Moving forward and upwards

MovingForwards

Thank you SH and Skinty

We had a wonderful Christmas and hope you both did too.

I've spent a lot of my free time reading my 'new' books, practising, brainstorming ideas, buying items in the sales etc. I've decanted my glitters into the cutest little bottles so can offer a large range without taking up loads of space.

My nail art has escalated to a whole new level and today I created my first winter wedding design and have a few more ideas. I've done others today which are so beautiful too.
- I've now got all the tools for intricate details.

I've completed a couple of free equipment cleaning, infection prevention etc courses and added the certificates to my folder; my course manuals are also filed in it.  I dug out a drawing pad and can sketch ideas.

Over this next holiday I'll be swatting up on my course, creating more nail designs, trying different ways of photographing them, organising my pro kit, removing nail colours and getting a case ready for training next week 😊 

I can't wait to open my diary to book friends and family in 💅

MovingForwards

Skip this post if you've no interest in my nail business and the chat that goes with it 😉

Had a couple of deliveries today, one was my usual supplier (will I get used to writing that) and their mystery box was fantastic! Got some beautiful polishes, very useful accessories and the only things I've added to my pro pile are the wooden stick pushy things and nail clips for attaching to polish bottles to demonstrate the colours. I also ordered various detailing brushes and can elevate my designs further 😊

There's a vast difference between regular varnish and gels.
Gels have chemists / scientists and lamps have whatever those people are called working together to ensure both are designed / tuned to ensure all the light waves, ingredients etc work together and ensure the gel is cured (dried) properly. Potential health risks for using non-matched gear and mixing one brand with another eg base coat from A, colour from B etc, not having them cured properly etc. 

Which brings me on to where I'm at with everything and explains why I've got different things going on!

My practice gels are cheap, there's no matched lamp for them and for that reason they'll never be used on anyone. However, very cost effective for trying designs / ideas on false nails and perfecting them. 

I'm using the supplier polishes on myself, they're cheaper than my kit ones and have a great range of colours. I'll be buying their matched lamp payday and can earmark a space on my desk to have it perfectly set up.

I've also got a decent range from the company who are closing down and their matched lamp will arrive in the new year with my final order from them; it's the company I've snapped up so many gorgeous glitters from.

For my pro kit I'm using two different brands as they both appeal to the two sides I'll be covering:
- H are more of an arty brand and have such delightful colours / effects.
- M are more of a straight colour brand and have a vast range.
Of course it means I'll be carrying two different lamps, but together they'll still be smaller than the one I've got in my pro kit! 

All the companies have had decent sales on (upto 50% off, spend so much get free items, buy X and get Y free) which I've took advantage of. I'll have a large range of everything, and spares, to pretty much cover what people want. December has been a very spendy month, I've thrown a lot into this venture and to ensure it will carry itself for a few years while establishing.

The only thing I need to purchase is my insurance once I've my first qualification next week. Great thing is I don't have to keep upgrading it as I obtain qualifications in different treatments.

One of the brands offer training courses in a specific area I'd also like to offer people, their closest training centre is nearly 3h drive away and it's a 2 day course, £350. I wouldn't normally be looking at brand specific courses as I would be limited to / insured for only using that brand, however, I'm struggling to find a trainer up here who offers this type of system; I'm still looking and will ask next week if she has any plans to offer it.

This is everything currently going on 😀

~FlowerPot~

Wowsers I am enjoying finding out about your nail business, its all very exciting. I deal with nails in my day job, but as a foot health practitioner rather than pedicure!!! I make them comfy, your'll be making them pretty!!

I hope the training course all goes well x

MovingForwards

Thank you FP, I have been trying to work out what your day job was and that never popped into my head! The training girl seems really nice, friendly and down to earth.

Today has been a busy one. Popped to 2nd home, picked some grass, weeds and herbs and the lads made me a big planter! After I nipped up to the local shops for veg (don't think I said but we've been babysitting SIL's furballs). Then to the butcher for a whole chicken. Total spend under £18.

Had meds and a coffee when I got back, dealt with my deliveries. As cat had gone to bed and TomBo was working I could put boxes everywhere and sort my pro kit; have to number my glitter bottles and they'll go in my kit case. Only have one piled high box lid to pack into my spares box and that's all done, until my last two deliveries arrive in the NY.

Even had time to tidy up the lounge! 

I'll organise under my desk better as I've got a shelf and could have some of my spares tucked on that. All boxes are labeled so I know which to grab when I'm replenishing my cases. At the moment everything is tucked left, back and right under my desk which isn't great from a desk H&A point of view.
- potentially I could swap my spare nail / beauty stuff with my makeup which would free up a large case already under my desk and I could tuck the makeup onto the shelf in a box instead.

