By: Marley Shirakawa
SAN JOSE, CALIF. – With her sharp eye for detail and passion for design, Luisa Gomez is the mastermind behind Polishedxnailz
Inspired by her mother, who is a licensed cosmetologist, Gomez was drawn to the world of beauty from a young age. Watching her mothers passion for the craft, Gomez felt influenced to begin her own nail business. Her friends, too, played a role in her starting journey. Last summer, Gomez began doing nails, spending countless hours perfecting her skills on her sister. After numerous practice sets and refining her techniques, she was finally ready to take on clients. On July 30, 2024, Gomez had her first official client.
Nonetheless, starting a business is never without its challenges. For Gomez, one of the biggest hurdles was learning to feel proud of her work as a beginner. Being a nail tech is not easy, it takes a lot of precision and you must have a steady hand. “Doing acrylic nail sets takes a lot of time and dedication so it’s okay to make mistakes along the way”, said Gomez.
Another challenge when starting a business would be growing a clientele. During the times when the nail demand is not high, it can be discouraging for some like Gomez, to have little to no clients, especially as a beginner. “Make sure you are truly passionate about doing nails,” she said. “Having your own business is very challenging at times so it is crucial for you to make sure you motivate yourself to keep going at it,” Gomez added.
To stay up to date with the latest nail trends, Gomez dedicates time practicing new and cute nail designs on herself to ensure that she is providing the best possible service to all her clients. Whether it’s creating press-on sets or experimenting new techniques on her nails, practice is key. She also offers discounted sets to clients willing to model for her social media, which not only helps her practice but encourages her customers to try fresh, trendy designs.
Gomez goes above and beyond to ensure her clients feel comfortable and respected. Gomez, creates a welcoming, safe place in her private nail shed, where she conducts all of her appointments. This dedication allows for privacy, helping both her and her clients to feel at ease. During sessions, Gomez offers refreshments like water and snacks, and even asks her clients about their preferred music, ensuring a relaxing experience.
Gomez is extremely organized when it comes to her materials, in order to avoid any unclean or unsafe practices. She takes great pride in maintaining an organized and hygienic workplace. All of her tools are thoroughly cleaned, washed and disinfected before using them on a client. As well whipping down arm boards and nails desks. Gomez also uses a new nail filer and buffer on each client. She throws out used ones after every client. “I will never use the same file on two different clients that is absolutely unacceptable and unsanitary,” stated Gomez.
Gomez’s attention to detail, dedication to her craft, and commitment to her clients’ safety set her apart. She treats every client with care and respect, ensuring that both the physical space and the service provided meet the highest standards.
Categories: Features
Raider Review 