The First Six Months
A long-winded answer and some additional musings on “So, how is nails going?”
A long-winded answer to “So, how is nails going?”
I started doing nails professionally about four and a half years ago. Until May of this year, I did nails two or three nights a week after my day job. I’d usually do four sets a week, sometimes five or six. I never intended on doing nails full time—I knew it would be stressful financially and hard on my body, but I think more than that, the idea of betting on myself was incredibly daunting.
That said, the beginning of this month marked six months of doing this full time. So far, it’s going well. There are things that I’m working on and things I want to change and improve, but generally, I’m having a pretty good time doing this. I really like doing nails, and I’m so thankful for both the clients who have been coming to me for years as well as the ones I’ve met since May.
In May, I (naively?) thought that because I had already been doing nails for a few years that shifting to full-time would be fairly straightforward and easy. ALAS, I’ve been a bit humbled on that front, and with that in mind I’ve put together a little “reflections on the first six months” sort of thing, if only so future-me can look back on this someday and remember what it was like.
So, without further ado: Things I’ve learned/musings on the first six months of doing nails (mostly) full-time.
I’ve lost all sense of time (kind of, anyways).
When I worked a 9-5, Friday was the end of the week, after which I’d have two days completely off of work. Now, my schedule is a little all over the place. Is today Thursday or Friday? Do I have both weekend days off? Where do I have time somewhere in my day to take the dog for a walk if I have a basic art manicure at 10:00 a.m., an intermediate art appointment at 12:15 p.m. and a solid color manicure at 3:00 p.m.? If I don’t have work until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, what do I have time to get done beforehand? If I have a two-and-a-half hour gap between appointments, do I have enough time to go to the gym, shower, dry my hair and look presentable for the next one? If I get done working at 9 p.m., does it make sense to make a ‘real’ dinner before bedtime? I spend a lot of time thinking about what to do with random chunks of time throughout my week.
All this to say: I feel like I never know what day it is, or what time it is anymore, and my old routine is absolutely toast. Case in point: I meant to write this “first six months” post the first week of November. It is currently November 27. Whoops!
2. Managing a varying, daily budget requires A LOT of self-discipline.
Getting paid every day is kind of nice! But after so many years of getting paid weekly or biweekly, it’s hard to let go of the concept that every other Friday, a paycheck will hit my account and I’ll be able to go down a checklist of bills that need to be paid and tasks that need to be taken care of. Now, I have to plan ahead and monitor what will be coming in and what’s going out in a way that I haven’t had to do in a long time, and my expenses are a little different than they used to be (if you’ve been in lately, you’ve absolutely heard me complain about what insurance companies think is an appropriate amount to charge for their coverage).
While it’s convenient to have money coming in every day, not having that fixed amount to anticipate has taken some getting used to. In the future, I hope to manage this a little differently so it feels a little more like a ‘regular’ job where I “get paid” at set intervals. Is it gauche to talk about money and my finances like this so candidly and publicly? Maybe. But it’s important to talk about the realities of stuff like this, I think! Moving on, though…
3. There are days when I feel like I’m really bad at art and I have no business doing this, and I’ll probably always have those days.
Some days, it seems like my brain simply will not connect with my paint brushes. On these days, I still have to do the best work I can, but I’m sweating the whole time and hoping my clients don’t notice my internal panic. I want everyone who comes to me to love their nails, but the reality of being a human is that some days are just better than others. I do always try my hardest, even when I’m struggling (you’ll notice me wiping off the design a dozen times or more), and there have been a few occasions where I’ve had to pivot to do something a little different if the art isn’t art’ing. It’s really hard not to let these days get under my skin. On these days, creeping thoughts—that I shouldn’t be doing this for a living, that I’m not any good, that my clients hated their nails—are loud. I try not to let these trains of thought take over and remind myself that we all have off days and that it’s fine (but then I try to pathologize it and figure out if there’s a way that I can just…not have off days, haha).