I've bits to pack into my personal kit too. I may have a few duplicate gels and will tuck them into a small box out the way too.

I charged my tablet and set up a spreadsheet for my all my kit. 

Lastly, as part of my 'learn as much as I can' I'm reading through a beauty forum and gaining more knowledge daily. One of the books I have is highly recommended, another was too and I got it for £2. 

Plans for this holiday include read my course manual and learn technical terms, diseases etc. read my new book and carry on with my other one. Practice French polish and do more designs. Practice photographing designs and make a lightbox, if needed. Remove toe gel and practice cuticle work as I've never done it or had it done! Tint brows, lower lashes and have a pamper. Find something to wear for my course. Do annual and monthly personal budget spreadsheet. 

I'm working the day before my course, but have already planned my hours to keep stress / anxiety levels down, I'll remove my finger gel too.
- after I pass this one, I'll use my own nails as advertising 😁

Sounds like I've loads to do, however, most of it is sitting down and I'll also get plenty of rest. We've nice food planned.

I'm so ready for 2024, life is going from strength to strength.

~FlowerPot~

such a lovely positive post MF, sounds like 2024 is going to be your year! I do hope all the training goes well x

savingholmes

Glad you are enjoying getting all organised and keeping your brain ticking over. I like to keep learning too. Happy New Year if I don't catch you again before. I'm struggling to keep up on MSE at the moment!

MovingForwards

Thank you FP

So far I'm the only person booked for this course and I could end up with one2one training, which would be highly beneficial 😀 

My supplier sent me a 20% discount code, which worked on their sale items too. I've got a full wax kit coming, extra wax related items, disposable items for treatments, nail art bits and more PPE, plus a mystery box treat for me.
- I'm pleased to say I've built up a good rapport with this company already.

I've numbered my little glitter bottles and will decant the remaining glitters from the closing down company; there's a few where I purchased different size glitter pieces and I wasn't sure I'd have enough bottles when I decanted the bulk of them. 

I have organised most of my personal kit, only have a few more gels to add to my case and small spares box. To save space I decanted glitters and other bits into small tray containers so have got even more in than I thought I would and have space left.

Using the kit organisation knowledge I've now got, I'll be tackling my pro kit again! It's bulky items in my trolley case which isn't helping with the space issue and there's only so much I can put in smaller boxes, or buy smaller / flat bottles. Things like table roll, gloves, wrist pillow etc I can't shrink down or repackage. 

Tomorrow I'll get all the above sorted, do my brows and lower lashes, do a few more nail designs and start learning my manual.

We had beef brisket casserole for tea.

MovingForwards

Thanks SH, sorry I must have been writing my post when yours went up! I'm only keeping up with diaries and not other areas I'd usually have a read of.

I've always said we never stop learning. I think it shows with those who do, not just picking up a new skill or information but overall wellbeing too. 

Forgot to say after my last salon appointment, she only booked me in for lashes, no nails.

I have been looking for a folding table for my venture. TomBo said to buy new as I'm hoping to develop this into my main income source, with my current day job as PT.  I'd just started looking and thought I'd check locally, used. Someone is selling their entire furniture set up, full kit, all accessories and equipment for an absolute bargain price; branded items too. Needless to say we're collecting it in the morning!

Popped to get the cash out, nipped into local shop and spent under £8. Got 2 boxes of chocolates, massively reduced veg and sausage rolls plus I picked up some bread rolls.
- I've asked TomBo if he will make leek and spud soup, fresh tom pasta sauce.

Also popped in to see my butcher, have him a box of chocs and he'll display a poster when I'm up and running 😀 

If we had a bigger garden I'd buy a decent outside building, work from home and do mobile. Who knows, maybe we will end up buying a neighbours garden and I could do that!

Today is a chair day, as organising always sees me sitting on the floor and struggling to walk after. I've already had my coffees. I'll be reading part of my manual, broken into bite size sections for ease of learning, it's anatomy, structure, contra-actions / contraindications, diseases and across 17 pages. Some of my books and may even start entering supplies into my spreadsheet.

I'll be looking to attend college for a general qualification in 'beauty and nails', there's a suitable 18wk course but at the moment it would be too much, hopefully they'll run others when the weather isn't draining me.

We're having roast chicken for tea tonight.

Happy Hogmanay 🎉

Skint_yet_Again

Love reading about all your preparations. Best wishes to you both for the new year x

savingholmes

Sounds a great win on the 'used' set up.