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

Megan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Myself as a nail artist/ business owner was a huge risk. I have been a hidden gem since I was 19 years old when I first started beauty school and became pregnant with my first child. I didn’t finish beauty school until I was 25. I was in and out of school throughout that time due to lack of motivation, having 2 kids, battling with staying in a toxic relationship and being a single mother of 2, my son battling Kawasaki disease, losing 3 family members in a year,, working nights cleaning commercial buildings, living in the courts, not being financially stable and in general just not loving myself enough to make the change for my small family. Eventually after everything I had been through I realized I couldn’t get any lower and I grounded myself, I decided to become a single parent while going to school to finish what I had started. Once I got my license, my life had completely changed over night. Suddenly I was finally able to show my community the work I was best at. I got busy, super busy. In less than 1 year of having my license, I was already getting 2 opportunities to be in 2 magazines, (Nail Pro Magazine & Voyage San Antonio) my art was being shared and help tremendously making my business here to stay. I now finally have my own studio and am independently rising to one day become a chain salon. This is my dream, this was everything I worked so hard for.

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 am a woman of many trades. I am crafty, creative, above my profession in my opinion. I became a cosmologist at age 19, which has been about 9 years now. I saw my mother take of the beauty industry at age 5, and fell in love with it ever since. She was my inspiration to pursue my career. What’s a success story without the hardship? I have had my fair share of stressful life events which prevented me from completing my degree and licensing. But it made it so much more exciting and deserving when I finally got to the goal. While I was trying to finish school, I created 2 little humans of my own (which made things a little harder) but I wouldn’t have changed it at all. My children are the reason why I pushed through to get my degree and license. Nails are my life, I am much more than just a “Nail tech” I am an Artist. I create beautiful fashion and art of all sorts on small canvases (nail beds) I do not just provide a service, but an experience for everyone to enjoy & find tranquility. The clientele I have been is a wide range of personalities which I adore. As a nail tech I have found that I also a therapist for some and others I am a close friend. What I am most proud of is the retention of the relationships I have built with my clientele. It makes work so much better and enjoyable. Something I’d like my potential clients to know about me is I will always push the limits of your comfort with me and your nails, I have yet to receive a negative review about myself or my work. It’s always a pleasure and thrill to hear some one tell me “idk what I want, do what you’d like” when it comes to their nails.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have had to pivot more than once in the short amount of time in my career. At age 19 I was only 2 months into starting school when I became pregnant. I dropped out before I had my 1st born, I didn’t return to school until my son turned 2 and I was now pregnant with my 2nd child. It was scary to think that I was now about to have my 2nd child and no career to lean on while my relationship was struggling. After I had my 2nd born I dropped out again because of lack of child care. I returned back to school while my 2nd born was 7 months old. During that time my son got Kawasakis disease and couldn’t walk for a month, it was a horrible experience for him and our family. Then just months after, their father who I was with at the time fell 13ft from a scaffold and fractured his vertebrae, leaving him disabled for 4 months. I now had to take on the roll of the bread winner. I dropped out of school yet again to work part time at night and be a stay home mom during the day for my babies and to care for their father. I was 23 at the time. I am now 28 and went through my last time going for my license and I finally did it. Through the years I was creative at side hustles to get me through schooling and little money for my family, such as baking, getting in school certifications for lash extensions, sunless tanning, professional airbrush makeup and more. I worked unground and unlicensed for 7 years before I got the official license and was finally able to be above ground in my profession.. it’s been a great feeling towards the end and new start

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

I did allot of live videos showing how tos and funny content to scale up my audience on all social media platforms

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Megan_Thee_Naillian

Image Credits
Megan Martinez