4. Setting boundaries is soooo uncomfortable (but sooo necessary).
I haven’t always been the best at standing up for myself—and I know I’m not alone in that. Running a business made it increasingly apparent, though, that I needed to get better at setting boundaries lest the business run me (do little turns of phrase like this ever not sound like LinkedIn-speak?). The first time I actually processed a cancellation fee felt like rubbing sandpaper on my skin, and having to communicate that showing up late consistently was not acceptable was something that I hated having to do. Letting myself say no to squeezing in appointments when I really need some time off is new to me. I don’t know that I’ll ever become a ruthless ~Girl Boss~ but I’m getting better at telling myself “this is business, it’s not personal” like I’m in a 1980s movie about the stock market or something.
5. Not having coworkers can feel really lonely sometimes.
I miss having people around me to go about the workday with. It’s always nice to have someone to riff with or problem solve with, or commiserate about something challenging or laugh about something bewildering that happened. I’m vaguely considering putting something together next year, a sort of Chicago Independent Nail Techs meetup (so if you’re reading this and you’re in Chicago and you agree that working solo can be really isolating, maybe shoot me a message and we can ~collab~ or something). (Also, if this already exists, I’m sorry, I straight up have not even looked for anything like it yet).
6. Marketing myself is HARD.
I don’t mean on a base level. Making ads is pretty straightforward. But I’m not the kind of person who will announce that I did my nails myself if someone tells me they like my nails. Luckily, my friends and clients are the kind of people who do that and often chime in—usually with the phrase “she also did mine,” while handing one of my cards out. I am forever thankful for everyone hyping me up, both in front of me and when I’m not around. There’s nothing that compares to the feeling of getting an appointment request and the “How’d you hear about me?” line has an answer with a name of a longtime client. I am so, so, so grateful for everyone who name-drops me every chance they get—because if you know me at all, you know how hard it is for me to do it for myself.
7. Days off???????
I technically take two days off every week. But if I’m being honest, I don’t know when the last time was that I took a day *completely* off from doing nails or this business. If I’m not editing photos or planning social posts or writing this blog that no one reads, I’m reordering things I’m out of, making sure I wrote down income and expenses in my spreadsheets, thinking ahead about what I might need to order for certain appointments (am I out of any Gel-X sizes??), washing my desk towels, organizing my nail desk, practicing something I wanted to try out….the list could go on for a few more paragraphs. I’ve never been the sort of person who worked all hours of the day (I was more of a “laptop slammed shut at 5 p.m. every day” kind of person), but running this business has made me care about my work in a way I never did before. I always worked hard at my jobs and took pride in my work, but I think it’s fairly obvious to point out that working for oneself requires you to do that on another level. I’m trying to get better at really taking days off, though—maybe I’ll get there someday.
8. Doing this has made me happier than I’ve ever been.
Like I said, I’ve never been a “live to work” kinda gal. Deciding to do nails full-time has forced me to have a confidence in myself that I never had before. I’ve learned more about what I’m capable of doing in the last six months than I thought possible. I’ve cried ~happy tears~ multiple times over the last six months—anytime I think too hard for a few seconds too long about how lucky I am to be able to do this, how incredible it is to have loyal clients (who are people I not only enjoy working with but who are also really, really cool people), how fun it is to get to do art every day. I went into this thinking it would be hard and scary—and it has been, don’t get me wrong. But it’s also been so rewarding and so fun and so challenging, and while I would be lying if I said I loved *every* minute of the first six months, I’ve loved most of them. Thanks for being here with me for ‘em.
Ok, til next time!
xoxo, Gossip Girl
A Non-Exhaustive List of Nail Colors I Cannot and Will Not Be Without
As a nail tech, I buy plennnnnnnty of gel colors. I haven't counted lately, but if I had to venture a guess, I’ve probably got somewhere in the ballpark of 250 colors available for my clients to choose from. And while there's a few that sit mostly untouched (though hardly unloved), most get used with some regularity. There are a handful, though, that are such staples in my collection that I make sure to have a backup on hand at all times because it would ruin an appointment if I needed it and didn't have it (ok, maybe not ruin, but you know what I mean).
