Meet Trailblazer Nayeli Galaviz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nayeli Galaviz.

Nayeli, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hello, I’m 29 years old. I was born in Mexico in the State of Sinaloa, City of Culiacan. I moved to the United State six years ago. My passion for nails started like a hobby, from where I come from nails are really glamorous, exotic, they have a lot of rhinestones, bright colors, and can be super busy, but at the same time, it’s amazing, some of the staff can do over there, so when I moved, before I come to the United States, I lived one year on the border of Yuma (I was waiting for the process to become a resident of this country), and was really hard for me to find a Nail Salon that was like the ones that we have at home. So, one day, on one of my vacation, when I was visiting my family in Sinaloa, I saw a nail shop that they were offering free nail classes, you just have to buy the product and they teach you all the basics on how to do nails, and I thought, OMG!!! This is perfect, I can learn and I can do my own nails!!! Perfect. I was so excited. So, I bought the product and I start my classes, it took me like two weeks to learn the basic and honestly, I loved it. Now, I was able to do my nails, I was so happy. 🙂

When I went back, I start practicing with my husband’s family, I started watching videos, I bought more and more nail supplies. I was really on it… I practice every single day all day and night, it’s a lot that you can do and I decided to learn it all.

Time passed, finally, my paperwork was done and I moved to the United States. Bullhead City, AZ is the town where we moved, my daughter and I with my husband.

When we first moved, I didn’t speak the language at all, it was my first time in the country, but I have family in the same town, so guess what? Yes… I start practicing with them, my cousin and her daughters. They speak Spanish, so I was able to understand what they were saying, LOL… they loved it. My nails weren’t something that they were just too, the style was completely different of what you can find around town, here, most of the nail shops don’t do too much of nail art or rhinestones or 3D, the style was more simple. So, my cousin’s daughter introduced me with a couple of her friends and I start doing nails at my house, omg, I was so excited, these girls love my style and I loved that they were letting me practice on them, LOL. My first client wasn’t my family, she’s a girl and I still do her nails, she was the one that helps me at the beginning to start my business, she started telling other girls about my nails and how they were so different and beautiful. So, girls started contacting me for appointments, but honestly, I was scared because some of this girls didn’t speak Spanish, and I wasn’t able to communicate with them, so I just to schedule their appointments when my husband was around, so he translates for me. 🙂

I didn’t do this for too long (doing nails at my house) because more people were calling me, and I felt that doing it at my house I wasn’t giving my clients or my family the quality time that they deserve. And also because I didn’t have my license and you can get in trouble by doing it like that, it’s really important to know all the disinfection procedure, we need to take care of our clients. So, I decided to enroll in the beauty school and get my license, so I can open my nail salon and also learn more about the rules and what you should do and what not… remember every state have a deafferents rules and, what I learn in Mexico wasn’t valid in Arizona.

It took me around five months to finish my school, I just did nails, it is faster than if you do the all cosmetology course, I was desperate to start working with more people, LOL…

School was really hard for me, everything was in English, but at home, I just translate everything that I saw in class just to make sure what I was learning because after you finish your course, you need to pass your test and I was going to pass those tests.

I had my license for over four years now, I owned my nail salon and I have two girls and one boy also nail techs working with me. Not always was like that, they start working with me not too long ago and I am super happy, I start loving this art just like the first day or probably more now because now, a lot of the things that I found hard before stop being it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not this is not easy, honestly, it’s really hard being in another country, far from your family, not speaking the language and building your clientele around people that being in this industry longer, with a new style that people weren’t just to, but nothing of that make me feel like I couldn’t do it, I worked hard, I keep learning the language till now (my clients help me with this a lot) and I never stop practicing…

I just to post my work every day on social media so people in town could know me, I advertise myself every day, I did specials, I give some of my work for free, I work really really hard and little by little, I start getting more and more people.

People start to mention my work on social media, around town people start talking about my work. My clients are my best advertiser I try my best on every set and I never stop educating myself. I do workshops, I practice whenever I have a chance, I still like to watch videos, I try every new technique that I see, I’m always trying new things and products for my clients.

It’s gonna be hard at the beginning but it’s gonna be ok, life is all full with ups and downs and if you really wanna do this, don’t let anybody take it away from you guys.

My advice to all of you girls that are new in this industry is don’t get scared, believed in what you do, practice every day, never stop educating yourselves, try everything, make mistakes, remember there’s not a good or bad way to do it, everybody needs to find their own way and always all of what you guys do, do it with passion, do it like there’s no tomorrow and I promise that there’s no better feeling than that.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Vip Nails Studio – what should we know?
I do pretty much just Finger Nails, I love the way that hands look with some acrylic nails on it, lol. 😀 My passion is for Acrylic Nails.

I can do pretty much any shape, any length and as much nail art that my clients want.
I can be simple or exotic all depending on how my clients feel the day of there appointments.

And I think they have known me for the quality of my work, my nails can last for over four weeks and that includes the nail art and the rhinestones.

I think what makes me more proud of my business is seeing how people have accepted me and my art and now they’re giving an opportunity to my team… we’re investing this town with a fresh style and a quality service with good products and also, with a touch of Latinos. 😀

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Girls, you need to love what you’re doing, that is what’s gonna make you guys different than the others, if you love what you do, it doesn’t matter what, everything is gonna be easier, it won’t be anything that can stop you and you need to have passion and dedication on all that you do because believed or not, that’s really important to become successful.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2649 Hyw 95 Suite E Bullhead City, AZ 86442
• Phone: 928-514-6636
• Email: vipnailstudiobullhead@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @nayeligalaviz
• Facebook: vip nails studio

Image Credit:
Nayeli Galaviz

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