Heather's nail studio

It’s hard to take business or life advice from someone who hasn’t lived it.

In life, I’ve been through almost anything life can throw at me.
In work, almost the same. I tried going independent 3x. First 2 didn’t work. Third time stuck and I still had no idea what I was doing.

I learned the hard way. I had no idea if I was even profitable.
Surprise, I wasn’t.

Now, I still work with a coach and mentor. Besides skill courses, I know I need other help still.

If you need help or advice, I’m available in the DM.

What I wish someone had told me when I first started doing nails.

You don’t need to work 6 days a week.
You don’t need to work 10+ hour days
You don’t need to cram as many clients as possible into your day.
You don’t need to bend over backwards for anyone.

Find a mentor. Find a great employer to help you learn how to book, retain clients, understand product chemistry more than school did.
Take any education you can afford. Business and skills. Know your products in and out.

“Just raise your prices”
“Charge your worth!”
“Just believe in your value”

That’s cool, still doesn’t help on the How to calculate it, How to roll it out, and what to say when there’s push back. Because there usually is.

Generic business coaching wasn’t built for a service based business, where you doing the labor AND the books AND the client relationships, solo, in a chair, all day.

You need advice from someone who’s actually run this exact kind of business. Not adapted from someone who’s never ran an E File.

A few things to help extend the life of your set.

💅🏻 cuticle oil daily, not just when you remember. It keeps the product and your nails flexible together.

💅🏻 gloves when deep cleaning, & yard work

💅🏻 Don’t use your nails as an expensive tool. I don’t mean like a screwdriver. I mean opening cans, amazon boxes etc.

💅🏻 book your appointment on time. Waiting puts stress on your natural nails.

Small habits make a long lasting set.

What is Structured Gel, & why does it last?

It’s a term created to describe a technique. Structured gel is an overlay, with either a soft or a hard gel. To create support and structure to the natural nail. Unlike Gel Polish, which is just a very durable polish manicure.
Structured Gel tends to hold up better because it reinforces and gives shape to the nail. We can’t do that with just Gel Polish.

Gel Polish is meant for a couple weeks of wear. It can chip, your nails can break if too long, in length and between visits.
Structured Gel however can last 3-4 weeks, then be maintained because of the outgrowth isn’t balanced anymore.

Structured Gel is meant to last longer, and still keep the integrity of your nails.

Link in bio to book.

Revenue does not equal profit.
Let’s do the math.

Here’s the breakdown most techs aren’t doing.
💵 What you charge subtract
-product charge
-time (real time, not just doing services: cleaning, emails, education, admin)
-overhead (rent: room/booth, taxes, utilities, insurance, tools)
= What you actually keep.

Some techs are pricing off what feels fair, or what the tech down the street charges. Not off their real numbers.

You can’t fix a number you’ve never looked at.

Over 26 years in this industry. 10 of those as an independent nail tech.

I’ve done the underpriced, overbooked, running on fumes version of this business. I didn’t learn how to fix it from a course. I didn’t have a salon owner to help me. I lived it, then figured it out the hard way.

This is the whole reason I started, Behind The Polish. Not a theory. Not borrowed advice from someone else. Just that actually worked for me, from someone who was sitting right where you are sitting.

Save this if you need a reminder that it can change