Customers & Automation
Polish Formula Library
Last updated 10 July 2026
Polish Formula Library
Polish formulas keep a private, per-visit nail recipe for each client. Record the application type, hands or feet, products, shades, nail-art placement, cure details, notes and later wear result without replacing earlier visits.
Where to find it - Web and mobile: Open a nail booking and choose Record formula or Use last formula. Customer profiles show the client's formula history and latest formula summary.
TL;DR
- Polish Formula Library is a PRO feature for nail venues.
- Each save creates a new visit record. Use last formula copies the previous recipe.
- Select at least one nail for every colour or art layer in the active area.
- Formulas are private. Public Portfolio images use a separate consent and publishing flow.
What a polish formula records
A polish formula records the products and placement used during one client visit.
| Field | What you can record |
|---|---|
| Application area | Hands, feet, or hands + feet |
| Application type | Regular polish, gel polish, builder gel, dip powder, acrylic, soft gel extensions, or a custom type |
| Base coat | Optional brand and product or shade code |
| Colours | Up to eight colour layers, each with brand, shade code, coat count, finish and nail placement |
| Nail art | Up to eight art layers with art type, description and nail placement |
| Top coat | Optional brand and product or shade code |
| Cure details | Cure time in seconds and lamp notes |
| Notes | Up to 2,000 characters for visit observations |
Every colour and art layer must include at least one selected nail in the chosen application area. A formula must include a colour, art detail, top coat, lamp note or formula note before it can be saved.
Recording a formula
Record a formula from the booking detail while the client and visit context are available.
- Open the client's booking on web or mobile.
- Choose Record formula.
- Select Hands, Feet, or Hands + feet.
- Choose the application type.
- Add the base coat, colours, nail art and top coat that apply.
- Select the nails used for each colour or art layer.
- Add cure details or notes when needed.
- Choose Save formula.
OpenChair links the formula to the client. When recorded from a booking, it also keeps the booking and primary service context and attributes the record to the signed-in staff member when a staff profile is linked.
Reusing the previous formula
Use last formula copies the client's most recent active formula into the new visit form. Review the copied shades, products and placement before saving because the new visit may differ.
Saving the copy creates a new record. The earlier formula remains unchanged in the client's history.
Recording the wear result
The latest formula can capture how the set wore after the client returns or reports an issue.
- Open the formula prompt for How did the last set wear?
- Choose Held well, Chipped, Lifted, Peeled, or Other.
- Add the number of wear days when relevant.
- Choose Save wear result.
Wear days must be between 0 and 180.
Formula history and corrections
Customer formula history lists active formulas newest first. Formula details describe what was recorded for that visit and are not edited in place. Create a new formula when the recipe itself needs correction.
Notes can be updated, with previous note values retained in an append-only history. Owners can inspect the note history. A formula saved by mistake can be soft-deleted and restored without removing the audit trail.
Linking formulas to treatment photos
A treatment photo can be linked to a formula for the same venue and client. If both records have a booking, they must refer to the same booking.
When a linked nail treatment result is promoted to a hidden Portfolio draft, OpenChair can carry the linked formula and its first available polish brand and shade code into the draft. The image still needs the separate Portfolio consent and visibility checks before it becomes public.
Who can use this
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| Owner | Record formulas, manage history and inspect note history on PRO |
| Manager | Record and manage formulas when their venue access permits it |
| Team | Record and view formulas for their venue when their access permits it |
| Customer | No access to private formula records |
Common mistakes
| Issue | What to do |
|---|---|
| Save formula stays disabled | Add a colour, art detail, top coat, lamp note or formula note, then select at least one nail for every colour or art layer. |
| Use last formula shows nothing | The client has no active previous formula. Start a new formula instead. |
| A photo will not link | Confirm the photo and formula belong to the same client and, when both are booking-linked, the same booking. |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Polish Formula Library is locked | Confirm the venue is on PRO and is configured as a nail venue. |
| A custom application type is rejected | Choose Other, then enter a description for the application. |
| Wear result will not save | Enter a whole number from 0 to 180 for wear days, or leave wear days blank. |
| Latest summary looks out of date | Refresh the customer or booking detail. Formula creation, deletion and restoration update the cached summary in the same database transaction. |
FAQ
How do I record a polish formula?
Open a nail booking, choose Record formula, add the application area, products, shades or art placement, then choose Save formula. The formula is linked to the client and can also be linked to the booking, service, staff member and treatment photo.
Can I reuse the last polish formula?
Yes. Choose Use last formula to copy the client's latest recipe into a new visit record. Saving creates a new formula and does not overwrite the previous visit.
Can clients see their polish formulas?
No. Polish formulas are private venue records. A separate Portfolio image can show public nail-look tags only after the Portfolio consent and visibility checks pass.
What can I record about wear?
You can record Held well, Chipped, Lifted, Peeled, or Other, with an optional number of wear days. The result stays attached to that visit's formula.