We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leah a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

I still remember the first client I ever had who wasn’t family, a friend, or someone a friend sent my way.

At the time I had just started doing nails and was practicing constantly. My little setup wasn’t fancy—just a small table, a lamp, and way more excitement than experience. I had been posting my nail sets online hoping someone outside my circle might notice.

One day I got a message from a woman I didn’t know asking if I had any openings. I remember staring at my phone thinking, “Wait… a real client?” I was equal parts excited and nervous.

When she walked in, my hands were probably shaking more than hers. I took my time, focused on every little detail, and gave her the best set I could possibly do. When I finished and she smiled at her nails, I felt this huge wave of relief and pride.

Then she handed me the payment.

It wasn’t just money—it was proof. Proof that something I loved doing could actually turn into a real business. That first dollar felt bigger than any amount I’ve made since.

She walked out happy with her nails, and I sat there for a minute just smiling because it finally felt real.

That one appointment turned into word-of-mouth, repeat clients, and eventually a growing nail business. But I’ll never forget that first stranger who trusted me with their nails and helped my brand earn its very first dollar.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Leah, and I’m a nail technician and nail artist who turned a simple love for creative nails into a growing business. What started as something fun I did at home slowly became a passion and eventually a way for me to build something of my own.

I first got into nails because I’ve always loved beauty, color, and creativity. I started practicing on myself and friends, experimenting with different designs, shapes, and techniques. The more I practiced, the more I realized how much I enjoyed not just doing nails, but creating tiny pieces of art that people could wear every day.

As my skills improved, I began sharing my nail sets online. Posting photos of my work helped me connect with people who loved nails as much as I do, and it also helped my business start to grow. Seeing people get excited about my designs and want to book appointments was incredibly motivating.

Today I specialize in custom nail sets that range from simple and elegant to bold, fun, and detailed designs. I love working with colors, patterns, seasonal sets, and creative nail art that helps clients express their personality. For many of my clients, getting their nails done isn’t just about beauty—it’s about confidence, self-care, and having a moment to feel polished and put together.

One of the things that sets my work apart is the attention to detail and the care I put into every set. I want every client to leave feeling happy, confident, and excited to show off their nails. I take pride in listening to what my clients want and turning their ideas into something unique that fits their style.

I’m also proud of the community that has grown around my work online. Sharing my nail designs on social media has allowed me to reach people far beyond my local area. It’s been amazing to see my work inspire others, connect with fellow nail lovers, and even go viral at times.

What I’m most proud of is building something from the ground up with my own hands—literally. Every design, every client, and every post has been part of the journey.

For anyone who follows my work or is thinking about booking with me, I want them to know that I truly love what I do. Nails may seem small, but they can make a big difference in how someone feels. My goal is always to create beautiful, creative nails while giving clients an experience that makes them feel relaxed, confident, and excited about their look.

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

Building my audience on social media started very simply. In the beginning, I was just posting photos of the nail sets I was doing for fun and practice. I didn’t have a huge strategy at first—I just loved creating nail art and sharing it. But over time, I realized that consistency and creativity really mattered.

I began posting my nail designs regularly, experimenting with different styles, colors, and themes. Some sets were simple and elegant, while others were bold and playful. I noticed that people were especially drawn to unique designs and bright, eye-catching nail sets, so I leaned into that and kept pushing my creativity.

One of the biggest turning points was when a few of my nail photos and videos started getting a lot of views. That helped bring new people to my page, and from there my audience started growing steadily. I also made sure to engage with people who commented or shared my work, because building a community is just as important as posting content.

Over time, my posts began reaching thousands of people, and eventually my pages grew to hundreds of thousands of monthly views. Social media became not only a place to showcase my work but also a powerful way to attract new clients and connect with other nail lovers.

For anyone just starting to build their social media presence, my biggest advice would be:

First, be consistent. Posting regularly keeps your page active and helps people discover your work.

Second, focus on quality photos and videos. Good lighting and clear photos make a huge difference when showing nail art.

Third, don’t be afraid to show your personality and creativity. The sets that stand out are usually the ones that are a little different or fun.

Fourth, use hashtags and trending sounds or styles to help your content reach new audiences.

And most importantly, be patient. Building an audience doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, practice, and a lot of passion for what you do.

For me, social media has been an incredible tool to grow my brand, connect with people who love nails, and share the art that I truly enjoy creating.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe the biggest thing that helped me build my reputation in my market was consistency and the quality of my work. From the beginning, I focused on doing the best set of nails I could every single time someone sat in my chair. Even when I was still learning and improving my skills, I made sure to take my time, pay attention to the details, and make sure my clients left happy.

Word of mouth played a huge role in building my reputation. When clients love their nails, they naturally show them to friends, family, and coworkers. That kind of organic promotion is incredibly powerful in the beauty industry. Over time, those referrals helped my client base grow and brought in new people who already trusted my work before even meeting me.

Social media also helped a lot. By consistently posting photos and videos of my nail sets online, people were able to see the quality and style of my work before booking an appointment. It gave potential clients confidence because they could see exactly what I was capable of creating.

Another important part of building my reputation has been creating a positive experience for my clients. Getting your nails done is often a form of self-care, so I try to make sure my clients feel comfortable, relaxed, and excited about their nails. I want them to enjoy the entire experience, not just the final result.

What I think really sets my work apart is my creativity and the effort I put into each design. Whether it’s a simple set or something bold and detailed, I treat every set like a small piece of art. That passion for what I do shows in my work, and I believe that’s something clients notice and appreciate.

In the end, my reputation has been built one client at a time—through quality work, creativity, and making sure every person who leaves my chair feels confident and happy with their nails.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/101customnails?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/101Customnails/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@101customnailsbyleah?si=qS49Mp4oZzUCvokM
• Other: TikTok

  https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLeBrYbt/

Image Credits

Leah NaDea