Ever wondered what it's really like working in a busy nail salon and whether going self employed is worth it?

In this episode I sit down with a nail tech who spent 8 years employed in a high street salon before making the leap to self employment after COVID. Elle shares what genuinely surprised her when she started working in a salon, the etiquette lessons she picked up that nobody teaches you on a nail course, and how her transition into self employment actually came about.

We also tackle a listener dilemma about a salon owner who keeps interfering in appointments - and what you can actually do about it.

If you're employed and curious about going it alone, self employed and wondering what you might be missing, or just navigating the industry… you’ll like this one! 

⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & Welcome03:32 From college apprentice to ten years in a salon

05:12 What a typical day in a beauty salon actually looks like

13:29 Having a boss: the pressure, the validation, and the clock-watching

19:10 What you expect salon life to be vs. what it actually is

22:48 Training, development, and why nails always came last

24:54 Salon etiquette: the stuff no nail course ever teaches you

28:09 The three things you were banned from talking about on the salon floor

31:52 Why Elle made the leap from employed to self-employed

34:21 The fears (and the confidence) of going solo

38:17 Loneliness, admin overwhelm, and the bits no one warns you about

45:02 What to know if you're romanticising self-employment

48:53 Nightmare from the nail desk — the salon owner jumping into my appointments

🎙️ Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram & TikTok: @nailsandyap.pod 

💗 Follow Elle over on Instagram @elle_ekbeauty

⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please please leave a review! It genuinely helps more nail techs find the show and I'll love you FOREVER

Spring is the perfect time for a reset and in this episode I’m joined by Lacey to talk about how to refresh your nail business inside and out 🌸

We cover everything from cleaning and organising your tools to reassessing your social media and shifting your mindset ready for a busy summer season.

We also get into:
- Our most hated spring nail art trends 👀
- A simple tip for creating better floral nail designs
- How to actually feel more organised and in control going into your busiest months

If you’re ready to declutter your space, your content, and your mindset then this one’s for you 💅

Struggling to get more nail clients? Or noticing gaps in your appointment book?

In this episode, we break down exactly how nail techs can attract new clients, keep them rebooking, and stop them from going elsewhere.

This conversation is especially helpful if you're:

• A beginner nail tech trying to build your first client base

• A nail tech returning after time off or a quiet period

• Experiencing new gaps in your diary and want to actively attract clients again

We talk about:
• How to actually attract new clients locally
• Why some clients don’t rebook (and how to fix it)
• Simple ways to keep clients loyal to you
• Small mistakes that might be pushing clients away

Plus, my guest Tanya shares one of the BEST local advertising tips I’ve ever heard for nail techs, and it's something most people completely overlook when promoting their business.

If you want a to attract new clients to your beauty business to build up a full, busy diary, this episode will give you practical ideas you can start using straight away.

In this episode of Nails & Yap, I’m joined by Lizzie (one of my clients and also a fellow podcaster over at Tiny Talks) for a chat about nail appointments from the client perspective.

Lizzie is actually my first guest who isn’t in the beauty industry, so we thought it would be interesting to talk about what clients really think about their appointments and get an unfiltered, honest perspective.

We get into:

• What makes a nail appointment feel comfortable and enjoyable

• The atmosphere clients love

• The relationship between nail tech and client

• Things that can make or break the experience

• A few honest client bug bears 👀

It was such a good conversation and definitely one I think nail techs will find interesting - so I hope it's really valuable for you & your business!

Show Notes

Find Lizzie's podcast Instagram here - she chats to small, local businesses and shares daily clips from real people as well as an insight into her own life - managing the sunday scaries, as well as her bridal journey as she's recently engaged.

Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram here and on TikTok here

Welcome to part 2 of my nail art chat with Izzy at Orphic Nails! This time we get into the pressure behind nail art - from ourselves, clients and social media.

We talk about how social media has changed nail art expectations, the unrealistic speed standards nail techs face, and how constantly creating content can lead to burnout.

We also cover:– Scheduling posts to avoid overwhelming yourself– Navigating neurodivergence as a creative nail tech– Learning how to say no to clients and their crazy requests (real life goldfish anyone?!)– Protecting your energy while still delivering detailed nail art

If you love nail art but sometimes feel the pressure that comes with it, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to Part 1 for the start of the conversation here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sHmNt3IH8CkDNHhNlgtwX?si=Q4bYwevgSXCtig_SGXJAVg

In part one of this two-part episode, I’m joined by Izzy from Orphic Nails & Education for a deep dive into nail art and the small details that make the biggest difference.

We talk about the evolution of Izzy’s iconic checkerboard nail art, why brush pressure and gel saturation matter more than most nail techs realise, and how refining your technique can completely change your results.

