Thank you for sharing your story! It is always inspiring to hear about someone’s path and motivation!! Your enthusiasm is so key!! Wishing you continued success on your journey with LE!!
First of all…why do we live so far apart? I would love to come to your nail salon and just look at all of the beautiful colors! Second of all…thank you for the tip on swatching the underside of the tip! You are a wealth of nail knowledge!!
Thank you for sharing your journey! I’m just reaching my 1 year anniversary of becoming a Nail Tech. You are inspiring me to start a blog of my own and share my story. I am now half way thru getting my Teacher’s License and I’m finding talents I never knew I had. Thank you for being you Madison. 💜
I loved reading about your trip! I am so glad that you invest in yourself as a nail artist. The nails you created with Miss Tracy are gorgeous!! Now that I am back in school teaching it is harder to find time to read my favorite blogs…but please know I love every post I read of yours!!
Thank you SO much for blogging such nice things about the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies show & I look forward to seeing you this July in Gatlinburg, TN!
Just wanted to pop on here and tell you that I love your post and your blog. And I want to let you know you’re an awesome person!. I met you at Nail Camp
when I was at a crossroads and just being who you are, and sharing with me and listening to me and guiding me not to mention making me laugh you’re a gift from God.
I should have also said the way to recognise mma easily during soak off is it is like a stringy jelly snot consistency, whereas ema acrylic goes more like a crumbly gel when soaked off with acetone xxx
This was fantastic hunny!!! In nail school we were tasked to go shadow a nail tech and most of my fellow students went to the salon they wanted to work at. I went to an NSS. I, just like you, wanted to see if what I had heard in school was true. Also like you, I was not surprised to learn that all the things I had heard were true, and then some. I give you credit for going and seeing for yourself that corners are definitely cut and you get what you pay for. Yet we, as nail techs, have chosen to further our education. And that is our choice. We have to realize that not everyone has that drive and doesn’t see the need. While that’s sad and flies in the face of all we hold dear, he has that right. What we can do is educate our clients on what we are doing and why we do it. One client at a time. I do think that everyone should check out a NSS and see for themselves what happens or doesn’t happen and educate themselves instead of driving the narrative from horror stories they’ve heard from other techs. Who knows…. You might be able to make a difference in another nail techs practices, if they’ll listen, but you will definitely gain a new respect for the techs out there that are going the extra mile and are continually improving by attending continuing education. I, for one, will never stop learning and will continue to improve my services and keep an open mind when I see a new technique that another tech is exploring. I take what works and incorporate it in my services if it makes sense and doesn’t do damage and I leave the things that don’t serve my clients. Good on you for posting this blog and opening up a dialog on this very contentious subject. I applaud you my friend!! Xoxo
Thank you so much! I’m glad you tried it too! I’m so big on education that it will forever be my goal to help people and always learn more. We all could use it. Thanks for reading 💖
Such a great discussion. Nice you have now experienced all that I have heard from a lot of clients! I have gone to experience pedicures at NSS and found them technically good but at the $40-45 level. Never went for base line service . I always like to wear my work if possible so I prefer doing my own nails as it represents my work… and people usually notice them and comment…… great way to pass out a business card!!….. but if a fellow tech did my nails I always refer them from the compliment. Thanks Madison😘
I’m sure you will rock it hunny!! My heart hurts that I won’t be attending this year and sitting around the table with my nail besties like last year. (That was a pinch me moment foo shure). Have a fabulous time and just be yourself. We love you!!
Well said my dear!! I’m really looking forward to next years Nailcation with Mary Ellon!! I love learning, laughing and the bonding!! Which ones are you planning on attending?
Thank you for sharing darling. I remember many of your posts when things changed and I was sad for you. You should be loved for WHO you are, not for what category you fit into. You should be appreciated for what you bring to the table with your wit and your skills, not for which team you’re playing on. and know that I’m happiest when you’re happy with where you’re at with who you are, no matter who that is xo <3
I love you boo. I love your drive, your get go. I love watching you reach for your dreams. I love watching your videos and your lives. And your updates about Momma and your cat!
