Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelly Hernandez.
Nelly, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Mexico, I was brought here at the age of four and I’ve lived in Arlington ever since. I’m 24 now. I am an only child. I’ve always been into the beauty industry. I love doing hair and makeup as well. I wanted to go to cosmetology school right after high school but my parents expected more of me. Since I’m an only child they wanted me to be big. My mom wanted me to be either a nurse or a lawyer, but that’s not what I wanted. I always thought you go as far as you want with whatever you want to do! I went for a major in education. That’s something else I’ve always liked as well. I love children. Yet, I’ve always had a thing for nails so I had to go back just for nails. After finishing my course I continued going to UTA to finish my education major. I started doing nails after quitting my teacher assistant job. I wanted to focus more on school, so I decided to start doing nails for some extra money. I wanted to have something of my own. I started in June 2018, I practiced on family and close friends. I was doing free nails for about three months. Then I started charging $15. Around December I started charging $25 for any set. I didn’t charge extra for length or shape or designs, they were all $25. Finally, in July 2018, I bumped my prices up because I had a year of experience and I had also done a course. I now have many many clients who come from all around the DFW.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I had a lot of my family saying it wasn’t going to work. I honestly wanted to give up when I first started because I realized I wasn’t so great, plus all the negative comments would bring me down. It was only the first week though, so I couldn’t give up. It takes time feeling comfortable with what you’re doing. Practice makes perfect and I had just started.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
I am a home-based nail technician in Arlington! All my work must be glamours! My business is very small but I love it. I can do almost anything my clients ask for. Ombré, raw glitters, holographic powders, encapsulated nails, pixie crystal dust, unicorn nails, 3D flowers, 3D art, you name it. I am honestly very proud of myself and how far I’ve come. I have improved so much in a year and a half. My nails are always on fleek, my shaping is really nice too. I’ve learned so much. My 3D roses are beautiful too! I know there’s many of us girls doing nails now. But I do believe I stand out for my customer service skills.
In my job there’s more than just doing nails, I’m friendly to my customers. If a new client had questions I’ll answer her. There’s many who say “all my pricing is on the website; don’t message me because I won’t answer. I’m a person too”. It’s not like that. Because of our clients, we are who we are. Being nice and friendly is very important. Also when someone comes in for their appointment I want them to feel as comfortable as possible. There are many girls who always tell me at the end “I feel like I’ve known you forever”! Being nice isn’t too hard.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Again like I said having a nice/positive attitude is always great. Being friendly and making your clients feel welcome and comfortable. If you’re nice and outgoing most likely they’ll be back!
Contact Info:
- Phone: (682)558-2123
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nellysglamnails/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Nellys-Glam-Nails-2147325208628724/
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