Conversations with the Inspiring Claudia Gonzalez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Gonzalez.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Claudia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
So, about two years ago, it came to my head literally out of nowhere… “Hmm, maybe I should look into doing nails. Maybe I can do nails on the side just for some extra money.” So, I started watching YouTube videos for hours and hours for continuous months and I slowly started buying nail supplies and practicing on my sister (shout out to her for always being my guinea pig!). Then, I started practicing on close friends and relatives. I would only charge $10 just to cover my supplies and I would take hours and hours just for a full set of acrylic nails. I never really took it as something serious like oh this will be a career to me. But then, I started liking it and as much as I would get frustrated because learning how to apply nails is NOT an easy skill to acquire, I fell in love with the trade more and more. Not to mention, I am a very stubborn and persistent person, if I really really want something I keep pushing and pushing until I get what I want. So, after about a year of just practicing on different people, I decided to look into getting licensed as a nail technician. I asked for information at a school and they told me how much tuition was and I thought to myself how will I be able to pay the down payment to start school when I had minimum wage part-time job at a grocery store. So then, I found out that the store where I worked at was offering scholarships. I applied for the scholarship, I had to write an essay and yes, they gave me a $1000 scholarship! I was so happy and so excited because I was going to be able to attend school. So then, I started school in August 2018, I graduated in April 2019 and here I am, preparing myself to hopefully start my own business very soon!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely not been smooth! First of all, I have two children. One is nine years old and the other one is six. I work at an elementary school during the day. I get off work at 2:15 P.M. and my nail tech school would start at 4:30 P.M. so in between that time, I had to make sure I ran important errands, sometimes I had appointments with my kids, I had to help them with homework and make dinner before I left not to mention I had homework from school that I also had to take care of. I would literally cry so many times on my way to school from how overwhelmed I felt with so much going on. There were many times where I felt like I just had to quit but I remained positive and remembered my passion for this career. Now, that I am done with school, I will be facing another struggle of building a clientele but I have faith in God that things will work out. I always try to maintain a positive mindset. My advice for anyone starting their journey on anything that it is if it’s a fitness journey or a new career journey whatever it is just keep pushing. If you can think and dream of it, it can definitely happen. When things start getting difficult, don’t stop and give up because that is when things start coming together! Never ever lose faith and hope!

What should we know about Claudia’s Nail Room? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in nails. Mostly in acrylic nails. I am a perfectionist so when doing my job I make sure my job is as perfect as my mind and hands allow me to be. I care a lot about the client leaving happy. Because I know that when I get a service done I expect it to be the best possible and I know that my clients expect the same from me. And that’s what sets me apart from many nail technicians is how meticulous and a perfectionist I can be, always listening to what the client wants.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
The most important advice I could give to a young woman just starting her career would be to go all in. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you. Good things don’t come easy or free. When things start getting hard and difficult, that’s exactly when you should push even harder. Always stay positive and surround yourself with just positivity all around, from friends to family to even the stuff you listen to and watch. Positivity always!

Pricing:

• Acrylic full sets start at $40
• Gel polish Manis $27
• Any nail art is extra

Contact Info:

• Phone: 4804306653
• Email: Claudiag825@gmail.com
• Instagram: Claudiasnailroom

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