You are a great nail tech and a amazing person.
Thank you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for sharing your life journeys. Thank you for sharing your creativity, determination and amazing spirit. ❤️u
Oh my God I love that you put the picture of you me and Delia up. I feel loved, 😍 but on to your subject. Sometimes when unlicensed people who are very very good and seen to follow correct procedures and protocols and then I see someone who totally just wings it and I would be really worried about their sanitation practices and they don’t seem worried that they can hurt somebody and that really bugs me. But then again, I’ve seen licensed people who had education, who passed their state boards that I would not allow to work on my dog. I guess it really depends on the person. I know I worked very very hard to get my license and keep it and I’m proud of my accomplishment.
I actually had someone who compared it to getting your driver’s license. Someone told them they don’t have a license but drives so what difference does it make. I do know that you can’t get insurance through some professional insurance companies if you do not have a licensure. They won’t cover you.
I know you mentioned several times here that you ’failed’. I honestly don’t see a single hint of failure, I only see a beautiful person living their life, learning about themselves and entertaining their many passions and skills. That sounds like success to me.
Thank you for sharing this, people need to understand that products should not be applied over this. It’s so important to have accurate information shared and I appreciate you doing just that!
Great article! I was also interested in going to vo-tech for Cosmetology, and was told by my guidance counselor that I was too smart for that and should go to college. I went, reluctantly, as an art major, and while I loved my art classes, I was tired of general education classes, and quit after 1 semester. Then I just entered the workforce and worked to help pay family bills. At 49, after many life changes, I decided to go to nail school. I’m loving my job, and I’m now loving Magic Gel.
There is so much negativity in any industry. I’ve seen it in the chicken industry when breeding chickens too, especially when you get into the fancier chickens.
The difference is pushing through, realizing you’re not doing it for others in the industry, but you’re doing it for yourself and your clients or your Target demographic. For those that don’t agree, those are not your target demographic.
You have been through a lot and I’m sorry the industry hasn’t always been kind to you but you still stick around and you made a career of it and that means something. ❣️
An older post but I thought I would leave a comment to bring it back to life.
I don’t think it will ever be too saturated with too many events or too many retreats. Just as I don’t see other nail techs as competition.
There are plenty of clients to go around, just as there is plenty of Education to go around. These retreats and events allow us as nail techs to elevate our skills and also renew our passion.
Nail techs especially the ones that work in a walk in Salon or even just run their own business, we all experience burnout, but I’ve learned over time. These events allow us to ReDiscover our passions and meet and greet with individuals in the industry that truly still have that passion and it’s almost infectious. ❣️
Thank you for this information! I’ve just started my journey and am starting as private. Learning about all these opportunities even some that are relatively close to me is amazing
Cool so exciting!!!! lol I stalk you!!!
I love you so much hun!!!
Thank you for sharing your story! It is always inspiring to hear about someone’s path and motivation!! Your enthusiasm is so key!! Wishing you continued success on your journey with LE!!
Thank you so much!
I loved reading about your journey to LE! I love how you write because I could just this all happening! Thank you for sharing this with us!!💕
And now you have your own fans !!! Love you sweets.
Love you more!
First of all…why do we live so far apart? I would love to come to your nail salon and just look at all of the beautiful colors! Second of all…thank you for the tip on swatching the underside of the tip! You are a wealth of nail knowledge!!
I hope you can visit one day!
This is so awesome, I love all of your creative ideas. Hope to meet you in person soon.
Thank you for sharing your journey! I’m just reaching my 1 year anniversary of becoming a Nail Tech. You are inspiring me to start a blog of my own and share my story. I am now half way thru getting my Teacher’s License and I’m finding talents I never knew I had. Thank you for being you Madison. 💜
Congrats I. Your one year! I hope you achieve all of your dreams!
I love your story! Your future is definitely brite! Love you 😘 💗🤟🏼💅🦄
I love your story! Your future is definitely bright! Love you 😘 💗🤟🏼💅🦄
Love you more!
You are an inspiration to me and many others! I have loved watching your journey and The sky’s the limit on what your nail future holds. ❤😍❤
Thank you so much, you’re amazing!
