Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Lovett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I got started doing nails as a hobby around 2011. I was inspired by nail designs I saw on Reddit and Instagram, and then I saw the TV show Nail’d it… and it was over. I never knew how much you could really do with nails outside of a manicure or a set of acrylics with some art drawn on. I started getting way more adventurous with the designs I tried to do, and attempted to teach myself how to do as many nail things as I could find tutorials for.
I was finally able to follow this passion and turn it into a career in the fall of 2016, when I went to nail school while working full time and then some! The hard work paid off and I graduated from Botanic School of Nail Technology in Chicago (I highly recommend them if you’re thinking about doing nails!).
Right around the new year of 2017 I landed my first nail salon job at a place in Oak Park, IL and really started to grow my style and clientele. I had the opportunity to go to some neat events with them, I even got to work a mani’s and martinis party which was a collaboration between Rich Girl Candy clothing line and Pearnova nail polish- and I got to give Rachel (the creator of Pearnova polish line and one of the stars of Black Ink Crew Chicago) a custom manicure complete with “Pearnova” hand painted in old English lettering!
My goal is to have my own business someday so I decided to venture on to another salon this past April so I could have a broader experience before I go it on my own. I am currently working at Anthony Vince’ Nail Spa located in the Oakbrook Center Mall, which has allowed me to pursue more of the things I’ve been wanting to work on. Hopefully I’ll have some exciting announcements soon career wise!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been lucky because my past experiences in the art world have made it relatively easy for me to pick up nails. I’ve always been a maker, my hobbies throughout the years have included drawing, painting, wood carving, sculpting, pottery, jewelry making, crocheting… even stained glass! You name it, if it’s creative I dabble in it. So I still get to draw and paint, it’s just on tiny nail canvases now; shaping a nail is the same concept as shaping a piece of wood with a drill.
There’s always obstacles, just because things have a similar idea behind them doesn’t mean they’ll work the same. The biggest obstacle for me has been learning how each product works- one brand’s acrylic might dry faster than another brands, every type of gel has a different viscosity, no chip polishes all act differently depending on the brand… it’s very much a hands on field with lots of trial and error. I think the most important thing though is to be well educated yourself, and to continue learning everything you can about the products you use so that you can inform your clients. The biggest issue I have is that I find the typical nail client knows nothing about what they wear on their nails every day! So my advice is simply just because you have your license, you need to keep learning and spreading your knowledge! Experiment with lots of things, practice every chance you get!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Nerdy for Nails – what should we know?
I am a licensed nail technician working with natural nail manicures, pedicures, acrylic and hard gel nail enhancements. I am known for my nail art and out of the ordinary designs. I love doing intricate hand painted designs, creating designs inspired by fashion or nature or really anything that catches my eye. I like experimenting with things that wouldn’t typically be thought of as something meant for nails. I take a lot of pride in being a quality over quantity type of service provider, I want to know my clients are walking away with a set of nails that is exactly what they were envisioning (or even better, I love pushing their boundaries with nail art!), that will last them and well informed about what is on their nails and what they can do to keep them healthy no matter what kind of service they received.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I struggle with networking, I hide it pretty well most times but I’m actually super shy! When I decided nails was the career I was going to get serious about, I just started looking up brands and checking out their websites, joined Facebook groups, followed other nail artists on Instagram whose work I loved. My goal in the future is to go to more nail trade shows, I think that is the best way to meet your idols in person and learn from the pros. I got to meet a couple of my favorite nail artists as well as take pictures of my nails on the CND stage with Jan Arnold the first year I went to the American Beauty Show here in Chicago, but you have to have the guts to go say hi!
Contact Info:
- Address: Anthony Vince’ Nail Spa Oakbrook Center
545 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523 - Phone: (630) 990-0800
- Email: thekristenlovett@gmail.com
- Instagram: @nerdyfornails
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenlovettnails/
Image Credit:
Kristen Lovett
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