Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Allen.
Hi Deja, 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?
I was doing my own nails but just simple stuff because I was tired of going to the salon. Then later that year my first semester at UCF when Cove it happened I started taking it seriously because suddenly I had all this free time. My fiancé ordered a kit one day for me and I started doing my own nails then it turned into me practicing on my family. I would practice every day watch YouTube videos follow local nail enthusiast and it was really fun for me to learn and to self-teach myself. I would post their nails on my social media platforms and I would get my friends asking when I could do theirs. So once I got more comfortable, I decided for fun to start doing my friend‘s Nails. At first, I was traveling I would drive to them with my little box full of nail supplies and do their nails in their kitchen their room wherever we could. And I would only charge $20 and I would be traveling to Lake Mary area to Clermont to multiple different parts. Then I saved all the money and moved into my first apartment where I set up a little nail area a cheap table from Michaels and a stole that I had. I would still occasionally travel but I finally had a set up in my own space to finally do nails at my apartment. Then I decided to make a business plan and make business profiles to reach more people. I only started out with six clients. Then gradually overtime six would turn into 12 than 12 would turn into 24. I had a job I worked as a lifeguard and also Representative at an insurance company. So all of my free time would go to doing nails. And I was in college as a biology major and was in the premed program. So I was constantly busy. Then over time, I saved up money to create a nicer work area. I would get more clients. I would work from 7 to 9 PM and then still take clients after I would get off. Sometimes being up until three in the morning.
At this point, my Instagram platform was growing. I started out with 100 followers and then within the next few months had 3000 Followers. And my clients were telling their friends about it and their family and I was growing. I also ended up picking up lash extensions and I’ll do that also from my apartment and I found love with that as well. And with my business growing and I found out that I really love doing this, I decided to take a break from school. I was honestly scared of how my family would react because I was very school-oriented and had a bright future with so I thought in the medical field. But thankfully, they saw how much I loved what I did and it wasn’t just a hobby and I took clients within four months of doing nails and how fast I grew and how good I was in such a short period of time. They were actually very happy and on board with me leaving school. Then one day, I got an offer at a nail salon around three months ago. And at first, I was nervous because I never been in a work setting with other nail techs in lash techs. And I was scared that I would lose clients. And when I decided to join them, I did lose a few clients but I knew that I can make that up and get more clients working at the salon. I went from having a little toolbox traveling to people’s houses to working from my apartment to a nail salon. And someday, I do wish to own my own salon and because I’m a full specialist, I can offer A lot of services with lashing, nails, pedicures manicures, waxing eyebrow, tinting, makeup and so on. And my idea is to have a one stop shop beauty bar where I could have barbering hair styling and facials including nails and lashing etc. so you can only go to one place to get everything you’ll need. And I work every day to accomplish that dream and to work harder to get to that point where I can say that I made it.
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?
Definitely wasn’t a smooth road. I was technically working three jobs and school. And because I was charging so little at first and traveling to people’s houses, it was very financially hard. And dropping out of school was the hardest decision because I worked so hard to get to where I was going. And other times, I was so headstrong that I knew that I wanted to do something in the medical field and then a second it wasn’t What I want it anymore. I worked so hard in high school my junior year, I started doing enrollment at Valencia College and by the time that I graduated, I got my associate’s degree in science. And I was working towards my bachelor’s in biology. So it’s definitely a tough situation and very tiring but I didn’t care I still loved what I was doing. And there were times where because I’m young, I started when I was 18 sometimes people would try to rip me off because I was a new nail tech and maybe they thought I didn’t know what I was doing. And it was also risky going to people’s houses in their homes. And I was definitely scared to go to the salon because it’s about 30 minutes from my apartment now and it was a huge step to leave school and quit my two jobs to work full-time. But I like to think that all the hard work that I did is going to pay off one day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So I’m a full specialist, I primarily specialize and lashing and Nails. At first, it was simple Nails but because I had some experience in art, I was an AP art class in high school, I was able to incorporate that into a Nails. Soon I realize that I can draw all actual things on somebody’s nails. Christmas time, I could draw the grinch Santa and same for Halloween. And I loved every second of it even if it took me two hours to complete. I would say I’m definitely a perfectionist. Every nails that I do has to look neat and well laid. And I like to think that I made a very good craft with my art and my ideas and be able to put that into something I love doing. One thing I love the most and I am proud of is my shaping and how neat and well put together the nails and lashes look. They always have to look on point. And the same goes for lashing each set I do. I take my time because of the end of the day, you’re paying me and if you don’t leave happy, I’m not happy. So I always tell myself to take my time with each thing that I do to make sure you are getting everything you wanted and how you wanted it.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Most definitely, my family and friends. If it wasn’t for my fiancé ordering me a kit off of Amazon, I don’t think that I would be here. And if I didn’t have my grandma and my mom and even my little sister allow me to do their nails, I wouldn’t have been able to self-teach myself or perfect my craft. And definitely had help from my family on funding my hobby and they have been nothing but supportive in all of the decisions that I’ve made. I definitely think they also love that they can get their nails, lashes and pedicures done by me for free that’s definitely a perk. And I definitely wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my friend sharing posting and allowing me to reach my goals and I rely on my clients to also get me to my next goal of owning my shop and be able to make my dreams come true with having a one-stop shop in the future and growing my business more. And they even give me amazing ideas and sometime soon, I’ll also be selling products for aftercare and accessories.
Pricing:
- Lashes start at $60
- Nails start at $40
- Pedicures start at $30
- Waxing starts at $8
- Eyebrow tint start at $15
Contact Info:
- Email: Dejaknails@gmail.co
- Instagram: @luxsbydeja
- Facebook: Dejaallen
Image Credits
Deja Allen
