Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexa Acosta. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Alexa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Earning a full time living through my creative work has been eye opening and a life changing experience. My journey started the summer of 2019 at San Diego City College when I enrolled in the manicurist program while having a part time job since the age of 16. I knew I loved doing nails when I couldn’t stop thinking about doing more! I would choose doing nails over anything that was considered “fun” for a 19 year old. I felt as if I finally found the perfect outlet to express my art to the world. It took a few months before I felt comfortable enough to quit my job at a grocery store, but once I quit it felt as if everything was working out in my favor, I had more free time so I was able to take more clients, I had a clear mind which helped me focus on my goals for my business. I graduated from SDCC and got my California manicurist license and signed my lease for a brand new suite inside Phenix Salon Suites.
Less than a month later COVID took over so I had to stop working for a few months and was changing locations within a few months at a time, that’s when I learned that you must always have savings for your business aside from personal savings. Later on things were falling into place again for me, it was a roller coaster.
Fast forward to 2022, I learned the importance of networking and not doubting my own abilities. I’ve been hired by an agency to do private events, I’ve done collaborations with brands and nail art pop ups inside stores. I think God’s timing is always perfect but now I definitely know more strategies and outlets to expand my art to many other areas in the world that’s not just through a client who books an appointment with me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into the beauty industry when I was searching for an outlet to express my art. I had to dedicate multiple hours everyday to learn every little detail about the craft and never stopped learning because there’s no ending to it in this industry since there is new things constantly happening. I provide sculpted acrylic extensions (no plastic tip involved), gel extensions and tiny hand painted nail art strangling from simple art to detailed characters. I assist in making my clients feel beautiful, have healthy natural nails and feel like they can go on about their day feeling like a new person when they leave my chair literally!
My vision and care for quality sets me apart from others, every single time I do nails I put in my 110% effort, no matter how I’m feeling or how a client might make me feel. When it comes to my work I can guarantee I will go above and beyond to have each nail done to the best of my ability every time and anyone who sits in my chair will leave with a smile on their face.
I’m hoping in the near future I can expand even further to express my mind and vision to the world through different artistic outlets. I am the most proud and grateful of just being able to successfully live through this as my career because I have fun creating new art everyday and learning so much, not only about nails but life all around by talking to people with beautiful, creative and such unique minds who I might have never spoke to in any other place in the world.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part about my career is my clients, I have a lot of interesting conversations about the world, emotions we experience in our everyday life, new business plans, foods, things they learn in different cities around other people and so many more topics that truly have an effect on the way I view the world because I get to hear so many different perspectives and ways of thinking about topics from clients of all ages that are in different stages in life. Also, it’s really rewarding to be able to create new art that is unique to each client and helps them express themselves.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

One day I read something that said “focus on your current clientele and current audience, not on your future audience”, and that stuck with me because over time I realized word of mouth is the best advertisement. I grew my social media audience by having my work re-posted on trending nail pages and introducing my own spin to my nail pictures, I started creating a unique background to every nail set I did and it really made my social media grow because I wasn’t just taking a picture of my nails and posting it, instead I was involving some of my digital design “knowledge” that came from YouTube videos and experimenting on my iPad. My advice would be do things that you like! Don’t do things to please others or fit in with what others are doing, eventually your audience will gravitate towards you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexadidthat.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: Alexa.didthat