2016....a year of growth

It's crazy to think that this time last year I had no idea where I was heading or what I wanted as my career....becoming a mother you almost inevitably lose your way and wonder how the hell you're going to get back on your feet.
It's scary.
And not matter how many times you get told,
"it's ok, your allowed to have a break from work"
or
"you're still young, don't worry you have time to figure out what you want to do"
you still feel like you're failing as a parent because you should be contributing towards family income.
Losing sight of the fact that you are contributing, you're raising your children and that my friends is no easy task...leading to the fact we also forget that sometimes we need 'me' time.

This is where I decided to return to the nail industry.

I was reminded by a friend at how much I enjoyed sitting there with new people everyday creating art on their fingers and seeing their smile as they walked out of the door knowing I just had a small part in making them feel better about themselves.

 

So I got my ass into gear and started researching brands that were around and saw an awesome brand and new nail academy that was coming to my town to do some nail art courses.
I jumped on board and never looked back!
Those 2 days I attended brought back my passion, even though initially I had thought it would be a hobby, something for myself, until I figured out what I was really ment to be doing,  I decided there and then that I would be doing this as my job and shit got serious.

Now don't get me wrong, becoming a home salon is not cheap and it took me a while to build up my stock and equipment I needed to successfully pull this off, and I'm still going...

My first purchase was a gel polish kit from Monaco Pro, and my very first client paid for my next polish, and my next for my next. My business is paying for itself which is the best feeling!

This year I have decided that half of what I make will stay in the business and the other half will go back into my family paying for things like swimming lessons and school stationary, after all whats the point in working if you don't get anything out of it.

This year I have also decided to set strict boundaries on what and when things go on in my nail room.

For instance child rules, you'd think these would be just general smarts but sometimes people don't understand the dangers of a baby being able to touch chemicals or trying to get into rubbish bins.

And to make sure I don't run myself into the dirt I have decided that my hours are my hours, I was getting quite lenient with random nail clients but that has to change to ensure I get time off and my kids still get their mother at home, which is why I work from home in the first place.

I want to take this section to sincerely thank all my friends and family that supported me making this journey and have got me to the point now where I have frequent strangers inquiring and making appointments. You are the reason I have a job xxx

I have set myself goals for my nail business this year, something I have never done before and I am planning on attending nail courses and workshops whenever I can to ensure the success I foresee for myself.

Happy New Year to you all xxx
May this year rock our socks off

B xxx

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Nail Biters

 

Just about everyone has bitten their nails in their life.

Biting fingernails is a habit that often starts in childhood.
Studies show 60% of children and 45% of teenagers bite their nails.
Nail biting becomes less common after age 18, but it can continue into adulthood. Many adults and children are often unaware they are biting their nails because doing so has become a habit. it can be the occasional nibble to a more serious problem.

Regularly biting your nails and cuticles can leave your fingers red and sore. The area of skin around your nails may bleed and become infected.
Bacteria and viruses passed from your fingers to your face and mouth can make you vulnerable to infection.

This is where nail technicians can be your best friends!!!

There are so many options to help strengthen your nails to the point where they will be strong enough to grow naturally.

IBX and gel polish, Hard gel (extension or over lay) and Acrylic (extension or overlay)

(If you want to know more about IBX I have another post about the benefits here...)

What is hard gel?
Hard gel is a higher viscosity gel formula that comes in light proof pots. 

This needs to be cured in UV light.
It can be extended out (extension) or just placed on top of your natural nail. This is called an overlay.

What is acrylic?
Acrylic is a 2 step system with liquid and powder in which a brush is dipped into the liquid and then placed into the powder to form a ball. This sets naturally.
It can also be used for extensions or overlays.

What is best for you can depend on your hobbies and life style. Your nail tech should be able to suggest the correct form of nail service for you once she has found out what these are.

The below success story is solely from gel polish appointments.

  <------This was her first appointment getting gel polish to help grow her bitten nails.
The first step towards stopping the biting habit.

<-------This was 3 weeks from her initial appointment and the results are amazing!
A few millimeters feels like a lot more to a nail biter and it can take a while for them to get used to the extra length, so maintaining them and keeping them short is the best option.



My next success story is based on an acrylic extension.

<------This client is very hard on her nails, she works with horses, is a solo mum and does a lot of gardening.

She has bitten her nails for a very long time and struggles to grow them out due to the skin in front of her nail beds which are slightly pushed up.

This means her nails grow into her skin which is uncomfortable.

<------This is after an acrylic extension with ACG gel polish.

I kept the length below the edge of her fingertip and rounded the edges so she would be less likely to catch them on things.

These are sculpted using forms (which i talk about in THIS blog post)

She has reported that she has had her nails stood on by horses, got caught in buckles, been in a lot of water, had some medicinal chemicals on them and the acrylic is still in perfect form, no lifting and no chipping.

Her nails are a little sore from knocking them around (she admits she is very rough with them), but its possible that the acrylic saved her from getting yet another bruised nail as it took most of the impact.

I have yet to do a hard gel service on a nail biter but it will essentially have the same impact as acrylic except it is slightly softer and more flexible. This would be suited to someone with hands in water all the time or someone that doesn't like the smell of monomer (used in acrylics).

Long story short....if you're ready to grow your nails or want a quick solution for a special occasion, get in contact with a qualified nail technician who can provide a high quality service so your natural nails will be taken care of underneath your enhancements.

B xxx

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