NAIL TECH TALK: Kayleigh Bateman of The Gel Bar
By Callie Iley | 05 March 2022 | Feature, Tech Talk
Scratch chats to Kayleigh Bateman of The Gel Bar about building her nail cabin and charging your worth as a nail tech…
I first trained as a nail tech in 2019. I have completed a few different nail courses during my time as a tech, and have taken part in lots of workshops online so I can keep growing and improving.
I find that I get my biggest inspiration from other nail techs through Instagram. I also enjoy watching YouTube channels like Isabel May Nails. This really helped me when I first started out – it’s good to have someone who you aspire to be like.
The most exciting thing about the nail industry for me is that you’re free to express yourself however you see fit, and people won’t judge.
“I love how if I’m in a low mood, I can just step into my salon, and I instantly feel better.”
The highlight of my career so far is building my nail cabin in my back garden. I was originally working from my spare room at home, but the pandemic has been hard. With having a small child, I needed to look at other ways I could keep my home safe whilst still continuing the business I love. My partner started building my nail cabin last summer and it was completed in September 2021.
My hopes for the future would be to make the leap and go fully self employed with my nail business, as I currently work another part-time job.
The only thing I would change about the nail industry is people’s perception on pricing. I want other nail techs to feel like they can charge their worth. I’m very lucky to have clients who appreciate my work and also realise everything else that goes on behind the scenes – they don’t just see the finished product on their nails at the end of the appointment.
My advice to any aspiring nail techs would be to invest in good quality products from the start. The saying buy cheap, buy twice really is true! I’d also say not to worry too much about social media following – that means nothing, at the end of the day the most important thing is having happy clients, as they will be the ones who promote your business.
Follow Kayleigh on Instagram, here.