We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bailey Snider. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bailey below.
Bailey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
The biggest and scariest risk I’ve ever taken was actually starting my nail career, but I have no regrets! I am the type of person that will always chase dreams no matter what situation, position, or circumstance I am in, I will always find a way! Let’s go back to before my business, I was a 21 year old, struggling college student, working 2 jobs just trying to make ends meet. I was lost in life, unhappy, just looking for ways to beat the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. I felt like if I worked hard enough then life will finally look up for the better— but I was wrong. Around the time I was working my hardest, the COVID pandemic hit, I was furloughed from both of my jobs & I was living off my savings. I needed to find a way to make money or all of the time and effort I put in would ultimately been for nothing, but this time I told myself I wanted a change, to not trade my happiness for money— I needed to find an income doing what I love! So I contemplated, and realized I’ve been in love with creating, art, and nails, then boom, a lightbulb lit up— nail technician! Easier said than done, started doing research of everything I needed to start and bought everything they told me to buy, soon enough I found myself spending everything I’ve earned still having to make ends meet with my bills. This was now all I could show from all my hard work throughout the years and months I’ve been hustling, so I went hard for it. I couldn’t fail, or give up because it would’ve been all for nothing! After millions of YouTube videos and everything minute of the day’s practicing when I could, I finally felt a sense of accomplishment and realized that this is my dream coming true. I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, I sold press on nails throughout the pandemic, I saved as much as I could, then I yet again, I spent all of my money going to nail school, which quite literally was a waste of time because I didn’t even have a teacher through most if my time being there. I was learning absolutely nothing, so I continued to self teach myself how to even lay acrylic, paint correctly, and etc.
After all the struggle and hardships I still pushed myself to always show up for the girl I use to be, the one making ends meet, unhappy, lost girl, and now two years later and I am still perfecting my craft but I am now fully booked and busy. All of my clients have a close relationship with me, they are family, I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done to be at this point in my life. Taking the biggest risk of my life my putting all of my time, money, energy, and effort turned out to be the biggest blessing I’ve ever received.
Bailey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Well, first things first, my name is Bailey Caì! I am a 23 year old nail technician, artist, and content creator, based in Central Florida! My zodiac sign is cancer, I am Vietnamese, and I am absolutely obsessed with chai/matcha lattes! I specialize in acrylic, gel-x, and natural nails, my main goal is to mold my work around my clients wants and needs! I am known for my clean work, shaping, and nail art, I like to say, what ever you want, I can ALWAYS do it for you. I became a nail technician during the pandemic, I always had more than one job at a time just to get by and at that time I was only 21 years old. Being furloughed from all of my jobs at that time, I was barely able to survive, living off my savings, I had to figure out what options I had just to make ends meet. At the time I was just so obsessed watching people create art on tiny little nails, like I use to when I was little, it brought me back to when my family couldn’t afford to have my nails done so I was never allowed to. Even for press-ons, I was always told I had such pretty strong nails, that grew so fast, so I had no other choice than to buy cheap $1-2 air dry polishes! I use to sit in the corner of my living room and spend hours designing my nails, that would eventually smudge, no matter how long I let it sit to dry, but I never cared. For those minutes I had such pretty nails, I felt the most confident, and now that’s what I can do for others! My biggest accomplishment is being able to do my younger clients first nail sets, and watch them be so in love with them. To be able to make sure they’ll still have healthy nails even when getting them done, to basically be an older sister to them. I was raised very tomboy, I didn’t know anything about nail, skin, or hair care, but I felt like I was so different from my mom and my sisters because I eventually learned how to be a girly-girl by myself, and now I do everything for them. It heals my inner child when my sisters or anyone in fact, ask me to do or just advice about nails, hair, and make up or about cosmetics things in general. To be the person I never really had there for me, to everyone else, is why I am the way I am about my business. I don’t do it for the money, I do it for the memories and connections I get to make with everyone that chooses me, and sits in my chair day in and day out! For that, I am blessed to be doing what I love everyday, and so grateful for everyone who supports my dreams/passions, THANK YOUU!!! xoxo, bai.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Yes! Knowledge is power, the more you know, the more you’re able to take control of your life. I am a big reader of “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. This book will motivate and teach you to be the highest version of yourself, to break bad habits and make good ones in such a healthy, positive manner that you’ll end up being addicted to you new lifestyle!
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I met my business partner in high school, long story short we played travel softball together, we were at practice one day, her (ex now) man at the time pulls up and I say “what’s my (ex) best friends’ man doing here?” she looks at me with the biggest eyes I’ve ever seen and said “Girl. THAT IS MY MAN!” The rest is history, we’ve been close ever since, we know each other’s highs and lows, and she actually is one my first clients ever! Two year later, we are business partners! Her name is Kasandra Montanez, the owner of Amoura Beauty, the best braider and lash tech in Central Florida, also conveniently, my suite mate! She will always be my day one, my cancer twin, and my only business partner.
Her Story: I started out with nursing and ended up not going through with it because of the college’s mishaps, so I ended up falling in love with the beauty industry and went to cosmetology school, to be a licensed Cosmetologist. The reason I chose this profession was because I’ve struggled with loving myself and it always makes me happy when my girlies tell me that l made them feel whole again and pretty all over, by just doing their hair and lashes. The dream is to one day own one stop shops in Florida and New York City
Contact Info:
- Website: https://slayedbybai.as.me/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/slayedbybai?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://msha.ke/slayedbybai
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@slayedbybai