In the past two weeks I have become obsessed with buying nail polish. What is even is worse is that my husband is condoning this habit. I have been compulsively going to Sally’s, Salon Centric and CosmoProf. My shoe shopping habit used to be like this. Now every other day my hard-earned tip money is being dumped back into my business and being spent on nail polish. I have decided that I will be using OPI and China Glaze, two brands that I have personally adored and worn for years.

Most of the nail polish I have purchased in recent weeks.

My husband just grins and asks to see my new colors and then proceeds to give me his opinion. Then because my decision-making skills are already overwhelmed by all the bright and beautiful colors I make him choose what I will paint my nails with next, which changes every three days or so. The polish changes depend on how many massages I have done because the lotion seems to break down the longevity of the polish no matter how I prep the nail. As I type this I have China Glaze’s Bogie and Unplugged on my nails and I love the combo!

The manicuring set in my home office, complete with my cat Luda who must have already been in the room when I shut the door to keep him out, as he knows he is not allowed to do exactly what he is doing in this picture.

I have been reading professional blogs like crazy to get first-hand information of experiences of nail techs working in the field. This is in addition to getting my website in tip-top shape, working eight-hour days and studying. I can admit that the studying took a backseat to everything else until this week. My brain was fried. I needed a break. On Tuesday I went over to the school because the company that we rent our kits from for the state board exam was doing a demo of the kits. I wanted to see exactly what was in it and what to expect from the kit. It costs $60 to rent and it is well worth its weight in gold. So far I have no surprises in my test day. On February 2^nd I start with my written exam at 8 a.m. and I have 2 hours to take the 100-question test. At 12:30 p.m. I will pick up my kit of supplies for my practical exam. I will take the practical at 1:15 p.m. and walk out at 3 p.m. ready to get my license and go home. It can take up to an hour for them to calculate the results, during that time I will turn in my kit and my husband, if he goes as my model, will be picking off the fake nails that I have applied to him.

I am excited and ready to be taking my test. I have set up a work station in my home office to practice on my fake fingers and willing friends. I invited a couple girlfriends over this past Monday to let me do manicures on them for practice at no charge. Two of the girls I made friends with in beauty college are coming over next week for full sets so I can keep my hand in what I have learned — that and I want to try the OPI Absolute acrylic system that I purchased based on many rave reviews.

I do have one question for any professionals who have been reading this blog, I need to start creating my price list and I am unsure of where to start exactly. I don’t want to be charging too much for a novice nail tech, but I do not want to undercut myself either. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I have had a lot of requests for what I will be charging and I want to be able to add my nail services to my website and current service menu so my clients are ready for my new services.

I literally have been having dreams about nail polish and what the future holds for my business. I have noticed quite a buzz around me and my business. Some of my mom’s friends have already been calling me for pedicures and clients that I haven’t seen professionally in a while saw on Facebook that I will be a manicurist soon and are already asking to schedule appointments. For the next two weeks I am giving everyone that I see for a massage, facial, or wax a 50%-off coupon for a manicure or pedicure in the future. I have had people scheduling services simply to get this coupon; they seem to be as excited as I am!

— Karyn