Loved it thank you for sharing!!
Omgeee I’m in your blog!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ It was so good to see you 😘😘😘 I’m so proud of you my sweet friend xoxo
I loved reading about your trip! I am so glad that you invest in yourself as a nail artist. The nails you created with Miss Tracy are gorgeous!! Now that I am back in school teaching it is harder to find time to read my favorite blogs…but please know I love every post I read of yours!!
Thank you SO much for blogging such nice things about the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies show & I look forward to seeing you this July in Gatlinburg, TN!
Just wanted to pop on here and tell you that I love your post and your blog. And I want to let you know you’re an awesome person!. I met you at Nail Camp
when I was at a crossroads and just being who you are, and sharing with me and listening to me and guiding me not to mention making me laugh you’re a gift from God.
Fabulous !!!!!! An inspiration to all who are struggling!!!!!! Get em kid!!!!!
Fantastic post hun and I can confirm that is definitely mma acrylic. Xxx
I should have also said the way to recognise mma easily during soak off is it is like a stringy jelly snot consistency, whereas ema acrylic goes more like a crumbly gel when soaked off with acetone xxx
I had to google it to be sure. I would say it is by now just by how rough it was to come off.
Yay!! That’s awful lol
I truly love this. The review was optimistic, open, and fair!!! You taught me something through this. Great job hun!
*that is mma
Thank you for reading! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 💖
This was fantastic hunny!!! In nail school we were tasked to go shadow a nail tech and most of my fellow students went to the salon they wanted to work at. I went to an NSS. I, just like you, wanted to see if what I had heard in school was true. Also like you, I was not surprised to learn that all the things I had heard were true, and then some. I give you credit for going and seeing for yourself that corners are definitely cut and you get what you pay for. Yet we, as nail techs, have chosen to further our education. And that is our choice. We have to realize that not everyone has that drive and doesn’t see the need. While that’s sad and flies in the face of all we hold dear, he has that right. What we can do is educate our clients on what we are doing and why we do it. One client at a time. I do think that everyone should check out a NSS and see for themselves what happens or doesn’t happen and educate themselves instead of driving the narrative from horror stories they’ve heard from other techs. Who knows…. You might be able to make a difference in another nail techs practices, if they’ll listen, but you will definitely gain a new respect for the techs out there that are going the extra mile and are continually improving by attending continuing education. I, for one, will never stop learning and will continue to improve my services and keep an open mind when I see a new technique that another tech is exploring. I take what works and incorporate it in my services if it makes sense and doesn’t do damage and I leave the things that don’t serve my clients. Good on you for posting this blog and opening up a dialog on this very contentious subject. I applaud you my friend!! Xoxo
Thank you so much! I’m glad you tried it too! I’m so big on education that it will forever be my goal to help people and always learn more. We all could use it. Thanks for reading 💖
Such a great discussion. Nice you have now experienced all that I have heard from a lot of clients! I have gone to experience pedicures at NSS and found them technically good but at the $40-45 level. Never went for base line service . I always like to wear my work if possible so I prefer doing my own nails as it represents my work… and people usually notice them and comment…… great way to pass out a business card!!….. but if a fellow tech did my nails I always refer them from the compliment. Thanks Madison😘
I’m sure you will rock it hunny!! My heart hurts that I won’t be attending this year and sitting around the table with my nail besties like last year. (That was a pinch me moment foo shure). Have a fabulous time and just be yourself. We love you!!
Thank you hunny! I’ll take lots of pictures
Awww thank you hun!! I’ll be thinking of you!
Well said my dear!! I’m really looking forward to next years Nailcation with Mary Ellon!! I love learning, laughing and the bonding!! Which ones are you planning on attending?
I’m super excited for MA, I really enjoyed it! But I would love to attend them all next year, some as an educator and others as an attendee.
