Welcome to Nails and Yap, the podcast where we talk nails, business, and everything in between. Whether you’re a fellow nail tech, a beauty lover, or just here for the good chat, this is your weekly dose of real talk from behind the nail desk. Each week, I’ll be doing my guest’s nails while we dive into a new topic... expect unfiltered conversations about the highs, lows, and hilarious moments of salon life, with a bit of beauty gossip, business insight, and client stories thrown in for good measure. So get comfy, grab a coffee, and let’s yap.
Thinking about training as a nail tech? Already a nail tech wanting to upskill? Part way through a course and panicking? This one is for you!! Tash from The Creative Nail Academy has been doing nails for 17 years and educating students for six of those years. She teaches beauty school level 3, ABT accredited day courses, her own academy and she's also a Nail Order educator. I wanted to pick Tash's brain and ask her all about the things she wishes students knew before they enrol on a course! She shares the most common struggles she sees in the classroom, stories of her most chaotic training room experiences (including physical fights, yes, you heard that right...), and what she would add to the curriculum tomorrow if she could. Plus: a gas leak, two students who needed privacy screens putting between them, and a Nightmare from the Nail Desk from someone whose mate's rate has become everybody's rate. Find Tash: Instagram @The Creative Nail Academy Check out her upcoming Nail Order courses here About Nails & Yap Nails & Yap is the podcast for nail technicians who love a good natter. Each episode, host Laura is joined by a guest from the nail industry, she does their nails while they yap away about a different industry topic. Expect real talk on running a nail business, building a clientele, pricing, trends, and everything in between. Every episode features a Nightmare from the Nail Desk… our agony aunt segment where we tackle dilemmas sent in by nail techs. Got a situation you need a second opinion on? Email your dilemma to nailsandyap@gmail.com and we might just answer it on the show. 🎙 Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram & TikTok ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please please leave a review! It genuinely helps more nail techs find the show and I'll love you FOREVER
This week I'm joined by Liv Paints Nails and we're talking all about press ons, not just as a quick side hustle but as a properly priced, properly structured income stream that nail techs might be sleeping on. Liv was so open and honest, sharing vulnerable stories, nightmare client tales and her advice for becoming a press on nail artist. We get into: How she started selling press-ons remotely after TikTok followers kept saying they wished they lived nearer The sellotape sizing hack she uses so clients can measure their own nail beds at home Why she prices press ons at the same hourly rate as in person work... and why £35 for a complex set is not it 👀 The accessibility angle: who actually wants press-ons and why it goes deeper than you might think Balancing press on orders, irl clients and nursery pickup with an ADHD brain The client who turned up 40 minutes late and offered her a tenner Plus our Nightmare from the Nail Desk dilemma: this week, a nail tech who infilled a set she knew wasn't her own work and now doesn't know if her loyal client of two years is about to ghost her. You can find Liv on TikTok and Instagram at @livpaintsnails 💅 About Nails & Yap Nails & Yap is the podcast for nail technicians who love a good natter. Each episode, host Laura is joined by a guest from the nail industry, she does their nails while they yap away about a different industry topic. Expect real talk on running a nail business, building a clientele, pricing, trends, and everything in between. Every episode features a Nightmare from the Nail Desk... our agony aunt segment where we tackle dilemmas sent in by nail techs. Got a situation you need a second opinion on? Email your dilemma to nailsandyap@gmail.com and we might just answer it on the show. 🎙️ Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram & TikTok ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please please leave a review! It genuinely helps more nail techs find the show and I'll love you FOREVER
When you're a beauty professional, in the chair 6 days a week, sprinting towards your next 5 minute gap so you can nip for a wee and inhale a sandwich... you're probs not thinking about the next 5/10/20 years in the job. But for most of us, if our body stops working... so does our business. This week I'm joined by Charlotte, ex nail tech and owner of Satya Santuary, a yoga/pilates studio in Knutsford. She's here with some home truths nail techs need to hear about the physical toll this job takes on your body, and what you can actually do to protect yourself. Charlotte left the industry after losing her passion for the job, and still suffers with bulging disks, debilitating migraines, and lasting damage from her time in the chair. She now teaches pilates and yoga and chats to me all about the things she wishes she'd known as a tech. We get into the physical reality of a full day in the chair, why pilates is the best antidote, the setup changes that make the biggest difference to your body, as well as the best stretches you can build into your week to offset our shrimp-like posture. Our body is our business so let's look after it!! Follow Charlotte's studio over at www.instagram.com/satyasanctuary PLUS we'll be announcing a very fun collab soon for any local guys & gals so stay tuned!!!