Whether you’re just starting to build your collection, or you’ve already built one and, like me, are always looking for the next greatest thing, or you just like reading about nail polish (hello, welcome), here are a few of my all-time faves—the heavy hitters, the must-haves, the “who knew I'd use this one so much” and the “of COURSE this gets used constantly”—that I make sure I'll never run out of.
As a nail tech, I buy plennnnnnnty of gel colors. I haven't counted lately, but if I had to venture a guess, I’ve probably got somewhere in the ballpark of 250 colors available for my clients to choose from. And while there's a few that sit mostly untouched (though hardly unloved), most get used with some regularity. There are a handful, though, that are such staples in my collection that I make sure to have a backup on hand *at all times* because it would ruin an appointment if I needed it and didn't have it (ok, maybe not ruin, but you know what I mean).
Whether you’re just starting to build your collection, or you’ve already built one and, like me, are always looking for the next greatest thing, or you just like reading about nail polish (hello, welcome), here are a few of my all-time faves—the heavy hitters, the must-haves, the “who knew I'd use this one so much” and the “of COURSE this gets used constantly”—that I make sure I never run out of.
NOTE: This is not an ad, or sponsored, or commissioned; I just really like these colors. If any of these brands wanted to send me some of the goods, though…I would not protest.
ANOTHER NOTE: This list doesn’t include staples like a basic white and black liner for outlining and such. For those, I use Kokoist’s Blackest Black and Bluey White. They’re great, but they’re not as exciting to write a paragraph about. Need a silver or gold liner? Look no further than Presto 153 and 154.
OKAY! Without further ado, in no particular order:
These are my forever first choices for art that needs a neutral base, for clients who like a seamless grow-out, for a clean and crisp French manicure and for those of you who want “just a little something” instead of a clear nail. Shades like Peanut Butter Toffee, Soft Cashmere Toffee, Neut Pink, Rose Tea Toffee, Pink Beige Toffee and Sand Beige Toffee (am I forgetting anyone? Probably. I use SO MANY of these) all look so similar in their jars, but they pick up on everyone’s skin tone a little differently and, as such, every client who uses them here has a favorite (which I keep written in their client file notes). The formula is incredible—they brush on SO smoothly without streakiness and it's just *chef kiss* every time. I simply cannot go without them. Kokoist, if you're reading this, please never ever ever ever discontinue these.
I’m not much of a solid-color manicure gal myself. I almost always have some kind of art on my own nails, but if I don’t—because I wanted to spend one hour and not three (honestly: five) on my manicure—there’s a 90% chance I’m wearing this color. Aptly named, it really is my favorite (and a lot of my clients’ favorite) red. It’s almost neon, a little orangey but not too much, and so saturated. You can’t go wrong. If you’re not into wearing red nails, try this one—you may find yourself, like me, a convert.
3. Presto #300
If you, or any of your clients, want to try out a ceramic-y nail design, Presto has a line of colors that mimic the finish of pottery. I have several of them, but #300 has a milky white base, gray and black speckles and the faintest, FAINTEST shimmer (even if you don’t like glittery shades, I promise you will still like this one). I’ve used it in both shiny and matte designs, and with a matte topcoat (I like Presto’s), it gives a look that mimics clay pottery or ceramics (also: apologies to anyone who works with ceramic, clay, and pottery, as I am sure I have misused the terminology here).
4. Presto SC-168
This is a weird one. Unforch, Presto discontinued this one a while back and I am currently on the hunt for a suitable replacement (and I’m slightly sweating because my last bottle is getting low, so…if you know of one, please do holler at ya girl).
It’s a greenish-yellow, yellowish-green. It’s snot-green, baby-poop chartreuse, bright-but-not-neon olive, it’s somehow opaque and translucent at the same time, and when I got it, I *never* would have guessed how frequently I’d reach for it. I don’t know how to describe it. It adds depth to floral/botanical sets, it’s great for a base color against other brights, it’s just… I dunno, man, it’s just excellent. I need it in my life. Presto, if you are reading this, please please please bring it back. It’s practically got its own fan club, and we nail artists would be eternally grateful.
