Lancashire manicurist: How I built a business & community by mentoring nail techs

Hannah Beth Clayton, natural nail specialist, CND™ UK ambassador, educator & mentor, kickstarts her monthly online column by sharing her mentoring journey…

Years ago, if you’d told me that I’d be mentoring and educating other beauty professionals, I probably would have laughed. Like most people in this industry, I started with a love for the craft and perfected my skills as a natural nail specialist, built my client base and figured out how to make a steady income. But over time, I realised something: I’m not just passionate about doing the nails of clients – I’m passionate about helping others build confidence in their businesses too.

I was always sure that I would teach gel polish courses, but as I began to mentor, a new love emerged! Now, mentoring and education are a huge part of what I do. I’ve built a community (my monthly membership), created workshops and helped beauty professionals get clear on how to grow their businesses in a way that works for them. This wasn’t the plan, but I can honestly say, I’m living the dream!

At first, I was simply sharing my experiences – posting tips, answering questions in my DMs and helping others figure out things I had struggled with: pricing for profit, social media, cancellations, setting boundaries and overwhelm. The more I shared, the more I realised how many people in our industry feel stuck when it comes to the business side of things.

It started with casual advice, then those conversations turned into coaching calls. Then I was running workshops, creating digital resources and working with beauty professionals who wanted to feel confident in their businesses. It wasn’t planned, but once I saw how much impact I could have, I knew this was the direction I was meant to go in.

Our industry can feel so overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure everything out on your own. You can be incredibly talented but struggle to build a business that supports you. That’s why mentorship is so important.

I truly believe that learning from someone who’s been where you are can save so much stress and time. Mentoring isn’t just about teaching skills – it’s about helping pros believe in themselves.

I see so many talented people second-guessing their prices, feeling lost on social media or running themselves into the ground. Helping them gain clarity, set boundaries and enjoy their work again is everything to me.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from mentoring, it’s this: you don’t have to have everything figured out to help others. People don’t need perfection – they need honesty, real guidance and a little push in the right direction. I will always be the tech that stays real, relatable and approachable – always!

This industry needs more people who are willing to lift others up. You never know whose career you could change by being open about your experiences and helping others. Stepping into mentoring and education has been the best decision I’ve made. It’s given me freedom, purpose and a way to help others create businesses they’re really excited about. And the best part? I get to watch professionals grow in ways they never thought possible. That’s something I’ll never get tired of.

I still work with clients, but my week is now so varied and I get the best of both worlds – lucky me! If you would like to know more about how I can help you, reach out via Instagram or by clicking here.

See you next month!
Hannah x