Nails and Yap is ONE!!!!! (I know what the helly?!) and instead of one guest in the chair, I've gone back through every single episode and pulled some of the clips that I think you'll find funny, interesting and that will change your beauty business. The advice that genuinely changed how I run my business, the laughs that nearly ruined the set, the honest bits no one planned, and the opinions I think every nail tech needs to hear. Thank you for being here, whether you're a newer listener or an episode 1 OG. I can't wait to see where the next year takes us!! 📩 Send your Nightmare From The Nail Desk: nailsandyap@gmail.com 📲 @nailsandyap.pod
87% of clients never tell their nail tech why they stopped booking . They just disappear. In this episode I surveyed 60 real clients - not nail techs, but regular people who've ghosted their hairdresser, beauty therapist, nail tech, brow tech and asked them to be brutally honest about why they left. The results were insightful, sometimes funny, and made me think about how I run my own nail business. We cover the vibe problem, the listening problem, the price conversation nobody's having correctly, and the clients you were never going to keep anyway. If you've ever lost a client and had no idea why, this one might help you! Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 23 - Self Employment vs Salon Employment 🎙️ Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram & TikTok ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please please leave a review! It genuinely helps more nail techs find the show and I'll love you FOREVER
Ever wondered what it's really like working in a busy nail salon and whether going self employed is worth it? In this episode I sit down with a nail tech who spent 8 years employed in a high street salon before making the leap to self employment after COVID. Elle shares what genuinely surprised her when she started working in a salon, the etiquette lessons she picked up that nobody teaches you on a nail course, and how her transition into self employment actually came about. We also tackle a listener dilemma about a salon owner who keeps interfering in appointments - and what you can actually do about it. If you're employed and curious about going it alone, self employed and wondering what you might be missing, or just navigating the industry… you’ll like this one! ⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & Welcome03:32 From college apprentice to ten years in a salon 05:12 What a typical day in a beauty salon actually looks like 13:29 Having a boss: the pressure, the validation, and the clock-watching 19:10 What you expect salon life to be vs. what it actually is 22:48 Training, development, and why nails always came last 24:54 Salon etiquette: the stuff no nail course ever teaches you 28:09 The three things you were banned from talking about on the salon floor 31:52 Why Elle made the leap from employed to self-employed 34:21 The fears (and the confidence) of going solo 38:17 Loneliness, admin overwhelm, and the bits no one warns you about 45:02 What to know if you're romanticising self-employment 48:53 Nightmare from the nail desk — the salon owner jumping into my appointments 🎙️ Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram & TikTok: @nailsandyap.pod 💗 Follow Elle over on Instagram @elle_ekbeauty ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please please leave a review! It genuinely helps more nail techs find the show and I'll love you FOREVER
Spring is the perfect time for a reset and in this episode I’m joined by Lacey to talk about how to refresh your nail business inside and out 🌸 We cover everything from cleaning and organising your tools to reassessing your social media and shifting your mindset ready for a busy summer season. We also get into: - Our most hated spring nail art trends 👀 - A simple tip for creating better floral nail designs - How to actually feel more organised and in control going into your busiest months If you’re ready to declutter your space, your content, and your mindset then this one’s for you 💅
Struggling to get more nail clients? Or noticing gaps in your appointment book? In this episode, we break down exactly how nail techs can attract new clients, keep them rebooking, and stop them from going elsewhere. This conversation is especially helpful if you're: A beginner nail tech trying to build your first client base A nail tech returning after time off or a quiet period Experiencing new gaps in your diary and want to actively attract clients again We talk about: • How to actually attract new clients locally • Why some clients don’t rebook (and how to fix it) • Simple ways to keep clients loyal to you • Small mistakes that might be pushing clients away Plus, my guest Tanya shares one of the BEST local advertising tips I’ve ever heard for nail techs , and it's something most people completely overlook when promoting their business. If you want a to attract new clients to your beauty business to build up a full, busy diary , this episode will give you practical ideas you can start using straight away.
