Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauri Johnson.
Lauri, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a kid, I loved nail polish and painting my nails. Two of my aunts, who were also nail enthusiast, would paint my nails every time they saw me. Fast forward to college, I have this massive collection of nail polish my aunt gave me. I want to say there were about 152 bottles. By graduation I had built the collection up to 237 bottles. I thought I was “The One” when my friends and I would count out the bottles before we started. Man, it’s crazy because all of my close friends from college that I am still close to are the ones who used to come to my house faithfully to paint nails. We would have so much fun. I’m cracking up now just thinking about the things we did and said! That’s how I got hooked on the show Sex In The City, but that’s another story.
Anyway, around my senior year, I decide to keep up acrylics on my nails since I was working and I wasn’t cheering anymore it was the perfect opportunity to do so. I really started to miss painting my own nails but with school, work and first business I started, I really didn’t have time to sit around and paint my nails and keekee with the ladies. So I put that on ice. After graduation in 2016, I decided to teach myself how to do acrylic nails. I would stay up all night and day practicing. Those nails were so ugly!!! I remember the first time I tried Ombre using red and white, that nail looked like a volcano and was shaped and texted like one too. OMG I saved all my little raggedy’s in a box that I still have today. Sometimes I go through and look at them just to get a good laugh and to remind myself how far I’ve come. In 2018, I decided to enroll in Nail School. Now that I have the proper certifications, I have started a mobile nail spa.
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?
I guess the most un-smooth part is in the beginning when I really sucked at acrylics, but it got better with practice. Another bump in the road is that now, people I know will ask me to do their nails for free and claim they don’t have money but I will see them a week later with $50 nails from the salon. That’s insulting. But after talking to other women in the beauty industry, I learned that is a common problem. Still super annoying!
Please tell us about NailsGod Nail Spa.
The thing I am most proud of about my business is that my service helps to bridge the cultural gap that is present in traditional salon settings. I specialize in natural nail care but I am also well versed in acrylics. I am most known for my acrylic services. Right now, I am a traveling nail technician. I serviced clients on the south side of Houston, mainly the Galleria area, Pearland, all of the dorms at The University of Houston & Texas Southern University, and some parts in Katy. However, I am available to travel all of Houston.
Also, I am looking to book more fashion editorial gigs. I’m currently seeking professional management with an agency. I would like to broaden my horizons.
Lots of aspiring nail techs have been asking me about classes. This is something I’m working on and should be ready to offer in January.
Pricing:
- 15% To Customers who find me from this article
- $20 Basic pedicure when you book your first service
- No Travel Fee for On-Campus/ University Housed Students
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9722824842
- Email: NailsGodHouston@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nailsgod
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Nailsgod
- Twitter: @NailsGod
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