash technician earn in Nepal?
Service prices give you the arithmetic: nail extensions run NPR 2,000 to 4,500 per client and lash sets NPR 2,500 to 5,000, with most clients returning every two to three weeks. Actual earnings depend on how quickly you build a regular client base, which is why internship and portfolio building matter.
Do I need my own space to start?
Not immediately. Many graduates begin with an internship or a rented chair in an existing salon while building a portfolio. Lash work in particular needs very little space, which is why several of our graduates start from a room at home.
Come and see the academy
We are at Sohrakhutte Chowk, Kathmandu, open every day 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Contact us or call +977-9708274017 to talk through which course fits your plans.