Izzy also shares her (very strong) feelings about French nails, why they’re harder than they look, and how we deal with clients who just won’t sit still during nail art appointments.

This episode was too good to cut down, so we’ve split it into two parts - part two will be with you next week!

I'm back with a little bonus episode of Nails & Yap to share a new project, that I'm really excited and passionate about.

If you're a regular listener you'll already know how much I yap on about the value of community, making friends and creating connections in the nail industry. And if you're not a regular listener - hi, I'm Laura, and I yap on about the value of community, making friends and creating connections in the nail industry.

In this episode I talk about why nail techs need real community, and why this industry can feel really lonely even though we're with people all day. We don't have colleagues, we often work in isolation, and so much of the confidence, motivation and decision making falls on us without people to bounce off.

I wanted to film a bonus episode to introduce The Nail Social, a new Manchester based community that I'm starting with two nail tech friends - India & Sasha. It's all about having genuine connection through low pressure, IRL meet ups. We're starting with monthly coffee mornings, on a Sunday, to get to know other local techs and hopefully make some more mates. It's not one off networking, we want to create a proper community.

I share how the idea came about, how having nail tech friends has COMPLETELY changed my experience of the job, and how we're building this in public.

If you're a nail tech who's ever wished they had colleagues, or you're local to Manchester and want to get involved, you can follow the journey over on Instagram at @thenailsocialmcr (https://www.instagram.com/thenailsocialmcr/). We'll also be sharing lots of content for nail techs, so even if you can't make the meetups we'd love you to follow along and be part of the club from afar!

Thank you so so much for listening, and I'll be back next week with a full episode all about mastering nail art, with Izzy from Orphic Nails & Education who is an absolute nail art whizz!

In this episode of Nails & Yap, I’m joined by Holly (A Splash of Polish) for a real, honest conversation about managing a beauty business while living with chronic illness.

We talk about what it’s actually like to work with conditions like CFS and Fibromyalgia. Holly deals with unpredictable energy levels and painful flare-ups, all whilst navigating client expectations, scheduling, and the guilt that often comes with needing rest.

Holly shares her personal journey, the misconceptions people have about working with chronic illness, and why understanding your own body is one of the most important skills you can develop as a business owner. We also get practical... breaking down energy management strategies, workspace adaptations, client communication tips, and a mini toolkit you can start using immediately.

We dive into the mindset side too. Coping with burnout, respecting your limits without losing ambition, and learning to run a sustainable business that supports your health instead of fighting against it.

Plus, we finish with a Nightmare from the Nail Desk agony aunt moment: how do you politely get a fidgety client to stay still without making things awkward?

If you’re a nail tech, beauty professional, or self employed creative navigating chronic illness (or burnout), this episode is for you.

✨ Follow, like, and subscribe for more honest industry chats
✨ Find Holly at @asplashofpolish
✨ Stay tuned for the next episode of Nails & Yap - we're chatting all about nail art with Orphic Nails

Welcome to Nails & Yap, the podcast for nail techs, beauty professionals, and salon owners looking for honest conversations about business, creativity, and growth. In this episode, we’re diving into our 2026 goals, reflecting on what we’re keeping and leaving behind from 2025, and sharing the business and personal habits that will help us thrive in the year ahead.

Join Laura, Sasha, and India as we talk about:

• Business growth strategies for nail techs and beauty professionals in 2026

• Habits, systems, and boundaries to leave behind for a healthier work-life balance

• Small business goals, social media strategies, and diversifying income in the salon industry

• Personal goals for 2026, including self-care, downtime, and sustainable productivity

  
  

  Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for more honest, no holds barred conversations for nail techs and beauty professionals!

  
  

As 2025 comes to an end we’re taking a moment to reflect on the year we've had.

In part one of this two part end of year podcast, I’m joined by Sasha and India to talk openly about what 2025 really looked like behind the scenes of our businesses.

We’re sharing our biggest business highs, the moments we’re genuinely proud of, the lows that challenged us, and the lessons 2025 taught us about growth, boundaries, patience, and running a beauty business in the real world.

This episode is for anyone who’s had a mixed year, questioned their progress, or wants reassurance that growth doesn’t always look linear.

In this epsiode we cover:

• How we’d sum up 2025 as a whole
• Our biggest business wins and proud moments
• What didn’t go to plan and what we’d do differently
• Lessons we’re taking forward into 2026

This is part one of a two part end of year reflection. In part two, we’ll be looking ahead to 2026... what we’re leaving behind, the goals we’re setting, and how we want the year to feel.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast, it really does help more than you know 🤍