Today we’d like to introduce you to Liv Kolman
Hi Liv, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always wanted to be a traditional artist as a kid, but as I grew older I wanted to try it in a more non-traditional way.
I discovered nail art from YouTube in middle school and fell in love, I even dabbled into it myself.
I went to cosmetology school to become a nail technician, I graduated and I got my cosmetology license.
I got a job as a nail technician shortly after finishing school and I found that I did not like it. I felt like I did not belong because I am a very shy person in a loud industry. I also felt like my creativity was taken from me, and I had a lot of panic attacks from the stress of doing manicures on people.
So I thought back to myself.. what if I quit my job and started a press-on nail business.
I did not really have an interest in actual manicures, but rather nail art itself. This was a perfect opportunity for me to just sell my nail art without any additional stress.
So I did that, I quit the next day after making the decision and within that week I had made an office in my home.
I started painting and making content everyday for months, just trying to build a following. Every moment of my day was dedicated to perfecting my craft. All of the endless hours of blood sweat and tears landed me where I am today. I now am very satisfied with the results and quality of my products and the following I have accumulated.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Quitting a job and starting from 0 has been a mentally challenging thing to do. In the beginning I often felt discouraged by the lack of orders I received and often considered quitting. But I am still here today because it is my dream.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in handmade press on nails.
They are different from normal press on nail’s because they are made with the consumers comfort in mind. They are very thick and durable so you can wear them for up to 3 weeks and reuse them if you choose to.
Customers are given the chance to purchase a preset design via Etsy or order a completely custom instant gel manicure via Instagram.
While my craft is not much different from other press on nail artists, what helps me stand out is my ability to be vulnerable. Consumers are tired of lifeless corporate brands, so I am not going to be that. If I have a platform, I want to people to relate to who they’re following. It’s okay for them to know I make mistakes, that I fail, and that I’m stressed. I have found that if people like artists as a person they will trust you more and support you unconditionally.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m a collector! I have a huge collection of dolls from the 2010’s and other things! It’s something I’m really proud of.
Pricing:
- Level One Custom Nails – $30 (+ shipping)
- Level Two Custom Nails – $38.50 (+ shipping)
- Level Three Custom Nails – $43.50 (+ shipping)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/liiv4nails
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liiv4nails?igsh=MWk0MGpkYTQ4eHkyZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@liiv4nails?_t=ZT-8tpbZIApTFD&_r=1
