Welcome to NAILPRO’s Nailed Down! where we “nail down” nail artists and technicians from our User Galleries and get to know them and their amazing work!
This week we visit Tecumseh, Michigan
Meet Amy Payne:
Where do you work?
I work at the Cutting Corner Salon
How would you describe yourself?
In one word, whole-hearted. I don’t do anything halfway, I put mind, body and soul in to everything I do. Especially for my clients, I bend over backwards for them.
Tell us about how you got started in the nail industry.
When I was 19 I started working in a really girly junior clothing store and one of my bosses always had her nails done. They were crazy and gorgeous, and when I asked where she got them done, she said she would paint them and do the designs herself. I was like “I bet I can do that!” So basically I went to the beauty store, spent $50 on all the basics for acrylics, bought some striper paints and went to town. I would post pictures of my own nails on Facebook and people just started giving me lots of compliments and telling me I should go to school to do nails. So I did! I’m super artsy, that helped, too.
What/Who inspires your work?
Literally anything that catches my eye. My cat could be playing with a ball of yarn and I’ll google “cat with ball of yarn nail art” and find ideas.
Are there any tool(s) you can’t live without?
My striper brushes and dotters, aka NAIL ART NECESSITIES! and glitter.
Do you have a favorite technique or style?
I’m obssessed with stiletto nails, that’s the only way I wear my acrylics. Add a little cheetah print, and you have what I call an “Amy Original.”
What is your craziest/funniest nail story?
I was glueing a nail tip on a client and the glue wasn’t coming out of the tube. I was so into our conversation that I just kept squeezing the tube harder and harder to get the glue to come out and it ended up spewing all over my hand and into my eye. I wound up having to stop the service, cancel my later appointments and go to the ER because I couldn’t see.
What tip can you offer to other nail technicians?
Take your time and breathe. Don’t ever rush because your client is making you nervous or they think you are taking too long. They would rather sit there for over an hour and get a flawless full set than sit there for a half hour and walk out with a lumpy, uneven full set.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I wanted to graduate and get in a salon so badly that I went to school 6 days, 45 hours a week and graduated in 6 months rather than a year, which is how long program was supposed to take.
You can find Amy Payne on the web:
In the NAILPRO User Gallery: Mimi’s Nail Art
Facebook: Mimi’s Nail Art
Pinterest: Amy Payne
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