In this episode of Nails & Yap , I’m joined by Lizzie (one of my clients and also a fellow podcaster over at Tiny Talks ) for a chat about nail appointments from the client perspective . Lizzie is actually my first guest who isn’t in the beauty industry, so we thought it would be interesting to talk about what clients really think about their appointments and get an unfiltered, honest perspective. We get into: What makes a nail appointment feel comfortable and enjoyable The atmosphere clients love The relationship between nail tech and client Things that can make or break the experience A few honest client bug bears 👀 It was such a good conversation and definitely one I think nail techs will find interesting - so I hope it's really valuable for you & your business! Show Notes Find Lizzie's podcast Instagram here - she chats to small, local businesses and shares daily clips from real people as well as an insight into her own life - managing the sunday scaries, as well as her bridal journey as she's recently engaged. Follow Nails & Yap on Instagram here and on TikTok here
Welcome to part 2 of my nail art chat with Izzy at Orphic Nails! This time we get into the pressure behind nail art - from ourselves, clients and social media. We talk about how social media has changed nail art expectations, the unrealistic speed standards nail techs face, and how constantly creating content can lead to burnout. We also cover:– Scheduling posts to avoid overwhelming yourself– Navigating neurodivergence as a creative nail tech– Learning how to say no to clients and their crazy requests (real life goldfish anyone?!)– Protecting your energy while still delivering detailed nail art If you love nail art but sometimes feel the pressure that comes with it, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen to Part 1 for the start of the conversation here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sHmNt3IH8CkDNHhNlgtwX?si=Q4bYwevgSXCtig_SGXJAVg
In part one of this two-part episode, I’m joined by Izzy from Orphic Nails & Education for a deep dive into nail art and the small details that make the biggest difference. We talk about the evolution of Izzy’s iconic checkerboard nail art, why brush pressure and gel saturation matter more than most nail techs realise, and how refining your technique can completely change your results. Izzy also shares her (very strong) feelings about French nails, why they’re harder than they look, and how we deal with clients who just won’t sit still during nail art appointments. This episode was too good to cut down, so we’ve split it into two parts - part two will be with you next week!
I'm back with a little bonus episode of Nails & Yap to share a new project, that I'm really excited and passionate about. If you're a regular listener you'll already know how much I yap on about the value of community, making friends and creating connections in the nail industry. And if you're not a regular listener - hi, I'm Laura, and I yap on about the value of community, making friends and creating connections in the nail industry. In this episode I talk about why nail techs need real community, and why this industry can feel really lonely even though we're with people all day. We don't have colleagues, we often work in isolation, and so much of the confidence, motivation and decision making falls on us without people to bounce off. I wanted to film a bonus episode to introduce The Nail Social, a new Manchester based community that I'm starting with two nail tech friends - India & Sasha. It's all about having genuine connection through low pressure, IRL meet ups. We're starting with monthly coffee mornings, on a Sunday, to get to know other local techs and hopefully make some more mates. It's not one off networking, we want to create a proper community. I share how the idea came about, how having nail tech friends has COMPLETELY changed my experience of the job, and how we're building this in public. If you're a nail tech who's ever wished they had colleagues, or you're local to Manchester and want to get involved, you can follow the journey over on Instagram at @thenailsocialmcr (https://www.instagram.com/thenailsocialmcr/). We'll also be sharing lots of content for nail techs, so even if you can't make the meetups we'd love you to follow along and be part of the club from afar! Thank you so so much for listening, and I'll be back next week with a full episode all about mastering nail art, with Izzy from Orphic Nails & Education who is an absolute nail art whizz!
In this episode of Nails & Yap , I’m joined by Holly (A Splash of Polish) for a real, honest conversation about managing a beauty business while living with chronic illness. We talk about what it’s actually like to work with conditions like CFS and Fibromyalgia. Holly deals with unpredictable energy levels and painful flare-ups, all whilst navigating client expectations, scheduling, and the guilt that often comes with needing rest. Holly shares her personal journey, the misconceptions people have about working with chronic illness, and why understanding your own body is one of the most important skills you can develop as a business owner. We also get practical... breaking down energy management strategies , workspace adaptations, client communication tips, and a mini toolkit you can start using immediately. We dive into the mindset side too. Coping with burnout, respecting your limits without losing ambition, and learning to run a sustainable business that supports your health instead of fighting against it. Plus, we finish with a Nightmare from the Nail Desk agony aunt moment: how do you politely get a fidgety client to stay still without making things awkward? If you’re a nail tech, beauty professional, or self employed creative navigating chronic illness (or burnout), this episode is for you. ✨ Follow, like, and subscribe for more honest industry chats ✨ Find Holly at @asplashofpolish ✨ Stay tuned for the next episode of Nails & Yap - we're chatting all about nail art with Orphic Nails
Welcome to Nails & Yap , the podcast for nail techs, beauty professionals, and salon owners looking for honest conversations about business, creativity, and growth. In this episode, we’re diving into our 2026 goals , reflecting on what we’re keeping and leaving behind from 2025 , and sharing the business and personal habits that will help us thrive in the year ahead . Join Laura, Sasha, and India as we talk about: Business growth strategies for nail techs and beauty professionals in 2026 Habits, systems, and boundaries to leave behind for a healthier work-life balance Small business goals , social media strategies, and diversifying income in the salon industry Personal goals for 2026, including self-care, downtime, and sustainable productivity Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications for more honest, no holds barred conversations for nail techs and beauty professionals!
