After being forced to booth rent right after beauty school, I clawed my way up the success ladder and taught myself everything there was to know about having success as a nail tech. I worked 18-hour days for the first three years of my career, all while maintaining my home life, husband, three kids and everything that goes with starting a business. Fortunately, I had years of experience running businesses and managing assets for large residential and commercial property management companies. That experience allowed me to apply my knowledge to my new career. Unfortunately, not many people have a management background as I did when I came into the industry. When professionals face a lack of hands-on training, many leave the industry.
After being forced to booth rent right after beauty school, I clawed my way up the success ladder and taught myself everything there was to know about having success as a nail tech. I worked 18-hour days for the first three years of my career, all while maintaining my home life, husband, three kids and everything that goes with starting a business. Fortunately, I had years of experience running businesses and managing assets for large residential and commercial property management companies. That experience allowed me to apply my knowledge to my new career. Unfortunately, not many people have a management background as I did when I came into the industry. When professionals face a lack of hands-on training, many leave the industry.
Back then, I recognized a big problem this industry was dealing with, and that was giving back. Solving this problem was the first step that brought me full circle and has shifted my purpose to leveraging even more resources to impact this industry in a massive way.
Although our industry has made a huge improvement in the past 10 years—at the local level—working and being a part of a salon experience still lack people who are willing to share knowledge. It is already hard to operate a salon and make ends meet. This makes it less appealing for owners to hire graduates without experience, let alone give them the tools for success. My motivation was to change that by offering graduates mentorship and training and sharing my knowledge without the fear of competition. Now, six years later, I have launched a worldwide effort to use the beauty industry as an outlet to save disadvantaged and trafficked young women. That effort is my nonprofit, Passion’s Story Inc.
The Look
My salon is spacious, clean, elegant and chic. The inspiration was to provide a beautiful space for my graduates to work in. Making them feel beautiful and like they are already a professional even if they are still learning.
Signature Services
We offer all nail services, from classic manicures to hard gels and sculpted acrylic sets. I created and designed our Hot Towel Pedicures. It is the cleanest pedicure offered in our state, allowing our clients to be confident and know they will not be susceptible to infections.
The Goods
We are known for being a Bio Sculpture Certified Salon. I also make all the lotions, scrubs and cuticle oils we use in our services. My personal favorite is our Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub and Lotion combo.
Sanitation and Safety
Lucky for us, we have always practiced safety and sanitation. Every metal implement is sterilized before each use, and porous tools are one-time use. Two precautions we will continue to use are the sneeze guards and the washing of our clients’ hands before service.
Social Butterflies
You can follow us on Instagram @paixaobeautybar. We are also on Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest to name a few. Readers can expect to see our love for the industry and our interactions with the community and our clients. And now, of course, our new venture, Passion’s Story Inc. We will be sharing how we are going to change the culture and show other salon owners and beauty schools how to save our youth and young adult women leveraging our amazing industry.
What Is Next
My goal is to collaborate with salons and beauty professionals from all over to create an impact our industry has not seen yet. What better time than this—when the world is still dealing with the effects of such loss from COVID-19.
+Details
Owner: Priscilla Smith
Est.: April 2016
Staff: 24
Benefits: Company culture, for sure, plus employees get free services. Next is to offer paid time off, health benefits and retirement.
Up Close With Priscilla Smith
What was your first job in the nail industry?
“Booth renting a table in a hair salon.”
What inspires you?
“The success of others.”
What was the most challenging thing that happened while opening your salon?
“Not paying myself for the first year so I can pour into my team.”
What piece of advice would you give to a new salon owner?
“Do it for others, not for yourself.”
I cannot discuss Paixão Beauty Bar without mentioning…
“Purpose! I am a first-generation Afro-Brazilian, and Paixão is a Portuguese word that means passion. Without passion, you cannot find purpose.”
