“I am thankful for my loyal clients who challenge me with new and exciting art for their nails every day.”

Cindy Panagiotou, Defiance Body Studio, Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada

“I am thankful for all of my amazing, wonderful, fantastic clients! They have all equally contributed to my success and I love each and every one of them!”

Stephanie Shuttleworth, Polished & Pampered, Clovis, Calif.

 

“In my professional life there is a lot I have to be thankful for and I’m not sure I could even put words to all of it. People who have helped me improve in every angle of the nail industry imaginable, people who attend my classes so we can exchange knowledge, clients who keep coming back so I can indulge in my passion as a career, people who share the industry fire and work to elevate it and feed the flames of others, product advancements that keep things interesting, and a magazine that makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself every time I open it!”

Holly Schippers, The FingerNailFixer, Bussey, Iowa

 

“I am thankful for a wonderful boss who has helped me find my passion for doing nails again (after 22 years) and who has helped me through good and bad times. But most of all I am thankful for our friendship that has allowed us to be completely honest with each other and make the shop a wonderful working environment.

I am also thankful for my clients who have become family, friends, and even confidantes. Without my clients, I would not be in this business.”

Yvette Pitt, The Lacquer Beauty Lounge, Watsonville, Calif.

 

“I’m thankful for all aspects of my profession, but the main two things I am thankful for are my hands and my creative mind. Creativity + Hands = Talent. 

I really believe that I have been blessed with both amazing hands and creative thinking. My mind has the ability to come up with ideas, and my hands have the ability to create my ideas into such beautiful work, leaving my clients and me very satisfied, and sometimes amazed. I have never attended any professional art classes, yet my hands are steady enough to paint almost any idea that pops into my mind. Not many people can think up ideas on the spot to complement their clients’ desires, but yet I always do.

Other things I am thankful for are my clients. They are all so wonderful. Luckily I have never had any rude clients. My clients consider me a friend. My senior clients treat me like a daughter, not only do they bring me tokens of appreciation, but they give me sound advice on my life as well.

I am also thankful for other helpful professionals in the nail industry who educate and share professional advice when needed. Not just my fellow nail techs, but product companies and suppliers who are always coming out with new products to prevent nail techs from being stagnant in the field. NAILS Magazine and other magazines also contribute in playing a part in educating and updating nail techs. It’s very hard to just say I am thankful for one thing in my profession. So again I say I am thankful for all aspects of my profession. “

Tricia Abreu, Nail Artistry by Tricia, Miami, Fla.

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“I am thankful to be able to work from my home, which enables me to have a fun, creative job. I can also take care of my home. If I have time in between clients, I can cook or clean or whatever I need to do. I also am here to take care of my three Great Danes. If I have a few minutes they can be let out or fed. There’s no other job that allows you to do this. 

To me working from home is so rewarding. I feel like friends are coming over to get their nails done. I also have easy access to my computer and I can try different nail art, techniques, and chat. 

Most of my life I did secretarial work, which I was not happy with. I am so thankful I am able to be a nail tech, business owner, and (even at 60) enjoy my work. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else until I retire.”

Cindy Wentzel, Nails at the Carriage House, Newmanstown, Pa.

 

“Thomas Smith (left) and James Lizotte (right) own Oasis Day Spa, the most beautiful day spa in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. When I applied to work there, I was 36 years old and fresh out of school. They gave me a chance. Thomas and James are very supportive. They gave me time to really practice doing gel nails, allowing me to do them in the spa on my friends at cost. When I have ideas, they listen and often implement them (like using Shellac when it first came out). They gave me more hours by letting me work at the reception desk, which has given me the opportunity to meet regular clients from the hair salon and be available for walk-ins. Since working at Oasis, I have been featured in NAILS Magazine and in my local paper.

We also have lots of fun. Thomas and James throw Christmas parties for their staff and hold regular fashion shows featuring clothing from their store. The staff members model the fashions and I get to show off my nail art along with the gorgeous clothes.

I love my bosses, and I am extremely grateful for them and the opportunity they have given me. I hope they know how I feel, but if they don’t they will now!”

Janine Taylor, Oasis Day Spa, Chatham, Ontario, Canada

 

“I am thankful for the time and dedication that I put into nail art in the early years of my career. That extra time I spent ended up helping me 1,000-fold down the line. Today I am thankful that I can inspire and teach others what I picked up along the way.”

