We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Shelton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

I don’t really ask anyone for support. I kind of just do it on my own. I always have been a go getter and have always been that way since I was 15 years old. If someone want to support you they will and plus I never want to feel like i have to beg “friends ” or “family” to support me. Support just naturally comes. I feel you shouldn’t have to ask family or friends for support if they really want to see you be successful it would just come natural to just give that support. Some people don’t want to support you because they don’t want you ahead of them but I never understood the logic behind that because if I make it we all making it.

Michelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Michelle and I am nail technician. I am from Detroit , Mi and I currently live in Greensboro, NC . Just a city girl trying to make things happen for herself. I have been doing nails for three years come April 15th. I decided to do nails when pandemic first started. I was sitting in my car one day and just decided to sign up for school. I actually went to cosmetology school for two years . Going to cosmetology school was definitely a challenge for me because all I wanted to do was just nails and nothing else. I have never picked up an acrylic brush before, I knew nothing about nails besides I love getting mine done lol. I was honestly just tired of nail salons messing up my nails and not doing them the way I wanted them to. I taught myself how to do nails. I watched so many YouTube videos and I do mean so many. I didn’t know where to start I just knew I wanted to start. I start buying nail supply stuff from Sally’s and amazon when I first started. I went through so much products as a beginner nail tech and I learn so much along the way. I start doing nails at my diner room table and I would practice from 8pm to maybe 4am in the morning and still get up and work my full time job and go to school while still being a mommy and girlfriend. I put in a lot of work behind the scenes that a lot people don’t see or even know about. It’s was nights I wanted to give but I’m no quitter so I kept pushing myself and I would talk to God everyday and I still do for guidance. I Invested in myself because I knew this was something I wanted to do and giving up wasn’t an option. When you are dedicated to something you push harder toward it even when you feel the world is against you because all it’s going to do is make you stronger and better. Me practicing day in and day out made me see my progress faster. I never stop practicing and I still practice until this day because it’s always something in this industry that you will always have to learn. I specialize in freestyles and working with acrylic. My clients mean the world to me because without them I wouldn’t be able to enjoy doing what I love . I have a special bond with each of my clients and when they come sit in my seat to get their nails done I want it to be their safe place and their time to just relax. I never want my clients to feel like it’s just about the money with them because when I do their nails I want them to see the love I put in each set. Keeping my clients coming back is most important because I want to make sure I’m doing my part of doing what they ask for, for each set and making sure each set last long for them. What sets me apart from others is that I don’t try to be like others and I walk my own path and faith. I stay in my own lane and focus on what I only have going on. You can’t get far in someone else lane. You have to walk your own path. What I am most proud of is me completing cosmetology school and passing my state board to enjoy what I love doing. I am proud of me and how far I’ve came on this nail journey. A lot people don’t know what I went through to get here and until this day I still thank God for getting me though this Journey and still walking with me through it all. I still get emotional when I talk about my nail journey because if people really knew my life story and where I come from they will understand why I go so hard for this. Where I’m from a lot of people don’t make it out and I’m proud to say I made away and still working toward my goals. My son and my boyfriend is my biggest support system besides my loyal clients. I am proud to have them along this journey with me.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

How I built an audience on social media is by posting my work and networking. If you are trying to build a business you have to post your work. When I first started I use worry about the likes but as I grew I had to realize those likes don’t matter for real. You have to really put yourself out there and just promote your brand because someone is always watching.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Social media has been the best source of new clients for me. Social media can be powerful if you put yourself out there and post your work daily. Clients want to see your work and want to make sure it’s yours. Networking is another source. You have to put yourself out there and meet people . It’s not what you know but who you know. You never know who you talking to and who can possibly help you grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/nailsbychelle?fbclid=PAAaZjPyOWqs6yJSqCz1DL2eWcmjf3p11utcrtTrMlg4moJTePVepmVvb9Ccw