Ok, in compiling this list out of my all-time favorites, I’ve realized a big problem, which is that this neon mac-and-cheese color I bought years ago has seemingly vanished from existence. Grani 025 no longer exists as I know it, but it looks like perhaps #19 might be its replacement. Unfortunately, I cannot read Russian, so the jury is out on whether I’ll be able to restock this one. So, um, again…if you have a color that is the color of the powder in boxed mac and cheese…let me know. I have a client who loves this color so much that we try to incorporate it into almost every set, so I need to find a bottle (or five).
The name of this one reminds me of that one contestant on Project Runway.
Birnam Wood? It’s a black gel. BUT it gets a place on this list because, let’s be real, black gel can be a struggle sometimes. Some of them can be streaky and too sheer, while others can be TOO saturated and difficult to cure. Maybe you don’t have this struggle. But if you’re like me and you’ve been mildly traumatized by buffing even the thinnest possible layer of crinkled, wrinkled uncured black gel off of clients’ nails while reassuring them it wasn’t anything they did wrong, this gel may be a game changer for you. This one is smooth and applies like a dream while still being opaque—AND IT CURES IN ONE GO. Any way I can save time during appointments is a win, and as such, I’ll be repurchasing this one.
7. Kokoist’s “Summer Collection” (and other jellies)
Again, I promise I’m not getting paid to write this. I WISH! That said, I can’t tell you how many times I have repurchased ones from this collection (plus a few of their other sheer jelly colors). Pink Dragon and Tequila Orange make a super summery ombre. Blue Hawaii is perfect for a pool water look. Black Martini is awesome for layering opaque black linework over (think lace or fishnets). Ugh, they’re just all so versatile! I have a few other jellies from this brand too that I love: Rosso Red Glass (try this over a magnetic/cateye silver, trust me); Khaki Oats Glass (another weird chartreuse-y shade); Beet Roots Glass (a more saturated, slightly more fuchsia version of Pink Dragon); Blu Blue Glass (slightly more teal, slightly more saturated).
8. Presto #001
For some reason, this one reminds me of the nail polishes I loved most when I was younger—holographic chunky glitter mixed in with smaller holographic glitter. I love using this as a topper, but it’s also nice with—you guessed it—a jelly color on top. Try it with Kokoist Bourbon Brown. I know, it sounds weird, but it’s so good!
9. Wildflowers’ White Cateye
There are so many silver/white magnetic gels out there—I have several—but this one is my most-used. It’s sparkly without being glittery (does that make sense?) and it’s unmatched when used underneath one of the aforementioned jelly colors. Try it around Christmas with Kokoist’s Rosso Red Glass on top (or, in summertime, use that same combo for making nails that look like those old-timey strawberry hard candies). It’s great on its own, too. AND, it’s a one-coater—what’s not to love?
10. Presto #089
Last but definitely not least. I could not make this list without including my giiiiirl, Presto #089. This was one of the first gels I bought when I started getting into working with gel, and I’ve probably bought a dozen jars of it. It is a true highlighter pink. If you want it to pop even more, use a white base underneath it. Enough said.
Ok, that’s all for now. I hope you enjoyed this list of my all-time faves (for now, anyway). If there’s a color I NEED to know about or one that’s a MUST HAVE in your own collection, please do not hesitate to let me know about it—shoot me a message on the ‘gram or send me an email!
WAIT!!! I FORGOT ONE.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Gel Bottle Studio Gel in “Last Night”
This one can be a little tricky to work with because it’s a little chonky (that’s a technical term we use in the biz*), but it’s worth it. It’s a dense black base with a TON of reflective black glitter in it that’s a bit gritty until you top coat it, and then it really lights up. It’s on sale right now which makes me nervous that they may be getting rid of it. Run don’t walk, maybe? I’ll take 3.
*no it’s not
Ok, bye for real this time!
