Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Marie
Hi Alexis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my nail journey in the midst of COVID back in 2020. I started doing my nails in middle school but never liked how the salon did my nails. They were always different lengths, too chunky, never crisp and just not what I wanted. I have always been the type of person to try my hand at everything and was a quick and relentless learner. I decided that I would buy a kiss acrylic set and get to work learning how to do my own nails. After long I had other girls I went to school with asking me to do theirs in 8th grade and Freshman year. I always declined because I knew how to do mine but was unsure if I would be any good at someone else’s. It was one of those times in life in your high school career that you really try to figure out what to do with your life and I had to make a decision. Inspired by my sisters and them getting their cosmetology licenses and stepping out, I decided that I would join my schools cosmetology program. I started my Sophomore year and by the time I was a Senior I graduated and got my license. Cosmetology school was definitely a journey and taught me so much. Throughout that time in school I was building my business and putting everything I had into it. I got a job as soon as I turned 16 to fund my buisness and maintained a job, doing nails, and school fulltime for about a year and half until I was confident enough in my clientele to quit and go full time. I began to really give my all and most times would skip school and work on building my brand and studio or to take clients and work. By the time I graduated and got my license my buisness was thriving. I went from barely 1 client every few weeks, to 20+ clients a week. There were so many times that I would want to quit because I wasnt seeing progress or an increase and clientele but I am so beyond grateful that I never did.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Doing nails has been no easy journey by ANY means. It definitely has been a very long road. When I first started I had no job to fund my business. My mom took a chance on me and funded my start up but I knew I didn’t want to rely on that. At 16 I got a job at Scheels to manage funding my supplies. It was very draining, I went to school from 8:30am-3:30, get off go straight to work from 4-11pm, come home do homework and prepare for school the next day. On the days I didn’t work at my job I came home and got straight to work on clients from 4pm-10:30/11 and again repeat the cycle all over again 7 days a week: Some days on my way to work I would cry because I was so exhuasted and hated working for someone else. Yet I still gave myself no days off because I knew I wanted to be something. It took a LONG time to start gaining clientele which was very discouraging. I doubled down on marketing and finally started to see some growth. Being an independent tech is also so challenging since you have to wear so many hats it still to this day gets very challenging to keep up with mentally and physically. I have to service my own clients, respond to clients, take inventory, get supplies ordered, keep up with income, manage bookings, social media marketing, etc. As a service provider there is no clocking out its all up to you on setting boundaries.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in Acrylic enhancements on nails and toes and am known for my crisp and clean work, and intricate nail art. I am set apart from others due to my hospitality and professionalism. I manage bookings through a website for seamless bookings, as well as sends reminders and invoices.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I unfortunately don’t plan to do nails forever as it is very strenuous on the mind and body. I do hope however to open a salon or have my own building where lash techs, hair stylists, makeup artists, tattoo artists, and many more can rent a suite. I want to always have a foothold in the cosmetology industry and still venture out to explore other business ventures in other fields. However, I do see the industry hopefully continuing to boom and cant wait to see all the new creativity spill in
Pricing:
- Short length base price- $55
- Medium Length base price-$60
- Long length base price-$65
- Full acrylic Toes solid color-$40
- Full acrylic French tip toes-$50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nailedbylexxx.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nailedbylexx._?igsh=dGk4d3UwcHJxbG5y&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Nailedbylexx._
