Conversations with Tania Watkins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Watkins

Hi Tania, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thinking back, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be doing nails. Growing up I loved arts and crafts and finding little kits at the store. I used to play around and give my grandmother pedicures when I would go to her house because I found her at home pedicure bowl in the basement. I got older and started going to get my nails done. I would play around and do my own designs on top of what I got. I remember getting compliments in school in regards to the simple designs that I did. After graduating high school I actually went to college to pursue an education in nursing. I only attended school for a year and a half before moving back home. When I returned home, I was just working. I actually had a friend that was enrolled in cosmetology school and it seemed very interesting, but I never really thought anything about it. I’ve always been pretty artistic, but never knew what to do with it. One day I had a friend that was going on vacation and needed a pedicure but cannot get into the salon so I told her I could probably do a simple at home pedicure that could get her through her trip. After that, a mutual friend of ours told me I should look into going to nail school. She said that she thought I’d be really great at it so I did some research looked up different programs. And found the perfect one for me at Kansas City Kansas Community College. I started nail school in August 2019 and finished in December 2019. School was amazing. It was the best experience I’ve had at school. I really loved every minute of it from there my nail career began. I strived to be the best I could be in school I remember getting frustrated at times because I had never worked with some of the products we used in school. I remember my instructor Mr. Bailey Telling me that nothing would be perfect the first time because I had never worked with these products before. But I pushed myself and continue to push myself to improve each and every day. When people say practice makes perfect. That’s no joke! When I was getting into nail art, I can remember having to wipe off designs, maybe 10 times or more before getting it right learning how to work my brush to make thick lines and fine lines so that my artwork came out just how I wanted. I learned how to copy and paste designs just by looking at pictures and studying them. And now I am able to do lots of different characters and art on nails.

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?
It has not been a smooth road. It’s actually been kind of bumpy just figuring out good customer service what type of service I wanted to give finding the perfect place to work figuring out what products work best and have the best quality. Definitely some financial trial and error, but it’s been worth it. It’s actually been lots of trial and error, but I continue to strive to be the best I can be and provide the best services I can provide.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would say my work is very creative. I specialize in artistic nails I love doing characters and taking myself out of my comfort zone doing designs I think are difficult for me. I’m always trying something crazy building different things with nail products on my nails or other peoples nails. I am most proud that I continue to push myself to try different things create different designs that people wouldn’t think they would see on nails. I feel like what set me apart from others is that I will definitely go the extra mile to do some thing kind of crazy on nails for example, I put a whole Thanksgiving dinner on someone’s nails.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Kansas City because it is definitely a place of hidden gems. there’s so much talent here it’s in the beauty industry, music art at times I don’t feel like Kansas City gets the recognition it deserves. I have no dislikes about Kansas City.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://niasnailery.as.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niasnailery?igsh=eGFpbmh6a3VlOTQz&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NiasNailery?mibextid=kFxxJD