We recently connected with Alison Nichols and have shared our conversation below.
Alison, appreciate you joining 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?
Ever since I was a young girl, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I’ve always been artistic and like to draw paint, craft
etc. but two years ago, I was in cosmetology school. My parents pushed me to do it as I always like to do makeup and they wanted me to go to some kind of schooling. About a year and a half goes by in school and I’m not picking up on the hair and I decide to try out nails just for fun. I ended up picking it up pretty quickly and getting the hang of things off the bat. I still had a long way to go and I was by no means good at first. I started off by practicing on friends and family and eventually strangers and other people were wanting to pay me for my work, something I could not believe was happening. I was becoming my own boss and able to use my artistic abilities to create some sort of income.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I feel like I’ve always been an artist from birth, but with me becoming a nail tech, I was able to have & become my own brand. I specialize in nail art, and crazy, long acrylic nails. Although, I can do simple services as well. I think something that sets me apart in the nail industry is being extremely diverse and able to do almost anything that the client requests of me. I am a perfectionist, and I will take the time to make sure that everyone that meets me is satisfied with what I have to offer. Something not commonly found in most shops. I am most proud of is building my own clientele base and hopefully soon opening my own at home nail salon. it’s hard to build yourself from the ground up, but here I am. I want others to know that I care, I care about the work I do and I care about satisfaction and customer service. I want to make sure you’re comfortable with me and my environment as well as satisfied with what you’re getting.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society needs to appreciate artistry more, having creative juices isn’t something that happens overnight. It is found in an individual naturally. We have to appreciate artists of all kinds and all mediums. They all have something different to offer. With modern day corporations and technology, & AI, small artists are being lost in this ever changing busy world. We need to remember to keep an eye out for them and support the more we can.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I first started doing nails and decided that I wanted to become a nail technician after I graduated from cosmetology school, it was hard and I was discouraged often because I couldn’t do the things that I wanted to right off the bat, the nails, the art, the shapes.. But with practice, patience and hundreds of hours of work and countless funds spent on a, so called “hobby”. Eventually , the hard work began to pay off. and what started as a hobby took off a career. I began to see progress in all areas. And though I had my moments of doubt and times of struggle in the beginning, it made it so much more worth the challenge. Things that are challenging are always worth it, and usually in the end you come out a better person, whether that’s more skills, knowledge or experience.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @alison.did.that
- Facebook: Alison Did That
- Other: TikTok: @ alison.did.that
Image Credits
Sonder Photo Co