As 2025 comes to an end we’re taking a moment to reflect on the year we've had. In part one of this two part end of year podcast, I’m joined by Sasha and India to talk openly about what 2025 really looked like behind the scenes of our businesses. We’re sharing our biggest business highs, the moments we’re genuinely proud of, the lows that challenged us, and the lessons 2025 taught us about growth, boundaries, patience, and running a beauty business in the real world. This episode is for anyone who’s had a mixed year, questioned their progress, or wants reassurance that growth doesn’t always look linear. In this epsiode we cover: How we’d sum up 2025 as a whole Our biggest business wins and proud moments What didn’t go to plan and what we’d do differently Lessons we’re taking forward into 2026 This is part one of a two part end of year reflection. In part two, we’ll be looking ahead to 2026... what we’re leaving behind, the goals we’re setting, and how we want the year to feel. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share the podcast, it really does help more than you know 🤍
It’s officially Christmas in the nail salon and we’re talking about everything that comes with it. In this episode of Nails & Yap I'm joined by Chiara to dive into what nail techs really think about the festive season behind the desk. From the things we love about December appointments to the things we absolutely don’t, nothing is off limits. Let's talk: Christmas in the nail salon: the good, the bad, and the chaotic Client gifting etiquette - should we buy clients gifts? Controversial Christmas nail art opinions 👀 Festive nail trends and whether they’re a yes or a no A Christmas quick-fire round Clients eating mince pies mid-appointment (and the crumbs that follow…) This episode is perfect for nail techs , beauty professionals , and anyone who loves a behind-the-scenes look at salon life during the busiest time of year. Expect honest opinions, relatable moments, and plenty of festive chaos. Whether you’re fully booked until New Year or just love salon stories, this one will feel very familiar.
In episode 12 I'm joined by India, known as IndzInc on social media, to chat about a bit of everything... from training to become a foot health practitioner, to hosting her events in Manchester. We also delve into the topic of staff as India has recently hired two team members. We discuss her decision to become an employer vs rent out desk space, as well as everything she'd do differently if she were to hire again. It was great to catch up with India again, and I can't wait for her event on 7th December... see you there! Use code NAILSANDYAP for 20% off your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nail-artist-christmas-party-tickets-1685120092559aff=oddtdtcreator
It's fair to say that a lot of us in the beauty industry started off with a big dream... and not a lot of business knowledge for how best to achieve that dream. In Episode 11 of Nails & Yap, I'm joined by Sophia, experienced beautician and business mentor with over 10 years of experience. We discuss everything we wish we had known when we first started out, from pricing and boundaries to customer journeys and creating content. I genuinely believe this is one of the most valuable episodes of the podcast so far, and I'm so glad Sophia was able to join me and add such amazing insights to the topic. If you enjoyed this one, don't forget to give Nails & Yap a follow on social media, and please let us know if any of our points resonated with you (whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner looking to avoid out beauty mistakes!)
Feeling isolated as a nail tech? In this episode, I chat with Olivia about the importance of community, mentorship, and ongoing education in the nail industry . We explore how supportive networks, peer groups, and guidance from experienced educators can help nail artists grow their skills, boost confidence, and run a thriving business. Olivia shares her perspective on the gaps in nail education , including business skills, client care, mindset, and aftercare… areas which are often missing from standard courses. We discuss practical ways to build a connected, supportive nail community that empowers techs instead of leaving them overwhelmed or burned out. Plus, our “Nightmare from the Nail Desk” segment tackles real world challenges, like handling clients who question pricing when you invest in upgrading your nail setup. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced nail tech, this episode is packed with tips for nail artists, educators, and beauty professionals to strengthen your network, improve your skills, and grow your nail career. 💅 Follow, subscribe, and join us as we explore how collaboration and mentorship can transform the nail industry.
I'm joined by Jennie Padbury, queen of real no holds barred content, to discuss what professionalism is as a nail tech. What do we consider professional, when do we filter ourselves, and which topics we think are a no go in the nail salon! From Mounjaro to conspiracy theories - we share our tips for navigating tricky conversations, and how to show up authentically and unapologetically whilst in a service industry. Products mentioned: Nail Order - Dura Gel Lite Nail Order Thermo Pro Gel Warmer
