Nail Tech Spotlight Jemma Elizabeth
This month, we’re shining the nail tech spotlight on multi-talented salon owner, educator, and entrepreneur Jemma Elizabeth (@jemmaelizabeth.beauty). From building her business from the ground up to launching online courses and stepping into the world of Permanent Jewellery, Jemma’s journey is a testament to growth, grit, and trusting the process.
Balancing education, entrepreneurship, and salon life is no easy feat! But Jemma keeps it refreshingly real. Her story is one of doing what you love, letting go of pressure to do it all, and showing up consistently even when no one’s watching. Whether she’s supporting students, simplifying her services, or building her next big idea, Jemma proves that success doesn’t have to be linear to be impactful.
In this blog, Jemma shares her thoughts on burnout, business boundaries, and building a reputation that opens doors. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re ‘doing enough’ or felt unsure about your next step, this spotlight is packed with honest advice and gentle reminders that you’re exactly where you need to be.
Q: You wear many hats, nail tech, business owner, and educator. How do you balance it all, and what does a typical day in your world look like?
A: I quite often get people asking me, "how do you manage to balance everything?" and to be totally truthful, I have days where I am super productive and others where I'm just not feeling it. I try not to be too hard on myself on those days and I remind myself that it's just a blip and that I will feel more inspired and motivated again soon.
A lot of the time, I keep too many ideas or things to do in my head and it can be overwhelming. So I now have lists for everything and I try to put tasks in order of priority. I can very easily get lost in the TikTok scroll hole, so I also try not to look at my phone too much when I'm working!
A typical day at the moment is waking up and feeding my 4 month old, Isabelle. I'm very, very lucky that she's a great sleeper so I will start doing some admin whilst she's napping. I'll get back to students that are on my online courses and I'll pack orders between naps too. I'm also currently figuring out how best to come back to the salon and condense my diary after maternity leave.
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Q: What have been some of the biggest lessons you've learned from running your own salon and business?
A: One of my biggest lessons in running my salon and in business is not trying to do everything. When I opened the salon, we did everything we possibly could, (painting, panelling, tiling the salon bathroom... just to name a few) because we just couldn't afford to hire someone. I soon realised that as we were growing, it was taking my time away from doing other things that would be more valuable for my business in the long run and it was also contributing to burnout.
Another lesson is becoming an industry leader or expert in what you are best at. Try and see the bigger picture even when you are fully booked.
When I was fully booked and had no intentions (yet) of launching courses or working with brands, but I stayed as active as I could. I kept posting on social media, engaging in groups, and sharing value wherever I could. I wasn’t chasing instant results, I was building credibility and staying visible.
Over time, that consistency helped position me as someone people looked to for advice, inspiration, or guidance. So when I did take the leap into education, there was already an audience that trusted me. And when brand opportunities came along, I had a reputation and online presence that backed me up.
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Q: For nail techs thinking about offering multiple treatments or expanding their services, what advice would you give?
A: When I first started out as a nail tech, I was tempted to add every trending treatment going. But I quickly learned that it’s not about offering everything, it’s about offering treatments that you actually love and believe in. I slowly added brow and lash services, but only when I genuinely felt excited to learn and confident that I could give clients amazing results.
Each new treatment I introduced was something I’d mastered and enjoyed doing. Over time, this natural progression led me to education and eventually into the Permanent Jewellery side of things. Something I hadn’t planned at the beginning, but it felt like the perfect next step.
My advice would be to take your time. Don’t rush to expand just because others are. Think about what fits into your goals if you have any in mind, whether that’s building a more profitable business, attracting a new kind of client, or creating more freedom in your schedule. The right treatments will add value, not just more work.
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Q: What inspired you to step into education, and how has it shaped the way you work within the industry?
A: Over the years, I found myself constantly sharing tips, answering questions in groups, and helping other Nail Techs troubleshoot. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was already teaching in my own way. Stepping into education felt like a natural next step, but I didn’t want to just teach the basics, I wanted to raise and maintain the standard of education too. I focus on creating in-depth, supportive learning experiences that give students confidence.
Becoming an educator has also shaped how I work in the industry, I’m much more intentional now about being approachable, transparent, and I'm always improving. It’s not just about teaching a skill, it’s about supporting students and raising standards across the board.
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Q: Looking back on your journey, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self, or to any new nail tech starting out today?
A: One piece of advice I’d give to my younger self, or to anyone just starting out, is that it’s completely okay not to have it all figured out.
You don’t need a five-year plan or even a solid idea of what next year will look like. Take the pressure off. I started out simply loving being a Nail Tech (and still do!), with no clue that I’d eventually be an educator or training in Permanent Jewellery, launching my own courses, running a supplies business, or becoming a voice in the industry.
I’ve found the most growth by following what genuinely excites me. I don’t force things, I go with the flow, and I trust that inspiration will lead the way.
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Summary
From running a busy salon to launching courses and building a name in education, Jemma Elizabeth is proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out to make a big impact. Her journey is all about trusting your gut, staying consistent, and doing what truly excites you. Whether you're thinking about expanding your services, stepping into education, or just trying to find balance, Jemma’s story is full of honest advice and gentle reminders that you’ve got this.