Nail Tech Spotlight Jessica Lapham

This month, we're shining the HONA Nail Tech Spotlight on Jessica Lapham, a nail tech whose colourful nail art, thriving business and refreshingly honest approach to growth have made her one to watch.

From building the confidence to charge what her nail art is truly worth, to taking the leap from salon employee to studio owner, Jessica's journey is a reminder that success doesn't happen overnight. It comes from backing yourself, continually investing in your skills, and recognising the value of your time and creativity.

One conversation we hear time and time again within the HONA community is, "How do I charge for nail art without feeling guilty?" Whether you're wondering how to price nail art, thinking about raising your prices, or looking to build a more profitable nail business, Jessica's advice couldn't be more relevant.

In this month's Nail Tech Spotlight, we chat about charging with confidence, creating clear nail art pricing, building a recognisable brand, growing an engaged audience without the pressure of comparison, and the steps that helped turn a passion for nail art into a successful business. Let's get to know Jessica a little better.

Q&A With Jessica Lapham

Q: You charge for nail art using tiers, which is something a lot of techs struggle with. How did you build the confidence to charge properly for your time, skill and creativity?

A: I actually only started charging properly for nail art a few months ago, and it's made a huge difference. I always feel anxious about raising my prices, but I realised I was almost better off only doing a regular colour over nail art because I simply wasn't earning enough per hour for the time and skill it takes. That made me quite sad because nail art is the part of my job I love the most. Eventually I sat down and worked out my pricing properly and my clients were really supportive and genuinely pleased for me. It was such a relief knowing I have clients who value my time and want to support my business. My clients have given me the confidence to keep investing in my skills, which in turn has given me the confidence to charge appropriately. On my booking system I've added photos of each nail art tier so clients know exactly what to book, also whenever I post on Instagram I try to mention which tier it falls under. That transparency has really helped set clear expectations and boundaries which makes the whole process much easier for both me and my clients.

Q: For nail techs who feel nervous about charging extra for nail art, what advice would you give them when it comes to pricing their work without feeling guilty?

A: To be honest there's still a small part of me that feels guilty sometimes for charging clients what my work is actually worth. But I remind myself of how far I've come with the time I've invested and the extra courses I've taken to become the best nail tech I can be. I also remind myself that the right clients will happily pay for my services because they value the quality, skill and time that goes into them. Nail art takes extra time and skill, so it's really important to charge accordingly otherwise you can end up resenting doing the part of your job you love most simply because it isn't financially viable.

Q: Your nail art is such a big part of your brand. How do you manage your time between clients, creating content and still making space to grow your audience?

A: I try to film most of my content on my days off but also if I have a quieter day in the salon I'll make the most of that time too. I've found that being organised makes a huge difference so I keep a list of ideas, photos and videos I want to capture on my phone. This helps because if I suddenly have an hour or so spare I don't waste time trying to think of content and I can just get straight into filming. When it comes to growing my audience I try to focus on posting because I’m proud of my work and it’s something I genuinely want to share, rather than worrying about how many likes or followers I’ll get. It can be really overwhelming when you see other posts that seem to ‘do well’ on Instagram but I try not to compare myself. I believe that the right audience will find me, and what is meant for me will come.

Q: You’ve gone from being employed in a salon, to renting a chair, to going fully self-employed and now opening your own studio. What gave you the confidence to take each step, and how did you know you were ready for your own space?

A: I feel like at each stage of my career from being in an employed salon, to becoming self employed and then finally opening my own studio, I’ve learnt so many different skills not just as a nail tech but personality wise too which has lead to me feeling more confident in myself and my work. It was a strange feeling when I was opening my own studio, I definitely had imposter syndrome and wondered if it was the right time, but the opportunity came up and I’m someone who once I get an idea of something in my head, I then need to see it through. So that's what happened and I took my chance even though it felt scary but I had so much support from friends, family and my clients that it just felt right. Now I’ve opened and settled in my studio, my next goal is to finally release my own courses including an online nail art masterclass, which I’m slowly chipping away at when I get any quiet gaps. I’m so excited to be able to share my tips and tricks for creating fun nail art and hopefully to help other nail techs build their confidence too.

Q: Looking back at your journey from home salon to studio owner, what’s one thing you wish you’d known earlier about growing a nail business?

A: I think one thing I wish I’d known earlier is that you don’t have to rush your journey or compare yourself to everyone else. It’s so easy to look at other nail techs and feel like you’re behind especially with the ‘noise’ of social media feeling so loud sometimes, but everyone is on a completely different path and success isn’t defined by how quickly you get there.

Q: How did you first discover HONA, and what was it about the products, brand or community that made you stay?

A: Well HONA very kindly sent me a trial kit, and the rest is history! I instantly loved the consistency of the builder gels and how well they self level! They're just so easy to use and I’m especially obsessed with their detail paints for creating fun nail art. I also love the HONA community and how supportive the brand is. It feels like HONA genuinely wants nail techs to grow and not just sell products, I think that's something really special and makes them stand out as a brand. The loyalty scheme is another thing I really like too, I think it's such a great incentive and a great way to reward loyal customers.

Summary 

Jessica's journey is a reminder that building a successful nail business isn't about having all the answers from day one. It's about continually learning, backing yourself, and recognising the value of your time, creativity and expertise.

Whether you're thinking about raising your nail prices, introducing nail art tiers, or simply looking for the confidence to take your next step, we hope Jessica's story has inspired you to believe in your own potential.

A huge thank you to Jessica for sharing her journey with the HONA community. We can't wait to see where her next chapter takes her.