She is a lead educator for one of many greatest world gel nail manufacturers, however Sarah Thompson didn’t at all times know her calling could be in nails…or nail schooling.
Nevertheless, the skilled nail trade stored calling to her, and although she even tried to depart it as soon as, it stored bringing her again. She lastly was the place she was meant to be with the model she was meant to be with. Be a part of us as we go on her nail journey!
Nailpro (NP): When/how did you notice that being a nail technician was your calling?
Sarah Thompson (ST): I’ve at all times preferred doing nails or getting my nails performed, however I didn’t get into the trade till after my son was born. I didn’t wish to return to my former job as it will imply he could be with a babysitter for 12 hours, so my husband and I had been brainstorming what I might do nearer to house. My husband urged I get into doing nails as a result of my nail tech on the time, Roberta, was tremendous busy after which I might make my very own schedule!
I contacted Roberta to speak, and she or he thought it was a good suggestion that I pursue this. Then she gave me a quantity for a lady with whom I might practice one on one. I used to be solely licensed a pair weeks when Roberta knowledgeable me that she and her husband had been transferring to Atlanta, Georgia, and she or he wished to know if she might put my identify on an inventory for her shoppers. So, I began with a good clientele.
NP: Inform me about your nail journey over time?
ST: I ended up doing nails for 13 years out of my house studio, and I started pursuing pictures on the aspect. Each proved to be an excessive amount of, so I gave up nails to discover this new profession in addition to working at my husband’s enterprise.
It was nice for a bit, however then I used to be contacted by a few girls who wished me to do their nails as they hadn’t discovered a nail tech they wished to stick with since me. So, I arrange a small house at my husband’s auto physique restore store, and that’s the place my nail journey began again up. It was good to do your work and go house with cash in your pocket and never have hours of photograph modifying to do. I questioned what I used to be considering after I gave up nails!
I labored out of there briefly earlier than transferring to my pictures studio, after which my husband and I opened a tanning and nail salon in our small downtown space. The salon was wonderful, and I’m tremendous pleased with what we had constructed, however I spotted after virtually 5 years, I used to be not a boss form of particular person, so I bought our salon and moved again house simply because the world shut down in March of 2020. I spent the following three months throughout lockdown taking workshop after workshop with nail artwork, however I additionally took prep courses, which had been my favourite.
NP: How did you come to The GelBottle?
ST: The merchandise that I had educated with and used faithfully for 17 years weren’t working for me nor for my nail technicians on the salon — I used to be sad with the outcomes and began to fret about our shoppers’ nail well being. A lady I adopted on Instagram who used the identical merchandise I had was attempting out The GelBottle, so I requested why she was switching over. She defined she was having all the identical points I used to be. Then I reached out to The GelBottle who put me in contact with TGB President/CEO Michael “Mike” Hollman within the U.S. because it had simply launched there earlier that yr. After a pair months of chatting with him, I positioned my first order, leaping in with each ft and never turning again. It was the most effective determination I ever made.
My shoppers whose nails barely maintained for 3 weeks beforehand had been now getting long-lasting outcomes of over 4 weeks, and so they had been coming in saying, “What are you utilizing on my nails? They’ve by no means been higher!”
NP: What led you to get into schooling for The GelBottle?
ST: Mike had talked about The GelBottle Academy coming to the U.S. and had requested if it was one thing I might be fascinated by for Canada. Initially, I wasn’t positive as a result of I didn’t suppose I had the endurance for it — it seems I do, and I fairly get pleasure from it.
I flew to California the primary week in March of 2020 to assist the launch of the Academy within the U.S., and I used to be enthusiastic about turning into the educator in Canada, however the world shut down two weeks after that and put it on maintain. Later in 2021, Mike and Helena Bonney, the pinnacle of the Academy, reached out to see if I’d nonetheless have an interest, which I used to be, so we relaunched my first programs in March of 2022.
My ardour for schooling grew as a result of after I first began utilizing nail merchandise, there weren’t movies like there at the moment are, and the Academy didn’t exist. It was all trial and error with what labored and what didn’t. I didn’t need anyone to wrestle like that, and I wished to assist train folks about merchandise and use them correctly whereas giving suggestions and tips I had discovered alongside the best way.
NP: What positions or occasions helped you change into an excellent educator?
ST: Sadly, my first mistake was after I did my preliminary coaching, I didn’t do any continued schooling after that. I didn’t take a refresher course till December 2019! 19 years of doing nails with no refresher was an enormous mistake.
I found Chrissy Pierce, a U.Ok. nail tech and educator, was touring from the U.Ok. to show a course in British Columbia, so I flew west and took my very first continued schooling class, and I might have cried. The nail world had developed a lot and left me sitting within the mud. I had no thought what an apex was or construct it. My thoughts was completely blown, and from that time on, I vowed to by no means cease studying.
NP: What do you like about working for The GelBottle?
ST: In the beginning, it will be my U.S. workforce. They’re all wonderful, and we’ve change into somewhat household. Secondly, I’ve met so many unimaginable folks and good nail techs due to TGB, together with these from courses I’ve taught or magnificence exhibits we have now attended.
NP: What are you hoping for the way forward for your profession within the nail trade?
ST: I’m hoping to be higher than I’m at present each as a nail tech and a instructor. I additionally wish to develop as an individual and develop my enterprise, so who is aware of…However, I’m wishing it’s one thing extraordinary!
NP: What adjustments are you hoping for in nail technician schooling transferring ahead?
ST: On-line schooling is helpful when you have fundamental data of a topic, however I’m a really hands-on particular person, so I discover it almost unimaginable to be taught one thing new on-line. Subsequently, I hope folks fascinated by doing nails don’t rely solely on YouTube or Instagram to find out about merchandise or methods; they need to take the time to finish in-person coaching and licensure. We’re engaged on revamping our Academy curriculum, and I’m excited to see TGB stage up our coaching.
NP:What are your favourite sorts of nails/designs to do?
ST: I like clear and basic with minimal nail artwork, whether or not it’s a easy nude builder or a stable shade. Then once more, I’ve days the place I’d love so as to add crystals to each nail; it is determined by my temper.
NP: If there may be one piece of recommendation you could possibly give a brand new nail tech, what wouldn’t it be?
ST: Don’t be too exhausting on your self whenever you’re simply beginning out, however at all times take pleasure in your work, and be fussy, searching for these fantastic particulars. All the time try to be higher than you had been yesterday, don’t examine your self to others, and by no means ever cease studying.
