L.A. Hair: Episode 3 -- Naja's Take on Her Business (and Pleasure) Vegas Trip

Things are still a bit tricky in the salon, to say the least. I’ve heard before that a human being is an adapting machine, so ADAPT is what I'll do for this current situation. I'll adapt so I won't have a lapse in my business, cash flow, or servicing my regular clients.

I will adapt. I will not settle! These may look the same but in fact are quite different. To settle is to just put up with things and throw in the towel, so to speak. It’s a powerless state, and I learned a long time ago not to give my power away or put my power at the mercy of someone else’s hand. Adapting is a state of power. It's the smart play. I wasn't in a position to lease another space, and the options to service my clients in another space were not optimal. The Kim Kimble salon could be optimal but presently was not at all. I had a choice and decided to adapt to my current surroundings and see if it would work out.

I’ll admit I lost my professional cool a bit and wanted to turn over a new leaf with Leah, so we could move past our initial greeting and most importantly get to giving my clients the accommodations they were used to. Food is the way to most people’s hearts and, with me being a classically trained chef, I thought I’d make an old favorite: red velvet cupcakes. I was surprised she accepted and didn’t quite feel she was genuine in taking it or that we were now on the same page but I did my part and know what my intentions were.

I was so excited to get out of the salon and my “barely there” station and go to Vegas for work. I absolutely despise Vegas. Vegas is so close to Los Angeles, and most people love it there. Not me, I think it’s one big ashtray with doors. For work, I love any place. I was going to Vegas to do Fantasia’s nails for the Soul Train Awards and to work with Dontay (BIG added bonus).

I actually had two more added bonuses (well, three, if you count the sexy kiss with Tay Tay) while in Vegas. I did Lil Mama’s pedicure. She already had her nails done. I used one of my custom-designed Minx patterns in LALA Land. Syleena Johnson absolutely loved the Minx silver lighting fishnet French tips. She said, “Come on Nails!”

Working on location and for events like the Soul Train Awards you are always working against the clock no matter how much time you think you have or how much planning went into it. There is never enough time. I usually try to at least add something even if someone already has his or her “nails done” because this is my one moment, my one chance to make an impression. Even if I’m not the one who constructed their nails from scratch I still can razzle dazzle them. “Najafy them”, I say!
 
That’s why I was not upset when I arrived and Fantasia already had her nails painted. It gave me the opportunity and time to razzle-dazzle the other ladies up and have three people on the red carpet wearing Naja :).

Fantasia had very limited time. When I got to her she needed to be on the red carpet in 20 minutes. She had a deep dark navy blue gel polish over very long acrylic nails. Dontay called them, “Ol North Carolina talons” and wanted me to convince her to shorten them, but she was not budging. She had a crack in one of them that I repaired (on a side note, I finally got to try out the Kupa Upower 2G -- it’s cordless, so cool!). I added some navy blue/silver Ciate caviar beads. I wanted to take advantage of the length of her nails and that she was performing that evening, so I added large diamond-shaped crystals to the backside of her nails too. I always try to find the good in any situation.

My arrival to the salon was sooooooo far from good with no station set up but a work trip to Vegas to do three fabulous ladies for the Soul Train Awards was OK. The good I found in the salon was sexy Dontay.

When it comes to the kiss with Dontay, we were out of the salon environment, work was done, AND we were in Vegas...What did you think I’d do?! Ha ha.

naja

Editor's Note: We're thrilled that celebrity nail tech Naja Rickette is blogging exclusively for NAILS Magazine during the second season of L.A. Hair. Read her past posts by clicking on the L.A. Hair (We TV Reality Show) link under "Post Categories".