Hi, I’m Tisha Allen, an aspiring nail technician who has vivid goals of taking the nail care industry by storm! I have been immersed in the beauty industry since the age of 3, attending countless beauty tradeshows with my mother who has been a master hairstylist for over 35 years.

Growing up, in the Bronx, N.Y., I had dreams to do something different from my mother, so I obtained a degree in public relations from Columbia College Chicago, then continued my education at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. While attending FIT, I interned as a stylist assistant, styling various high-fashion editorials and working behind the scenes with designers, stylists, and models during major runway shows. While dressing models, creating mood boards, and pulling clothes for photo shoots, I also worked full-time in hospitality. This soon became an uneasy balance. I decided that styling would take a back seat when I was offered a position to assist in the opening of a new hotel concept. After a four-year hiatus from styling, I was brought back to my passion of being creative when my family relocated to West Palm Beach for a career opportunity offered to my husband. Florida is where I had an epiphany that connected fashion, my creative abilities, and the beauty industry, which has always been a part of my life.

 I decided that I would take the leap and pursue a career in styling nails. I started out painting and embellishing nails for girls going to homecoming and prom, and I volunteered to paint nails in senior citizen homes. Nail art and attaching rhinestones and beads were beautiful and fun to do; however, I realized that I needed and wanted to know more about nail care. With a yearning to learn the foundation of nail care, proper sanitation, and professional sculpting techniques, I decided to apply to a nail technician program so I could become educated and obtain my license.

 I will be attending the Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers in West Palm Beach and have enrolled in a 240-hour nail technology certification course. Classes will be Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., and the program duration is approximately three months.

 I have already outlined goals for my career beyond graduation. I plan on perfecting my nail art skills to compete in national nail art competitions, achieving a master level certificate in acrylics and gels, becoming a nail care and nail cosmetics educator, and eventually landing the career of my dreams working as an executive for a renowned nail care cosmetics brand.

Until next week,

— Tisha