Nail Art - Day One

Today I did my first "Nail Art" flowers!  My friend Jill came in to school today and gave me the opportunity to put flowers on her nails, whoo hoo!

By the way - the last step of a manicure/pedicure is to put oil on the finger around the nail to re-hydrate and protect the skin.  I took the photo of Jill's fingers before I put the oil on and the photo of her toes is after the oil was applied.

After I did her nails Jill blessed me with my very first tip AND lunch from Subway - thank you Jill!

After lunch today I had my first male client - my friend April's brother Justin came in for his very first pedicure and manicure.  He seemed to enjoy his mani-pedi and provided me lots of great feedback in a very nice way about when I applied too much pressure and what parts of the procedure were uncomfortable.

What made it unique though is that it was my first slightly awkward client interaction, which is also why I don't have any pictures to post of his unpolished nails and toes...

All my other clients so far have mostly been ladies I know pretty well and we just talk and talk the whole time (I should stop talking so much because it makes me slow, lol!).  Justin's a nice guy and I think the awkwardness came from the fact that I know his sister really well but I've only met him once or twice so what on earth do you talk about besides his sister?  I diligently wracked my brain to come up with "guy topics" and found out several things about Justin that I didn't know before and I think we had a good conversation so I think it was a great growing experience.

After Justin left one of my classmates and I went to a nearby Beauty Supply store and it was sooooo fun!  They had everything!  Gallons of acetone, rubbing alcohol, lotion, tools, nail polishes <sigh>.  It was fabulous... I spent all of my tip from Jill and a little bit more on:  butterfly-shaped rhinestones to put on nails, a new acrylic nail brush (mine "walked away" the day after I got my kit), and a few of those things that go between your toes when I paint your nails.  I dutifully left behind the oodles and oodles of nail polish, colored tips, gel nail brushes, little foam flip-flops and so much more.  I think I have a new favorite place!