Nail Tech Talk: Kimberley Hearn of byKIMI Nails
By Callie Iley | 09 March 2024 | Feature, Tech Talk
Seeking a career that offers flexibility around her family, Kimberley Hearn of byKIMI Nails shares her journey of establishing her nail business around her three children.
Kim spent eight years working in the car industry, but was furloughed for 10 months during the pandemic, followed by maternity leave with her third child. This time out of her previous career gave Kim chance to reflect on what she wanted out of work, seeking more flexibility while being able to provide for her family as a mother of three.
“I was always interested in art, but I didn’t think it was something I could make a career from. I saw the huge boom within the beauty industry after the pandemic, and near the end of my maternity leave, a local manicurist I followed on Instagram posted about offering accredited training days,” she remembers. “With some persuasion from my partner, I booked this, and that training changed everything! Being a nail technician has offered me the perfect combination of flexibility, creativity and stability that I was searching for.
“I love doing nails so much that I haven’t even thought about venturing into other areas of beauty, but I’ll never say never to diversifying my treatment menu,” Kim smiles. “I am a natural nail manicurist and work with builder gel, and my signature nail style is nail art-based. My go-to product is Glossify’s Naturabuild for builder gel manicures, and I love Brillbird’s Brush and Go Gels for nail art – they’re the perfect consistency.
“My clients love to challenge me with nail art and to be honest, I find it really therapeutic. I feel a real sense of pride when I complete a full set of nail art, and as someone who doesn’t have much confidence, it really gives me a boost.”
Kim’s working hours are based around her three children. Once she has taken her eldest two children to school and her youngest to a childminder, Kim returns home to her garden salon to set up her nail studio. “From 9:15am onwards, I see around four or five clients before I pick up the children at 3:15pm,” she reveals. “When I get home, I prep dinner if my partner hasn’t done so, and spend time with my children. After we’ve all eaten dinner together, my partner takes the children for their bath and bedtime, and I return to the studio between 6-8:30pm to see an additional two clients.
“Most of my days won’t seem very exciting to some people, and I’m mainly fuelled my coffee! However, this setup works for me and my family, and it allows me to enjoy being a mum, while also enjoying my career.
Kim’s nail studio
“Balancing a beauty business with motherhood isn’t always easy. When I started out in the industry, I had to take whatever business came my way. I was working unsociable hours with no real pattern to my day. I soon realised that to be present as a mum while also running a business required more organisation.”
Kim began by establishing a routine for herself, setting specific days and hours in which she would work, allowing her to keep her partner informed and arrange childcare when necessary. Setting boundaries in this manner has allowed Kim to give her children her full attention during time together. “My clients have been really understanding of my work setup around my children,” she shares.
“Motherhood has taught me to manage my time more efficiently, and to prioritise what’s important throughout the day. It’s also taught me to be patient, which has benefited me a lot when I’m being challenged with nail art creations,” Kim laughs.
“Being a nail technician has helped me connect with so many people that I wouldn’t have outside of this career, which has helped me on my journey as a young mum. It’s also made me more empathetic, which has aided me in creating a welcoming, comfortable and relaxing environment where all of my clients feel valued.
“Being able to set my own work schedule and hours helps me massively, as I really want to be present in motherhood. Being a nail technician has also allowed me to work from home, so I’m always close to my children, even when I’m working. It’s completely cut out commuting, which saves time.
“My career has allowed me to tap into my creativity, which my children love too. It shows them that you can be successful outside of traditional academic subjects,” Kim adds. “I feel so lucky to have such wonderful clients supporting me in my career and as a mum. Without their understanding, I would have struggled to continue in the industry. They know my children always come first and ask after them.
“I feel really privileged that my job is my hobby.”
“In the future, I’d love to become an educator and land an ambassador role with Glossify. I like the idea of promoting a product I’m genuinely passionate about and working with a brand that I have researched a lot into. I’d also love to see the industry being taken more seriously by people who assume you can’t be fulfilled or earn a good living from nails.”
