Q&A
Freedom in skill
From rebuilding her life after a devastating accident to finding financial independence, educator and salon owner Alice Nali tells Connie Cooper how nail artistry gave her the freedom to build a new future
How did your journey in nails begin?
“I had always loved art. I’m an only child, so drawing was how I entertained myself. As soon as I realised I could paint on nails, I became really excited about nail art. At around 13, I went to beauty school in Italy with the idea of pursuing nails professionally. By 16, I was working in a beauty salon and completing courses focused on nails.”
You experienced a serious car accident as a teenager. How did your passion for nails support your recovery?
“Before I opened my first salon, I was involved in a serious car accident. I broke my shoulder and ribs, and I lost consciousness. The car rolled several times, and I was incredibly lucky to survive.
“After the accident, I lost almost all of my memories from childhood and my teenage years. My recovery was long, and because of my shoulder injury, there were many things I couldn’t do. But nail art was something I could still do.
"I started exploring it more deeply; it helped me mentally and gave me something to focus on during a very difficult time. Even though I had lost so many memories, my hands still knew what to do. It felt like something that nobody could take away from me.”
How did nail artistry help you through other challenges in your life?
“When I was 19, I opened my own home salon. Around the same time, I got married, but unfortunately the relationship became abusive. Nails became my escape. It was something that belonged to me and that nobody else could touch. It was like a bubble where I could still be myself.
“Eventually, nails gave me financial freedom. That experience is one of the reasons I now teach. I want other women to understand that having a skill can create independence and open doors.”
What led you to move to the UK and build your career here?
“Having nail skills gave me the confidence to take that step. I knew I could go somewhere new and build a life because I had a skill that people were looking for. After a year in London, I opened my own salon, AlyNails, without having existing clients or knowing anybody in the area.
“When I'd opened my salon in Italy, I had a community and word-of-mouth recommendations, so I became fully booked very quickly. In the UK, I had to build everything from scratch. The resilience I had developed through my past experiences helped me, and slowly the business grew.”
Why did you decide to launch an academy?
“After everything I had experienced, I wanted to make it meaningful and use it to help other people who might be in situations similar to mine, but also people who simply wanted to become independent and build a career. Beauty is an industry that can take you anywhere.
“Financial independence can feel out of reach. Having a professional skill can create opportunities and choices. It’s something you can carry with you for life.”
“I believe every nail professional should set aside a budget for education. Not only for technical nail training. You can invest in business education, communication, or other skills that support your career.”
What are the biggest challenges facing nail professionals today?
“Our work is often underestimated, and we underestimate ourselves too. Many nail pros are afraid to charge what they're worth or increase prices, even when costs are rising.
“There can still be a perception that a nail technician is just sitting down, filing nails and chatting. But we support people, listen to them and create a space where they can relax. There is much more involved than simply doing nails. We need to value ourselves more and help clients understand the true value of our work including the wider support we provide.”