Robin Moses, robinmoses.com, Florence, Ore.

 

“I am thankful for the opportunity to open my own nail salon, and I’m very blessed to have one of the most amazing technicians, Angela Roman (right), working for me. I have put a lot of hard work and dedication into this salon, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without all the support from my family and friends. I am very thankful and blessed for them. I am also very thankful for my clients’ business. It wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Rebecca Mendez, Secret Style Nail Salon, Lombard, Ill.

 

“I have been blessed with being able to teach for four years now. I always had a passion for nails and I followed my calling. I withdrew from college after my first year and decided to go to nail school. I vowed I would go back to college when I was ready. After completing my six-month nail course, the school offered me a teaching job. I began doing my student teaching hours and finally became licensed as an instructor.

I was 20 years old and began teaching nails. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to educate future nail technicians. At first, I was scared, excited, nervous, and proud all at the same time. Once I began having students of my own, it became so natural for me. I was born to educate people and being able to educate them about something I am so passionate about only made it better! I am also very thankful for all my students. I’ve taught more than 40 students and I am thankful for each and every one of them. Dealing with so many different ages and personalities has made me the teacher I am today. I will be Mz. Angie, ‘The Nail Mama’ for life!”

Angie Roman, ABC Cosmetology School, Chicago

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“I’m thankful for devoted clients, continuing education, and techs who are willing to help, encourage, and inspire one another to become the best professionals they can be. And above all, I’m thankful to God for blessing me with such an amazing career!”

LisaMarie Santos, IROCKNAILS at Studio One80 Salon, Crestview, Fla.

 

“As a male nail tech, I am thankful for the acceptance the salon/nail community has given me for being a guy in a profession that is less than 4% male.”

Erik Acevedo, Organic Mobile Tanning LLC, Miami

 

“I am most thankful for my family, who has helped build one of the most respected nail salons in Michigan. I have been working with my wife for several years in order to grow our small family business into a viable, respected business. In the past two years we have expanded into a larger location, added several more employees, and been recognized as one of the premier nail salons in Michigan. In addition to being a salon owner, I am a father of two, a husband, an employer to eight employees, including my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Having built a business from nothing into a well-respected, profitable business and providing jobs and security for my employees and family members, brings me a lot of joy.”

Nick Brown, Velvet Nail Lounge, Troy, Mich.

 

“I am thankful for the gift God has blessed me with. Doing nails allows me to meet wonderful people and share the things I have learned to help other nail techs in their journey. I am thankful for my best friend (who is also a nail tech) for seeing more in me than I saw in myself when we started doing nails and encouraged me to stay motivated when I wanted to give up.”

Angela Williams, Jazzy Nailz, Jacksonville, Fla.

 

“I am thankful for all of my clients and family who have supported me for 22 years. It’s not easy in this industry when you have shops down the street that are offering services for $20 less than what you charge.”

La Sharn D. Newbill, My enHANDSments by La Sharn, Bolingbrook, Ill. and Elkridge, Md.

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“I am most thankful for mentors. In the short time  I have been a licensed nail technician, there have been many. First was my instructor in nail school. With over 20 years of experience, she was invaluable as a source of information to myself and the rest of the class.

While I was still in school, I was lucky enough to volunteer to be a part of the Butter London Nail Tech Team during New York Fashion Week. It was there that I first had the opportunity to meet and work with Nonie Creme (right). Nonie is creative, professional, edgy, stylish, and a true genius when it comes to all things related to nails. Despite her hectic schedule and the intense demands on her, she always had time to answer questions and demonstrate techniques to each and every tech on her team. Her encouragement and example has motivated me to pursue my goals in this industry.

Since then, I have continued to work NYFW shows with Butter London and several other companies. At these shows, I have met a vast array of wonderful nail techs at many different places in their careers. I make it a point to learn from all of them. They are my mentors, my heroes, and my inspiration to keep learning and growing in the industry that I love and to become the best nail technician I can be.”

Teresa King, Nailing It, Brooklyn, N.Y.

 

“As a 20-year veteran in the nail industry the thing I am most thankful for is my beautiful daughter, who is now 16 years old. She’s been such a blessing to me because she lets me try new things on her nails and has been my calling card for at least the past nine years. She loves being my hand model, and she’s a great one at that! When she goes to school, all her friends and even her teachers notice and comment on her nails. Even when we are out shopping they get noticed. She doesn’t hesitate by smiling and saying ‘Thanks. My mom does them.’” 

