We recently connected with Bea Naud and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Bea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was in high school, my older sister started collecting nail lacquers as a hobby. I was a chronic nail biter so I didn’t have much to work with, but I started painting them and experimenting with nail art. I found pretty quickly that the more time and effort I put into making something fun or intricate on my nails, the more I would hesitate to bite them and ruin all my hard work. Realizing that through nail art I could not only create something I loved, but also help myself and others take better care of themselves was a defining moment and something I carry with me in my work every day.
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’ve been a licensed nail technician for almost nine years, and a working artist for almost three. I specialize in soft gel overlays and gel extensions, and the products I use are vastly different to the products most people associate with a nail salon – no smelly monomer liquid, messy lacquers, or tedious fan driers. I am super invested in the health of my clients’ natural nails. My main goal is for them to be able to take a break at any time and feel confident that their nail beds will not be thin, flaky, and damaged. I’ve heard so many horror stories about improper soak offs and other damaging practices at other salons and I do my best to talk new clients through every step of my procedure and why I do it. Educating your clients pays off, they know you’re there for more than just the income. I also take my time with each client. Of course, I keep myself on schedule but I book generously to ensure that I’m never rushing. I pride myself on my work, and I would rather take fewer clients if it means I can devote the level of time and attention I want to give each and every set. My favorite sets to do are usually the longest and most intricate, and sometimes they can take up to 4 or 5 hours. Since my clients spend so much time with me, I get to know all of them really well and it’s the greatest compliment when they tell me I’ve created a safe space where they feel comfortable to relax and be themselves.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Definitely when my clients tell me that they feel the most like themselves when they’re wearing my art. I always have my nails done, so I completely understand the sentiment – you just don’t feel right without them. When someone says “I can’t stop talking with my hands!” or “I just feel better when I wake up and see them”, it’s really gratifying to hear. The clients who tell me to do whatever I want when they come in are also very dear to my heart. To know that I’ve established a level of trust where they’re sure they’ll love whatever I come up with is beyond rewarding.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Shortly after becoming licensed, I got a job in retail and ended up getting sucked into that world for about six years. I kept my license active and did my own nails and a handful of friends here and there, but the driving force behind finally making the leap toward a full time creative career came after the first major shutdown of 2020. I had been working as a freelancer in sales and artistry for a few makeup and skincare brands, and once the stores I worked in started to open again, the brands no longer had the budget for freelance. My confidence was absolutely not where it needed to be to throw myself into the salon world, but I told myself it was worth a shot to dust off the license. Three years later and I have a private studio I’m in love with, my books are full, and I have a wait list for new clients. It’s a huge leap I had almost resigned myself to never making, but it’s led me to the most fulfilling place I’ve ever been professionally.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @groovynailsbybea
Image Credits
All photos taken by myself