Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Ramirez.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Before I became a self-employed Nail Technician I worked a lot of jobs that I didn’t like. After graduating from college in 2015, I became a high school teacher. I loved the people I worked with but the job was very demanding and stressful. After leaving the school system, I started working in retail and worked my way up to manager.
I built a lot of friendships working in retail and I actually loved my job but I realized I was underpaid and overworked. I started to enter a place in my life where I did not know what I wanted to do as a career. I became discouraged, frustrated, and depressed.
I decided that I would go back to school for something in the healthcare field but my husband kept telling me I should go to nail school and he would pay for me to go. After a while, I realized I had nothing to lose and I should at least try. I started nail school in 2019.
At first, I would get very frustrated because I felt like I would never be good enough at it. I struggled a lot with my progress because I am a perfectionist but I studied hard and practiced every day. After graduating from nail school, I passed my state board examination and received my license in 2019. I set up a nail station in my home and practiced nail designs on myself and my sisters.
I would post my work on my Facebook and Instagram pages and slowly started gaining clientele as my work improved. I never stopped trying to improve my work which is what pushed me into my own creativity as a Nail Technician. In 2020, I decided to be a Nail Tech full-time and be self-employed.
I was invited to be a part of a new Beauty Bar opening in Rocky Mount. I rented a suite in the Beauty Bar and my clientele grew even more. I have been a self-employed Nail Tech since then and relocated to Clayton.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I am very hard on myself and I hate failure. I strive for perfection. When you peruse Nail Technology none of the skills come naturally you have to practice every single day to see improvement.
I never thought I was good enough until I was about 1 1/2 years into my career. I didn’t actually love my work until I had been doing nails for about 1 1/2 years. Also when we went shut down due to COVID all nail salons were shut down and I had to figure out how I would accumulate income.
It took a long time for my unemployment to be approved so I started creating custom press-on nail sets and selling them. It really helped me get through the lockdown. After relocating to Clayton in 2020, I had to start completely over with building clientele.
It has been hard and stressful at times because I love with I do and I can’t see myself doing anything else. I am currently brainstorming ways to increase my clientele.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in acrylic nail enhancements. I am known for clean, neat, perfectly shaped, and extravagant nails. I am proud of how far I have come and how I was able to take all that I learned and interpret it into my own special style.
My nail business Instagram page is “PrissyTipz” because I am known for creating feminine, girly, and fun nail designs. I am known for creating extra long nail sets that are extravagant but never messy.
A lot of my clients come to me for special occasion sets like birthdays, weddings, and vacations because they know I always create unique sets and can create just about anything they present to me.
I do love creating bold/fun nail sets but I can also create classic simple sets as well.
What sets me apart from a Nail Salon is my client’s sets will last them 1 month, each service comes with a dry Russian manicure, I have all the trendy nail products, I create Instagram nails, and I always stay on top of new nail trends.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I like the variety of small businesses. There is a lot to explore when you want to try something new. The traffic jams are the only thing that I dislike.
Pricing:
- Short sets start at $55
- Medium sets start at $60
- Long sets start at $70
- XL sets start at $80
- XXL sets start at $110
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prissytipzbyashley.as.me/schedule.php
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prissytipz/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.brinkley.33
Image Credits:
Ashley Ramirez and Prissy Tipz