New(ish) in the Studio - Summer 2025
One of the biggest things I have noticed since starting to do nails is that, so many times, I’ll buy a new product or color and think, “clients are going to love this”…only to never end up using it. Part of that, I think, is because people don’t know about everything that’s available, and it’s vaguely difficult to communicate what new products are in or how we can use them to create cool sets of nails—especially if the only time those products are mentioned is in the five-to-ten minutes that we discuss what they’re going to do with their nails that day.
To that end, I want to start updating here about new things I get in the nail room so that my clients know what’s available to them. Here are some of the newest things I’ve gotten in this summer.
One of the biggest things I have noticed since starting to do nails is that, so many times, I’ll buy a new product or color and think, “clients are going to love this”…only to never end up using it. Part of that, I think, is because people don’t know about everything that’s available, and it’s vaguely difficult to communicate what new products are in or how we can use them to create cool sets of nails—especially if the only time those products are mentioned is in the five-to-ten minutes that we discuss what they’re going to do with their nails that day.
To that end, I want to start updating here about new things I get in the nail room so that my clients know what’s available to them. Here are some of the newest things I’ve gotten in this summer:
1) A new airbrush, a bunch of new paint colors and a bunch of new stencils.
If you’ve come to see me before, you might be thinking, “I thought she always had an airbrush”—and you would be correct. BUT, for my birthday this year, my brother gifted me a new one—the Iwata HP-B Plus—and I am, in a word, obsessed. My first airbrush was an Iwata Neo, and it got the job done for what I mostly needed it for, but it didn’t allow for smaller or more precise lines and detail work. If you wanted a gradient french, an aura nail or a quick ombre, that airbrush could handle it, but for more intricate and layered designs using stencils, it fell short, simply because the nozzle didn’t allow a small enough spray radius.
This new one, though. It’s great. I still need to practice more to really learn the ins and outs, but pictured above are just a few quick trials with it. I used some stencils from What’s Up Beauty and Golden High Flow Acrylic Paint (no aerosolized gel + acetone here!), and for just a few thrown-together ideas, I’m really impressed with what it can do. I’m excited to create some really unique sets of nails. For the next few months, if you tell me ‘do whatever you want’ at your appointment, it’ll probably involve the airbrush.
2) Metal Halloween charms
These have been a hit in the past, and I was running low, so a restock was in order. I found these a couple years ago on Daily Charme, and I really like the quality. Plus, if your nails are medium-length, we can combine the skull charm with the ribcage charm and you can have almost a whole skelly right there on your hand. SPOOKY!
3) DVOK’s “Chilling” collection
I was *heavily* influenced to buy this collection after seeing a few other nail artists posting about it. Most of the magnetic/cateye gels I’ve used and bought have a gray/silver base, but these have a champagne gold base that felt really unique. Plus, just look at how ethereal they all look when they’re next to each other. They’re so pretty!! No regrets.
4) Kokoist Jelly Top
I love little 3D accents, and I’m always game to try the newest product to do them. Kokoist is a heavy hitter in my studio, so I knew if they were putting out something to do 3D elements I wouldn’t be disappointed. I’ve used it a few times since getting it, and I really like it. It does sself-level, but it’s slower to do so than hard gel (which is what I used to use), so I don’t have to flash-cure each little swoop or blob in between—I can do a full nail at once and then send you to the lamp. We all love a time-saver.
5) Pearl embellishments
I’m not sure if I didn’t have these before or if I had just run out and forgot to restock, but let’s just say I won’t be needing to mix pearl chrome powder into top coat to make DIY pearls anytime soon.
6) Sheer red shades from Rozy
I tihnk we’ve all partaken in the “well, I’m paying for shipping, might as well make it worth it” purchases, and admittedly, these were that when I bought the DVOK Chilling collection, but they’re SO PRETTY. It doesn’t show well in the above photo, but these reds are sheer, yet very pigmented, so they look super juicy (for lack of a better word) on your nails. I imagine they’ll get their time in the sun come fall and winter.
Ok, that’s it for now!
As always, if you see something out in the wild that you a) don’t know if I have or b) NEED me to have for your next set of nails, feel free to let me know about it! I’m happy to make sure I’ve got what we need to help you get the nails you’re dreaming about.