Nail Technician Archives - Be Beautiful Hair & Beauty

Back in 2013 I started my own Hair & Beauty business. It’s been a crazy journey with so much to learn, but four years on and I’m still absolutely loving it! Therefore I wanted to take you behind the scenes and share why running a business is a world far away from lazy days, long lunches and why I wouldn’t swap it for anything…

Morning…

My day often begins around 6.00am when the alarm goes off and after the initial feeling of being way to cosy under the duvet to move, I get up and head straight to the pool for 6.30am and start my morning swim. (I’ll be completely honest, there are days that this is harder than others, like when you have to scrape the ice off the car first or it’s raining) However, this is my chance to switch off from everything for a while and really set myself up for the day.

I get home around 7.45am and depending on what my day has in store, I’ll either be getting ready to head back out the door to work with clients or I will be sitting at my desk planning what I need to get done by the end of the day. One of the many things I enjoy about running my own business is that no day is ever the same.

My first job this morning is catch up on some emails followed by writing a feature for Sienna X to use in their latest newsletter. I absolutely love doing things like this and feel really lucky to have the opportunity. (You can catch up on my latest press features here.)

I’ll then try and break for lunch (this doesn’t always happen) there are many occasions when I get so engrossed in what I’m doing, I’ll look up from my work to find it’s gone 2.00pm!

Afternoon…

This afternoon I need to do some work on my website, create some social media posts for Facebook and Instagram, place some orders with Wella and Sienna X, create my newsletter and then get my tanning kit ready for tonight… Days like this really light me up and make my heart sing… I love being busy!

Evening…

Tonight I have a tanning party and there is just enough time for me to grab a bite to eat before I need to leave. Tanning parties are always so much fun! What could be better than a night in with your girls, a bottle of Prosecco, a few nibbles and a spray tan? Ooo that reminds me, I need to create the goody bags too!

It’s now just coming up to 6.45pm and with my tanning kit all packed in the car, I’m all ready to go…

It’s 9.00pm and I’ve just got home. I had a great evening at the party, they were such a lovely group. Time for a glass of wine I think and half an hours relaxation before heading to bed.

Someone asked me recently, “If you were to win the lottery, would you still do what you do?” Without a shadow of a doubt I would! I cannot tell you how much I love what I do. Making busy women like you reading this right now, feel beautiful and giving them back some well deserved “me-time” is one of the best feelings in the world. I may have long days but they are all so worth it and I wouldn’t go back to the 9-5 for anything!

Until next time, go and chase your dreams and love what you do!

Love,

Nina x

CND (Creative Nail Design) revolutionised the nail industry and first created Shellac back in May 2010. This was after almost five years of development in their state-of-the-art laboratory. Since then, it has become one of the most popular nail treatments on any beauty salon menu.

Shellac is a hybrid, (meaning half nail polish and half gel.) The product is applied like a polish to the natural nail (or over extensions) and is cured via a UV or LED light. Because the product is cured, there is zero drying time, which allows busy women like us to get on with the rest of our day. Shellac is a three part system; firstly a base coat is applied, followed by two colour coats and finished off with a high shine top coat.

As a Nail Technician, my primary focus has always been to keep my clients nails as healthy as possible. Therefore I thought it may be useful to share some of my top tips for looking after your Shellac and why it is so important to remove it properly…

Apply a cuticle oil twice a day (I personally recommend Solar Oil, also by CND) to keep nails and cuticles hydrated. This also helps reduce the temptation to pick any dry skin around the nail.

Avoid nails coming into contact with cleaning products and chemicals. I strongly advise that you wear gloves for household jobs, washing up, gardening or any other hobbies that are harsh on your hands.

If you do experience a chip make sure you don’t pick or pull it as this will cause damage to your nails underneath. I would always advise getting in touch with your nail professional in order for them to repair this for you.

Shellac is fantastic for holidays too, however just be aware that some sun tan oils and insect repellant products can contain solvent oils that can cause damage your Shellac. Excessive sun exposure and chlorine can also cause your colour to fade. To minimise this, I would recommend drying your nails after swimming and prior sunbathing.

I know there are some people who like to ‘peel’ their Shellac off, however, by doing this, you can seriously damage the natural nail underneath. Which is why it is really important to remove the product correctly. If you are choosing to do this at home, you will need the following; pure acetone, cotton wool pads, foil and an orange wood stick. Apply your acetone to the cotton wool pad and place over the nail, take a piece of foil and wrap around your finger. Leave for ten minutes and remove foil and cotton wool pad. Once removed, take your orange wood-stick and gently remove the excess product. Once completed, wash your hands and dry thoroughly before applying your cuticle oil to each nail.

If you would like any additional nail care advice, you can download your free guide over on my Tips & Tricks page, or feel free to join me over on my Facebook page.

In the meantime, treat your nails as jewels, not tools…x

Love,

Nina x

A Day In The Life Of A Business Owner…

How To Look After Your Shellac… And Avoid Damage