Basic to BOSS: Leeds nail tech creates online course to help pros master the fundamentals
By Jess Watts | 16 August 2026 | Business & Education, Techs & Salons
Sometimes, moving forward in your career means taking a step back and returning to the basics. That’s exactly what Mollie Hiles is encouraging others to do with the launch of education programme, Basic to BOSS.
The nail tech, educator and salon owner explains how mastering the fundamentals helped her build her own nail business, establish a successful brand and inspire her to create an education programme of her own.
Path to success
“I’ve always believed that you don’t have to start with everything figured out. You just have to be willing to start, keep learning and believe in yourself enough to take the next step.” This is the philosophy of Mollie Hiles, nail tech, educator & owner of Leeds-based salon, Beautybymolliemae.
It’s a sentiment that has shaped her journey since 2018, when she began a beauty apprenticeship. “I’ve always had a real passion for beauty therapy and, even growing up, I loved experimenting with different treatments and practising on myself, so I always knew I wanted to build a career doing something creative that I genuinely loved.”
Two years after entering the industry, Mollie took a huge leap of faith and began working from her mum’s conservatory as a self-employed beauty pro. “It definitely wasn’t glamorous, but it was where I began building my clientele, finding my confidence and learning what it really meant to run a business,” she shares.
In 2021, Mollie’s mum was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, and Mollie made the decision to move to a salon in her local area. “It was a difficult time personally, but I knew I wanted to keep pushing forward with the career I had worked so hard to build. That move became another important turning point for me,” Mollie says.
Finally, after four years in the industry, she decided to open her own salon. Beautybymolliemae officially opened its doors in 2022, and Mollie describes it as her ‘proudest achievement’.
The salon offers a range of services, including brows and lashes, and Mollie also specialises in natural nailcare. “I take a prescriptive approach with every client, considering their individual nail type, lifestyle and needs before deciding on the most suitable treatment and application for them,” she explains. Her work can range from ‘a clean, understated builder gel set’ to ‘over-the-top, colourful nail art’.
However, Mollie notes: “Though I love creating fun looks, for me, it’s never simply about how the finished set looks. I’m passionate about understanding the natural nail, choosing the right products and techniques, and creating a treatment that works for the individual client.
“Looking back, my journey hasn’t been completely straightforward, but I think that’s what makes it so special,” Mollie acknowledges. “Every stage has taught me something and has given me such a passion for helping other beauty professionals do the same.”
A talent for teaching
Mollie decided to build on that passion for sharing knowledge by becoming an educator.
“I wanted to become an educator to help others close the gap between becoming qualified in the beauty industry and not knowing where to go next,” Mollie reveals. “I also wanted to create something for nail techs who have been in the industry for a while and feel uninspired with a lingering feeling of imposter syndrome.”
Mollie’s approach to education focuses on the fundamentals of nailcare. “One of the most common gaps or struggles I see is new nail techs jumping straight from qualifying into trying to offer every bit of nail art, when really they need to strip it all back and focus on the basics of a manicure, such as the shaping, the prep, the application, the apex etc.”
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Basic to BOSS
With a desire to help other nail techs understand the ‘why’ behind their techniques, Mollie conceptualised the education programme, Basic to BOSS. The online course combines video tutorials with written assets and can be completed at a student’s own pace, with lifetime access included.
“I found that when I stripped everything back to the fundamentals – nail preparation, product control, application, structure, shaping and understanding the natural nail – everything else started to fall into place,” Mollie explains.
“I wanted to create something that could help both newer nail techs who are still finding their feet and established techs who feel like they’ve hit a wall with their work. Basic to BOSS is about going back to the foundations, building confidence and giving pros the knowledge to understand what they’re doing and, more importantly, why they’re doing it.”
The topics covered by Basic to BOSS include the fundamentals of nail health and natural nail anatomy, client consultations, prescriptive services, nail prep, shaping and structure, and product control. The programme will cover classic nail looks including French manicures, chrome and ombré, while also exploring the male manicure.
The course is designed to fit around a tech’s busy schedule, with tips and tricks to support them throughout their career. “The most important thing was creating something that students can watch, pause and return to whenever they need. I want it to be something they can keep coming back to throughout their career,” Mollie states.
How to enrol
Basic to BOSS officially launches on 1 September 2026. In the lead-up to launch, interested parties can follow Mollie on Instagram (@beautybymolliemae), where she will open a waitlist.
“When the course officially launches, everyone on the waitlist will be the first to access the website and have an opportunity to purchase lifetime access to Basic to BOSS,” Mollie shares. “The first wave of waitlisted students will receive an exclusive discount and be the only people to access the course at launch. I really wanted to keep this first launch small and exclusive so I can make it feel really special for those who have supported me from the beginning.”
Mollie hopes that Basic to BOSS will give pros knowledge, support and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a nail tech, while providing them with a space to develop and refine their skills over time.
“Going back to basics can be useful at any stage of your career. Whether you’re new to nails or have been in the industry for years, there’s always something you can refine,” she says with a smile. “Sometimes, going back to the beginning is exactly what you need to move forward.”
