It started with
my girls’ nails.

I’m 35, a mum of four, and this whole thing started because I took our daughter to get her nails and mine done. It cost $180 and I straight up said, “Nope. Not today.” So I bought one little gel polish set off Amazon out of pure spite.

Next thing I knew, I was enrolling in a nail technology course because I was frustrated that I wasn’t PERFECT within 0.2 seconds, and when I learn something, I want to know it ALL. Even when I enrolled, I was still in denial. It was just to get better, quicker and safer while doing my girls’ nails. Obviously.

Now I’ve bought a proper nail desk, moved furniture around the house, and somehow there’s a nail salon in my dining room. I’m practising for hours, going live on TikTok and developing surprisingly strong opinions about nail products.

I was shopping mostly on Amazon and at beauty supply stores, then I kept seeing sooo many nail techs rave about products on SHEIN. So I placed one little order. Except it was not little at all. I dove straight in, posted the haul, and now here we are.

What the actual fuck is happening?

One course. An entirely unreasonable amount of nail stuff.

A few months ago, I wasn’t dreaming up a nail business. I wanted to learn a skill. Then came the practice, the SHEIN hauls, the desk upgrades and the furniture rearranging. At some point, “I’ll just have a go” became a fairly serious commitment to the dining room.

I’m learning acrylic, Gel X and builder gel. Some days something clicks. Other days a set takes six hours and I have plenty of time to think about my life choices.

You’re watching it happen.

The six-hour sets. The wonky nails. The products I regret buying. Asking for advice, trying again, and getting ridiculously excited when something finally clicks.

And then brands started sending me PR. Sorry… brands are sending ME nail polish now? Are we all seeing this?

I know I’m a beginner. I’m also putting the hours in, taking it seriously and getting better. Both things can be true.

I think I might actually be good at this one day.

The progress gets a place here. So do the questionable early sets.

I could wait until everything looks perfect to share it. But then you’d miss the bit where I’m figuring it out. The practice hands, the wonky attempts, the tiny improvements I absolutely need everyone to look at.

I’m proud of the progress. I can also cringe at an old photo. There’s room for both at this desk.

You got here early.

We’re all watching to see how far this goes. If it turns into something huge, you get to say, “I remember when she was taking five hours to do a set.”

For now: come sit at the nail desk. This is getting wildly out of hand and unfortunately I’m having the time of my life.