Okay, so let me tell you how this whole traveling nail tech thing started for me. I was working in a regular salon, same four walls every day. It wasn’t bad, but man, it got old. Same gossip, same routine. Plus, you see clients rush in, rush out. I felt like I wanted something… different. More personal, maybe? And honestly, less overhead hanging over my head.
Getting the wheels turning
First thing was figuring out the gear. You can’t just haul your entire salon station into someone’s living room. I spent ages trying to find the right portable stuff. Needed a lamp that wasn’t huge but still did the job right, you know? Found a decent LED one. Then the polishes – needed a solid case for those bad boys, learned that the hard way after one messy incident in my car. Ugh. And sterilization, super important. Got myself a good portable sterilizer pouch system. Had to make sure everything was clean and safe, just like in the salon, maybe even more so ’cause I’m in their space.
Then came the car situation. My little sedan suddenly became my mobile office slash supply closet. Had to get organizers for the trunk, keep everything from rolling around. It was trial and error, for sure. Lots of rooting around in the back seat for that one file I needed.
Finding folks who wanted nails at home
Getting clients was slow at first. I told my regulars from the old place what I was doing. Some were hesitant, others jumped right on it. They loved the idea of not having to find parking or get a sitter. Word started spreading, thankfully. A mention here, a referral there. It wasn’t overnight, let me tell you. There were weeks I barely had enough bookings to cover gas.
- Told friends and family first.
- Offered a little discount for the first few mobile appointments.
- Really relied on people telling their friends. Good old word-of-mouth.
It picked up, though. People really dig the convenience. Especially older folks, or moms with little kids, or people who just work weird hours.
The day-to-day grind, kinda
My days are never the same now. One morning I might be in a fancy high-rise apartment, the afternoon setting up on a kitchen table in the suburbs. You see all sorts of homes, meet all sorts of people, and their pets! Always gotta factor in travel time, traffic… that part can be a pain. Sometimes I feel like I spend half my life driving and looking for parking.
Setting up takes a few minutes. Lay down my mat, get my tools out, plug in the lamp. Clients usually offer me a drink, we chat. It’s way more relaxed than the salon rush. We actually talk, you know? You hear about their lives, they hear about mine. Feels more like visiting a friend who happens to do your nails.
The good, the bad, and the messy
What’s great:
Flexibility, big time. I mostly set my own hours. If I want a Tuesday off, I can usually swing it. Being my own boss feels good. No salon manager breathing down my neck. And the connection with clients is way better. They trust you coming into their home.
What sucks sometimes:
Luggin’ all that gear. Up flights of stairs sometimes. Oof. Scheduling can be a puzzle, trying to group appointments geographically so I’m not crisscrossing the city like a maniac. Cancellations hit harder ’cause that travel time is just wasted. And yeah, you gotta be disciplined about cleaning and packing up everything every single time.
What I’ve figured out
This mobile thing isn’t for everyone. You gotta be organized, self-motivated, and okay with a bit of unpredictability. You need to be good at managing your time and your money. It took me a while to get a system down that worked, balancing bookings with driving and my own sanity.
But honestly? I wouldn’t go back to the salon. I like the freedom. I like driving around, seeing different parts of town. I like that my clients feel comfortable enough to get their nails done in their PJs. It feels more real. It’s hard work, yeah, but it’s my hard work. And seeing a client happy with their nails, chilling on their own couch? That feels pretty damn good.
