Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna Williams.
Hi Deanna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started when I was 17 years old, the summer after high school graduation. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, and college wasn’t my goal at the time. I knew that being an artist was something that felt right for me. I remember watching YouTube videos about nail art, and it seemed to spark my interest. I’m a quick learner, so once I see something and practice enough, I know that I can master it. My friends from school used to let me practice on them with the little product I had, and I was very grateful for that. I used to beg my mom to buy nail products every time we went shopping, and that’s how I knew that I was hooked. However, I didn’t think I would actually be doing this full-time. Fast forward to 2020, I quit my job 5 years ago due to feeling unappreciated and overlooked. I wanted to take the leap of faith and bet on myself. Although it was scary for the first 6 months, I pushed through all of my obstacles and believed in myself. When I was tired of doing nails from home, a fellow nail tech mentioned the salon suites in Bartlett to me, and I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I have been in the suites since May last year, and I love it so far. The key to business is marketing! I knew I had clientele back home; however, I wanted to make my mark in the city. Social media has been a big help to my business, as well as word of mouth. I also keep my business cards on me just in case someone needed my information. Since being in Memphis, I’ve been graced with the opportunity to work with the incredible Lauryn Hill alongside other talented nail artists. That was the highlight of my career. My journey has not been easy, but I knew I was destined for more. I am a firm believer in putting yourself out there, and the right audience will find you. I am excited to see where God takes DeeNailssss LLC.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all! I overcame so much within that time frame. The question is, how bad do you want it? Is this something that truly makes me happy? The answer is yes. I failed my nail exam twice. I was very anxious about getting what I wanted, and testing made me nervous. I lost family members during that time, as well as going through my own personal problems. It was all a test to see how badly I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Speaking of being a business owner, there are a lot of things that I had to learn along the way. This is also the reason why I chose to get my Business degree in Social Media Marketing. I made a lot of sacrifices, but it was worth it. Entrepreneurship is based on faith. I had to learn to continue believing in myself and keep putting God ahead of everything I do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a licensed manicurist who specializes in nail art. Nails have changed over the years, and there’s a new way of doing things now. Clients aren’t looking for a solid gel manicure anymore. They want sweater nails, characters, airbrush, bling, cateye, 3d, etc. My job is very tedious and requires me to pay attention to detail. I’m proud of challenging myself to do nail art that intimidates me. I can be very hard on myself because I like to aim for perfection. I am still learning to give myself grace, and I am always open to learning more.
What sets me apart from others is that I truly care about the quality of my work. I also care about good customer service and ensuring that my clients are satisfied. It’s not about just “booking a nail appointment”, it’s about the experience I give to my clients. When you take care of your clients, they do the marketing for you.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
TikTok is the number one app for me right now, as well as Pinterest. Sometimes I like to look up different nail hacks to make my job easier. Pinterest is where I gain a lot of my inspiration from. I create collages for myself that consist of different elements such as paintings, furniture pieces, fabrics, textures, patterns, etc. I build my nails based on what I see. It allows me to be more creative. I picked up this book called “Fresh Sets” from Amazon that shows a bunch of nail artists from around the world showcasing their work. I’m always inspired by others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deenailssss.as.me
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deenailssss
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094623170005
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deenailssss
