Today we’d like to introduce you to Joely Jones.
Hi Joely, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In 2012 I had my daughter and was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. She was my second child, so I had to do something fast. I decided to go to hair school since it was my first love. The first semester of hair school was dedicated to learning about nails. I had the opportunity to do a pedicure, and something about that service hooked me. I enjoyed the feeling I got when I was done and my peer liked how her feet looked. I always read in the bible how as a sign of respect, people would wash the feet of their guests. These stories resonated with me and after doing my first pedicure, I understood why I enjoyed the stories the same as I enjoyed doing the service. I dived into nails and wanted to learn more beyond the classroom.
Being that this school was for hair, I thought to go out and get more experience in the field. I ended up at the flea market shadowing a nail technician so that I could grasp the world that I decided to step into. I worked there for a few weeks, and when I got pregnant with my next child, I decided to take a break. I wound up having twins and a couple of months after their birth, the owner of the same shop called and asked me to come and take over his salon while he worked for another one who was filling a television show at the time. I returned to the flea market a partial business owner and worked there for a few more months while he filmed with the other salon. After filming the owner returned to his shop, and I decided I would come home with my children and work from home. After a few months working from home, I got a call from a prominent salon, the owner telling me that she saw my work and offer d me a job. I went in the next week and took the job, super excited to work for a salon that had its own television show. I figured I would learn from some of the best in the industry, and being in that environment, I soaked up so much wisdom from the ones before me. The collective intelligence in the room was astounding.
During my time there, I started my own Glitter brand, unique to nails. Any type of glitter you can imagine, use it for many different projects, but customizable to your polish, acrylic, or used as a topcoat. I was able to trademark my polish technique used to apply glitter in a four-step process. “Aklovelee,” is in honor of my sister, who passed away before meeting my children and watching me step into my purpose. I worked there for almost two years, and in January of 2018, I fell while walking to my truck and injured my entire leg. I was on crutches and unable to fully do my job or even drive my vehicle. That’s when I decided to enter my first competition, it’ll be easy since I was only working on myself. It was in California, so this would be new for me. Me and the owner of the salon I worked for travelled to Long Beach where I was able to compete for the first time in a national level. I didn’t place, but I finished and that was a big accomplishment for me because I have a bit of stage fright. We came back from California and me and the owner of this salon, had a major falling out which caused me to leave the salon, and to step away from my nail desk. It took me a few months to really get over leaving that job, and when I did, I wad called and offered another job at another prominent salon in North Miami Beach.
This salon, I actually had been following so was excited about the opportunity presented to me. As I started working there, they were opening another location in Wynwood, which was truly exciting. I was now working in a salon that had two locations, and I was able to meet new people while doing what I loved. A year later with scheduling issues, I found that having someone control my schedule also means they control my income. I did not like the feeling of not being able to work as much as I wanted to, being limited. I decided that it was time to put my craft into my own hands entirely, so I put my two week notice in right before Thanksgiving of 2019, I did not expect that there was a pandemic coming. When the beginning of 2020 hit and the government shut down the country, I thought that my nail business would surely tank. It did the opposite, it started to take off, and clients were coming out if nowhere, more than likely because the shops were closed. I saw my business start to rise, and my name starting to be seen a lot more. Since starting my business entirely on my own, it has been a lot of ups and downs. Facing the slow season without the guarantee of a client, forced me to examine how I market and how I reach clients. I started offering classes and specials and surely I haven’t had a hiccup in a while. If I had to put a level to where I am today, I would say I’m still an independent contractor. I do not like to call myself a business owner because I am the business. I am a brand, because I leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and with an ego recharged. I love the work that I do and the love that I spread.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I injured my leg, I was not able to drive, let alone control my drill. I found that I had to get used to a hand held drill, and learn how to do nails all over again. I couldn’t walk either, so getting to work proved a challenge. It took over a year of surgery, and rehabs to get back to a hundred percent, and I’m still experiencing problems with my leg. Another challenge for me was having my children, and no one to watch them. I have four children and when I only had two, I used to push them in a stroller and they would sit behind me at my nail desk while I took clients.
When I had my twins, I couldn’t push two strollers so I had to accommodate the older two as well as the twins. Having four kids during a full work day, and trying to pay attention to them as well as the clients was a big challenge. To this day, because I have no family in South Florida, I still have to take my kids with me when I travel sometimes. The biggest challenge is making new clients comfortable with coming to my private space. I use my garage as my studio, and I lose a lot of clients when they see I’m not in a shop. My area is welcoming but there is still a vast number of people who prefer salon service, even if I am delivering above average service.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a nail technician, or nail creative artist. I am known for my glitter line “Aklovelee.” I am most proud of this brand because it is dedicated to my sister. She passed away suddenly and tragically, and this was her stage name. I am most proud of the style of nails I do, I am an original artist, meaning I like to freestyle what I see. I picture nails as mini canvasses, and I am the artist to bring them life. I have serviced a lot of high value clients, and I am known for my warm attitude and knowledge of nail health and healing. I do not want to just take your money, I want to educate you on what is best for your nails, and how we can get them strong and healthy.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Honestly, mentors are everywhere, and in my industry everyone does their craft differently. I would say to any up and coming nail artist that the best thing for development is repetition. Being redundant will get you further in this craft than most. Becoming comfortable with what you are doing makes the experience so much better for the client. I do not have anxious or nervous clients because they see my confidence in using my tools, so they can relax. Hard work beats natural talent anyway. Be able to plan to work and work your plan.
Pricing:
- Fullset starts at $50
- Pedicure dry $45
- Pedicure wet $35
- Apres fullset $60
- All swarovski crystal nails $150 and up
Contact Info:
- Email: aklovelee@gmail.com
- Website: http://itsjustjojonails.booksy.com
- Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/itsjustjojo_nails
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