From Kitchen Table to Boss Table: My Nail Biz Glow-Up Story

How I Went from £15 Gel Sets to a Fully Booked Empire

I started my nail biz the way so many of us do — with big dreams, shaky confidence, and a dining room table in Chatham.

My kit was basic. My prices were low.
I was charging £25 for a full set of acrylics and £15 for gel polish, using brands like NSI, Naio nails, Gelish, Artistic Colour Gloss and CND Shellac.
My “salon” was a folding mobile table in my dining room with beauty boxes stuffed under it.
And truthfully? I didn’t have a clue how to actually run a business.

I just knew I loved doing nails. And I wanted more than a hobby. I wanted freedom. I wanted flexibility. I wanted to feel proud of what I was building.

💭 The Early Days: Passion, Panic, and £600 Months

I worked hard. I showed up. I said yes to everyone.

And after a while, I was fully booked…
…but I was only making around £600–£780 a month.
Exhausted. Burnt out. Underpaid. Wondering what I was doing wrong.

It wasn’t until I sat down and did the maths that it clicked.
I wasn’t covering my costs. I wasn’t paying myself.
I was doing everything right on paper — but still struggling.

So I did something terrifying:
I raised my prices.

Yes, I lost a few clients. I've learnt to just 'Let Them leave'
But the ones who stayed? Valued me more.
And the ones who came after? Were dream clients.

💖 The Glow-Up: From Guessing to Growing

Around year three, I started investing in myself.

Extra training. 1:1 coaching. Better tools, more education on nails.
And - maybe most importantly - I worked on my product application to perfect my skills, finally in 2023 I done more work on my money mindset which has helped me get to where I am now.

I stopped playing small.
I stopped thinking like a side hustle.
And I started treating my business like a career.

By the time I moved to Essex in 2019, I was confident.
And within a week of moving into my new house, I already had clients booked in.

That was the moment I realised:
I wasn’t “just doing nails” anymore.
I was running a real business. And I was doing it my way.

🏡 From Dining Room to Dream Room

Now? My salon is in the smallest bedroom of my house - a tropical-themed haven where I see 16–18 clients a week and earn well beyond what kitchen-table Sami could’ve imagined.

My prices range from £35 to £75, and every set I do reflects the confidence, experience, and care I’ve built over the years.

Some of my clients have been with me since day one in Essex. They’ve followed my growth, celebrated my wins, and stuck around through every chapter. Most of them have become more than just a client they have become friends. I'm their safe space and I love that!

That loyalty? That’s the reward of showing up with purpose - and building a business that works for you.

✨ What I’d Say to Kitchen Table Sami

First off - I'm so proud of you, girl.
But here’s what I’d whisper into your ear (between gel layers):

👉 Raise your prices sooner.
👉 Stop saying yes to everyone even when they make you unhappy.
👉 You’re not too much - you’re just powerful AF.
👉 You’ve got this. Just keep swimming.

💬 What My Clients Say Now:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Sami never fails to impress me! Giving 100% at each appointment. She’s creative and obviously enjoys her job. Fantastic nails and toes today." – Sharon

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Every time I go to Sami I have a lovely experience, and she always hits the brief on design! My nails look amazing." – Bryony

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Excellent experience. Understand why Sami is in demand — thoroughly enjoyable time. Looking forward to going again." – Judith

Check out my Instagram - Click here @Samisbeautifulnails

👑 Your Glow-Up Starts Here

If you’re sitting at your own kitchen table right now, wondering if this could ever be more - I’m here to tell you it can.

You just need support, strategy, and a little bougie belief in yourself.

And I’ve got you.

🎁 Grab My Free Nail Tech Money Map

Get my exact steps to:

• Price your sets properly

• Shift your money mindset

• Build a business that pays you well

👉 Download the FREE Money Map here

💬 Tell Me Your Story

Where did your nail biz begin?
Kitchen table, bedroom, salon corner?

Drop it in the comments - I’d love to hear it 💖

👯‍♀️ Ready to Build Your Empire?

Join The Nail Mafia Empire — the membership built for nail techs like you.

Inside you’ll get:

• Strategy sessions

• Business tools

• Coaching from me (Sami!)

• A community of ambitious nail techs who get it

👉 Join The Nail Mafia Empire Now

Let’s turn your passion into profit — and your workspace into a six-figure throne 💅✨

📋 Your Glow-Up Action Plan:

• Review your prices - are they really covering your time, talent & costs?

• Audit your boundaries - where are you saying “yes” when you should say “not anymore”?

• Map out your ideal week - how many clients do you actually want?

• Journal on this: “What would Boss-Me do differently this week?”

• Surround yourself with people who get it - and support your goals.

🎥 BONUS: Watch My Nail Business Q&A Replay

Want even more real talk, strategy, and behind-the-scenes insight into building a nail business that works?

I hosted a 3-day challenge last month for nail techs just like you - and you can still catch the replay!

👉 Click here to watch the Nail Business Q&A Replay

Inside, we cover:

• The biggest mistakes techs make when trying to grow

• What to focus on first when business is quiet

• Pricing, mindset, and building a brand clients trust

📓 Grab a notebook - this one’s packed with gems!