Thank you for sharing darling. I remember many of your posts when things changed and I was sad for you. You should be loved for WHO you are, not for what category you fit into. You should be appreciated for what you bring to the table with your wit and your skills, not for which team you’re playing on. and know that I’m happiest when you’re happy with where you’re at with who you are, no matter who that is xo <3
Thank you so much for your words!! Don’t ever be sad, your smile doesn’t shine as bright! I’m glad I always have you in my corner. 💝💖
You are amazing, no matter which gender or any other category/label! Just keep being your authentic self. *hugs and support *
Awww thank you!! Big hugs to you hun!! 💝💖
You’re an amazing human and nail tech no matter how you identify…you be you xo
Thank you so much! 💖
I love you boo. I love your drive, your get go. I love watching you reach for your dreams. I love watching your videos and your lives. And your updates about Momma and your cat!
You are a great nail tech and a amazing person.
And that is the my absolute favorite pic of us!
Thank you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for sharing your life journeys. Thank you for sharing your creativity, determination and amazing spirit. ❤️u
Awww you’re welcome hunny! I’m glad I can have a safe space to do so! Thank you for always tuning in! 💝
Oh my God I love that you put the picture of you me and Delia up. I feel loved, 😍 but on to your subject. Sometimes when unlicensed people who are very very good and seen to follow correct procedures and protocols and then I see someone who totally just wings it and I would be really worried about their sanitation practices and they don’t seem worried that they can hurt somebody and that really bugs me. But then again, I’ve seen licensed people who had education, who passed their state boards that I would not allow to work on my dog. I guess it really depends on the person. I know I worked very very hard to get my license and keep it and I’m proud of my accomplishment.
I actually had someone who compared it to getting your driver’s license. Someone told them they don’t have a license but drives so what difference does it make. I do know that you can’t get insurance through some professional insurance companies if you do not have a licensure. They won’t cover you.
I like that they compared it to a drivers license, that is sort of true! But never the license shows you took an approved course to know the rules.
I know you mentioned several times here that you ’failed’. I honestly don’t see a single hint of failure, I only see a beautiful person living their life, learning about themselves and entertaining their many passions and skills. That sounds like success to me.
Thank you so much, I needed to hear that.
Well said!! ❤️💕
Great ideas!!!
Thank you for sharing this, people need to understand that products should not be applied over this. It’s so important to have accurate information shared and I appreciate you doing just that!
Thank you so much! I’m glad I can help spread the word! 💖
This was a Fun read! 💗
I’m so glad you like it! 🥰💖
Great blog and that nail tech is very pretty!!
Great article! I was also interested in going to vo-tech for Cosmetology, and was told by my guidance counselor that I was too smart for that and should go to college. I went, reluctantly, as an art major, and while I loved my art classes, I was tired of general education classes, and quit after 1 semester. Then I just entered the workforce and worked to help pay family bills. At 49, after many life changes, I decided to go to nail school. I’m loving my job, and I’m now loving Magic Gel.
This was fun to share with you! Thank you for the invitation to sit down for a chat, I look forward to the next time.
Awesome interview, thanks for sharing!
I loved reading this article! I’d love to learn from Darcy!
There is so much negativity in any industry. I’ve seen it in the chicken industry when breeding chickens too, especially when you get into the fancier chickens.
The difference is pushing through, realizing you’re not doing it for others in the industry, but you’re doing it for yourself and your clients or your Target demographic. For those that don’t agree, those are not your target demographic.
You have been through a lot and I’m sorry the industry hasn’t always been kind to you but you still stick around and you made a career of it and that means something. ❣️
An older post but I thought I would leave a comment to bring it back to life.
I don’t think it will ever be too saturated with too many events or too many retreats. Just as I don’t see other nail techs as competition.
There are plenty of clients to go around, just as there is plenty of Education to go around. These retreats and events allow us as nail techs to elevate our skills and also renew our passion.
Nail techs especially the ones that work in a walk in Salon or even just run their own business, we all experience burnout, but I’ve learned over time. These events allow us to ReDiscover our passions and meet and greet with individuals in the industry that truly still have that passion and it’s almost infectious. ❣️
Ty we appreciate you and your knowledge you give us! Love you
Thank you for this information! I’ve just started my journey and am starting as private. Learning about all these opportunities even some that are relatively close to me is amazing