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The Nail Tech Glow-Up Story You NEED to Hear
Ready for some real nail tech tea, beauty industry truth bombs, and a whole lot of “prove-them-wrong” energy?
This episode of Beauty Bound is for every nail tech, esty, hairstylist, or beauty pro who has ever built their business from the ground up with zero handouts.
In today’s episode, host Cristal Rubio of Beauty Pro Bookkeeping finally invites a NAIL TECH — and she did not miss.
Meet Clara B. Novella (@clarabeautynails), a San Antonio nail tech + Castle Hills studio owner known for Russian manicures, soft gel, modern nail trends, and a glow-up story that hits different.
Clara went from being a beauty school dropout with no car, no money, and no family support…
to running a fully booked nail studio with clients who have followed her for YEARS.
This episode blends nail education, real-life struggles, business talk, faith, and raw honesty about what it actually takes to grow in the beauty industry — especially as a Latina entrepreneur.
The True Cost of Beauty School
- Cosmetology vs Nail Specialty (1,400 hours vs 600 hours)
- Why some schools teach for the test, not real client skills
- The for-profit trap of beauty education
Clara’s “Started From Literally Nothing” Story
Getting kicked out at 19
Toxic relationships, couch-hopping, starting over
- Retail jobs, manager roles, and realizing she was building everyone else’s dreams
Learning Nails Without a License (the honest reality)
Not advice. Just the truth of how many techs start.
Practicing on friends + boot-store customers
Why honesty built trust and lifetime clients
- What beginners SHOULD charge vs what masters charge
Nail Tech Education
Acrylic vs Gel vs Gel-X
Russian Manicure explained
- Client comfort, air quality, and natural nail health
Setting Boundaries + Firing Clients
Late clients, non-payers, and chronic cancelers
Why beauty pros must protect their time
How saying “no” saved her sanity
How She Built a Fully Booked Nail Business WITHOUT Going Viral
Word of mouth > trends
Using Instagram as a portfolio
- Consistency and good vibes over perfection
Faith, Mindset & Hustle
Having her car stolen THREE times
Ubering to work and still paying rent
- Where God showed up when family didn’t
Studio Life + Growing Bigger
Starting in a tiny suite
Expanding into a larger Castle Hills studio
- Collaborating with other SA beauty pros (Skin by Pamela, etc.)
🖥 Follow Us for More:Connect with us on Social Media / beautyboundtx / beautyboundtx / beauty.bound Cristal Rubio (Beauty Pro Bookkeeping): / beautyprobookkeeping | https://www.beautyprobookkeeping.comFilmed & Produced by: Peachtree Rose Marketing: https://peachtreerosemarketing.com | / podcaststudiosatx | / peachtreerosemarketing | Matt Nelson: / officialmattnelson
#BeautyBoundPodcast #BeautyProBookkeeping #ClaraBeautyNails #SanAntonioNailTech #CastleHillsTX #TexasNailTech #RussianManicure #GelNailsSanAntonio #SoftGelNails #BuilderGelNails #AcrylicVsGel #NailTechLife #NailTechEducation #NailBusinessTips #BeautySchoolDropout #BeautyIndustryPodcast #BeautyBusinessPodcast #LatinaEntrepreneur #MexicanAmericanStory #WomenInBeauty #NailTechSuccess #BeautyBusinessSanAntonio #BookedAndBusy #ClientBoundaries #FaithAndBusiness #GlowUpStory #FromStruggleToSuccess #NailInspo
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By Cristal, Owner of BeautyPro BookkeepingReady for some real nail tech tea, beauty industry truth bombs, and a whole lot of “prove-them-wrong” energy?
This episode of Beauty Bound is for every nail tech, esty, hairstylist, or beauty pro who has ever built their business from the ground up with zero handouts.
In today’s episode, host Cristal Rubio of Beauty Pro Bookkeeping finally invites a NAIL TECH — and she did not miss.
Meet Clara B. Novella (@clarabeautynails), a San Antonio nail tech + Castle Hills studio owner known for Russian manicures, soft gel, modern nail trends, and a glow-up story that hits different.
Clara went from being a beauty school dropout with no car, no money, and no family support…
to running a fully booked nail studio with clients who have followed her for YEARS.
This episode blends nail education, real-life struggles, business talk, faith, and raw honesty about what it actually takes to grow in the beauty industry — especially as a Latina entrepreneur.
The True Cost of Beauty School
- Cosmetology vs Nail Specialty (1,400 hours vs 600 hours)
- Why some schools teach for the test, not real client skills
- The for-profit trap of beauty education
Clara’s “Started From Literally Nothing” Story
Getting kicked out at 19
Toxic relationships, couch-hopping, starting over
- Retail jobs, manager roles, and realizing she was building everyone else’s dreams
Learning Nails Without a License (the honest reality)
Not advice. Just the truth of how many techs start.
Practicing on friends + boot-store customers
Why honesty built trust and lifetime clients
- What beginners SHOULD charge vs what masters charge
Nail Tech Education
Acrylic vs Gel vs Gel-X
Russian Manicure explained
- Client comfort, air quality, and natural nail health
Setting Boundaries + Firing Clients
Late clients, non-payers, and chronic cancelers
Why beauty pros must protect their time
How saying “no” saved her sanity
How She Built a Fully Booked Nail Business WITHOUT Going Viral
Word of mouth > trends
Using Instagram as a portfolio
- Consistency and good vibes over perfection
Faith, Mindset & Hustle
Having her car stolen THREE times
Ubering to work and still paying rent
- Where God showed up when family didn’t
Studio Life + Growing Bigger
Starting in a tiny suite
Expanding into a larger Castle Hills studio
- Collaborating with other SA beauty pros (Skin by Pamela, etc.)
🖥 Follow Us for More:Connect with us on Social Media / beautyboundtx / beautyboundtx / beauty.bound Cristal Rubio (Beauty Pro Bookkeeping): / beautyprobookkeeping | https://www.beautyprobookkeeping.comFilmed & Produced by: Peachtree Rose Marketing: https://peachtreerosemarketing.com | / podcaststudiosatx | / peachtreerosemarketing | Matt Nelson: / officialmattnelson
#BeautyBoundPodcast #BeautyProBookkeeping #ClaraBeautyNails #SanAntonioNailTech #CastleHillsTX #TexasNailTech #RussianManicure #GelNailsSanAntonio #SoftGelNails #BuilderGelNails #AcrylicVsGel #NailTechLife #NailTechEducation #NailBusinessTips #BeautySchoolDropout #BeautyIndustryPodcast #BeautyBusinessPodcast #LatinaEntrepreneur #MexicanAmericanStory #WomenInBeauty #NailTechSuccess #BeautyBusinessSanAntonio #BookedAndBusy #ClientBoundaries #FaithAndBusiness #GlowUpStory #FromStruggleToSuccess #NailInspo