Lynette Guzman, Nail Creations by Lynette, New Boston, Mich.

 

“I am thankful for the experience. When I decided to go into the field of nails I never knew I would be able to open so many doors. I was able to blog for nails when I opened my salon. It allowed me to meet nail techs from all over the world through the Society of Nail Techs. I have been able to experience a side of nails I never expected when I decided to study nails as a career.”

Alica Best, Upscale Nail Bar, Griffin, Ga.

 

“I am first and foremost thankful for being able to do nails for the last 11 years. I am even more thankful that I have been so successful and been able to financially support myself since I was 17 years old (including being able to buy and sell my first house at the age of 19!). All of this has been made possible by my nail career. Now, eleven years later I am so thankful for being able to teach as an educator for Bio Sculpture Gel and travel all over the U.S. to share my knowledge with others. When I’m not teaching classes, I work at an amazing salon in Orange County doing what I love with people that I love. I wake up every single morning and feel truly blessed to have such an amazing career and I’m thankful to be able to share my passion with others.”

Megan Aballi, The Nail Lounge, Newport Beach, Calif.

 

“I am so thankful that in this economy I have still been able to not only keep my clientele but also double it!”

Tricia Baldwin, Studio Salons, West Jordan, Utah

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 “I have been a practicing cosmetologist for 15 years. I have done everything from cutting and coloring hair to waxing and facials and now I have settled in as a nail technician. I absolutely love doing nails. I have a passion for the different designs I can create on someone’s nails and I love it when my clients say, ‘I can’t believe you are able to make my nails look so good!’ My clients are my livelihood and I am so thankful for them.”

Joanie Boden, Design 1 Salon and Spa, Cascade, Mich.

 

“I am thankful for your magazine and others like it. It’s so much help and offers so many resources for me starting out. I’m thankful for my job, family, friends and all in between.”

Laura McCarthy, Divine Digitz, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland

 

“I started nail school when I was 18 years old and graduated by the time I was 19. I went at my mother’s suggestion. She is also a nail technician. Since graduating from nail school in 1994, I have pretty much done nails full time since (or at least as my only job, even if it’s not a full 40 hours a week).

When I was with a client last week I realized how many hours she worked a week, how much stress her job gave her, and how her job caused her to miss many hours at home with her children. And that’s when I realized, I may not have the most money, I may not have fancy cars, and I may not have exotic vacations but I honestly love my job. It relaxes me more than it stresses me out and it affords me what I need. It has always given me enough time to enjoy my family. I couldn’t ask for much more!”

Katherine Evans, Relache The Spa At Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Fla.

 

“I am thankful for working for a wonderful company like OPI. George Schaeffer and Suzie Weiss-Fischmann are the most giving people I have ever met. Even though they are a worldwide company they still remember people that work for them.

My son’s best friend Lance Corporal Jessie Cassada was killed in Afghanistan on January 6, 2009. This devastated my entire family as he was often at my home and I considered him one of my own. (I made Easter baskets for him and he had a Christmas stocking at my home.) Jessie was 19 years old and had been in Afghanistan for only two months.

My son started a non-profit named “Jessie’s Honor” to send care packages to the troops in Jessie’s name. He worked constantly on raising money and finding ways to try to get the care packages full and the money to send the boxes. I sent George and Suzi an e-mail asking them if they had anything they could send our troops. I thought they would send me a dozen lotions or something like that.

UPS came by my salon and told me they would deliver my boxes the next day when they got a bigger truck. I was a little confused and asked them why. They told me that there were a few boxes. My husband went to the UPS office and picked up the boxes for me. He came back to my salon with 34 boxes — $8,000 worth of product. I cried when I saw what they had done for my son, his best friend, and the service members who we were sending these things to.

Everyone at the corporate office was aware of what our family went through. They called me to check on my family and Jessie’s family as well, and prayed for us as we went through one of the hardest things in my life.

My son Cameron has sent 5,100 boxes to the troops with a letter about Jessie and how much he loved his country and the Marines. Cameron has finally gone on with his life, going to Basic Law enforcement school. He started a scholarship in Jessie’s name at the high school that they attended.

You can see why I love my company OPI and George and Suzi.”

Norma Sproles, The Signature Salon, Hendersonville, N.C.    

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