I have always taken pride in my appearance. Every morning, before heading to work, I carefully picked out my outfit—always elegant, always well-put-together. My hair was styled, my nails were perfectly manicured, and my favorite perfume became my signature scent. Looking good made me feel confident and ready to take on the world.
But when I retired, an unsettling fear crept in. What now? Would I still have the motivation to maintain my appearance when there was no longer a reason to leave the house every morning? Would my days blur together, one indistinguishable from the next?
And then there was the financial aspect—retirement meant a much smaller budget. I could no longer afford the regular beauty treatments I had become accustomed to. Manicures, hair treatments, salon visits—these luxuries now seemed out of reach.
One evening, sitting at my worn wooden desk with a cup of steaming tea, I made a decision. I grabbed a notebook and made a list of all the beauty treatments I used to get at salons. Then, I started thinking about how I could do them myself.
The first thing to go was my monthly hair appointment. I decided to color my own hair—it couldn’t be that hard, right? I also started shaping my own eyebrows. As for my nails, I completely abandoned extensions and switched to a simple, classic manicure.
I found a local nail technician who did classic manicures quickly and affordably. My nails were no longer as long or intricately designed as before, but they were neat and well-kept, which was all that mattered.
Then, one day, as I watched her work, a thought crossed my mind: Could I do this myself? It didn’t seem too complicated—just precision, patience, and practice.
I didn’t waste time overthinking. The very next day, I signed up for a manicure course. I chose a basic program, nothing fancy—just enough to learn the essentials. Within a week, I had mastered the technique, and the best part? It cost me very little.
Soon after, I bought all the necessary tools—nail files, polish, oils—and started taking care of my hands like a professional.
The first time my daughter, Olivia, saw my nails, she raised an eyebrow.
“Mom, if you’re struggling financially, you should have told me,” she said, glancing at her own long, perfectly polished red nails. “I would have sent you money so you could keep going to the salon.”
I just smiled.
“Olivia, I actually enjoy doing it myself! And my nails are healthier now without all the artificial extensions,” I replied.
Before I knew it, my friends and neighbors started noticing my nails.
“You did this yourself?” my sister, Emma, asked, surprised.
“Yes, and it’s easier than you’d think!” I said proudly.
My neighbor, Margaret, my former coworker, Lisa, and a few other women in the neighborhood became curious. They started asking if I could do their nails as well. Since I had plenty of time, I agreed—and I didn’t charge them anything.
But they still found ways to thank me. One brought me a box of chocolates, another gifted me flowers, and someone else brought a fresh loaf of homemade bread.
Then one day, my sister said,
“You know, I come to you every two weeks. I should be paying you for this!”
After some discussion, we settled on a price—half of what salons charged. It was a win-win: my friends saved money, and I had a small extra income.
When Olivia saw how things were going, she stopped criticizing me.
“You know, Mom, you’re actually amazing!” she admitted.
And then, almost sheepishly, she added,
“My nails are really weak from all the years of extensions. Maybe you could do mine, too?”
That was how I started taking care of her hands as well.
Olivia is a creative soul—always coming up with new ideas. Thanks to her, I learned how to paint little designs—tiny flowers, birds, even playful patterns.
And just like that, what started as a way to save money turned into a small business.
A small one—because I don’t want to open my home to strangers. But working with friends and family? That brings me joy. We chat, laugh, and I get to do something I love while making a little extra cash.
Lately, I’ve been thinking—why stop here? Maybe I should learn hairstyling or massage therapy? Pedicures could be another great skill to add.
I need a hobby that, as people say these days, can be monetized. Why not? My first clients are already waiting, eager to see what their favorite nail artist will learn next.
