Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Harding
Hi Bonnie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey begins over 20 years ago, but my biggest turning point was 2012 when I had my son. I went from an addict in and out of jail to suddenly redirecting my entire life to getting better and being a good mom, I haven’t looked back since. At that time, I put my head down and did what I had to in order to support my son and went to school for medical billing. Working in Corporate America for so long drained my Neurodivergant brains and sick all my empathy out previously, hence the addiction, but I was determined to make it work. For him. The years went on and I did what I could to keep up until eventually I recieved a fibromyalgia diagnosis and doctors quickly confirmed my high stress job was making me worse. At the end of 2019, early 2020, life changed for all of us. I got covid, 3 times actually, and was hospitalized once for a week. That’s when I knew I was done and had to follow my passions.
First I locked in on my Spiritual studies, and my passion for wanting to make impacting change in society was revitalized tenfold. I have myself back to Source and helping other and became an Ordained Minister and Certified Reiki Master. I ran my psychic and reiki business solely for a while but found the small community here in San Diego that I could find heavily saturated and I needed a way to stand out.
The pandemic was difficult for me as with others and I often turned to doing my own nail art to find peace. It seemed like the only thing that would quiet my overactive mind. So while we all slowly emerged from our hidey-holes, I was running my Spiritual business asking myself how can I connect with more people than this small community here and bam, I was reminded of my love for nail art.
In that moment, I knew what my future held without a doubt; healing through the beauty of nail art. Nothing makes me feel better than a fresh set of nails and I’m already in hand to hand contact with my clients so performing energy work and providing readings while we work seemed like the natural progression.
So I started learning all I could. I started off with press-on nails and friends only. Then I applied for a reality TV show for start ups, BetaBlox, and before I knew what was happening I was flying to Tulsa, OK to film. That lit a fire under me. The fact they accepted me based on my story, my vision, and my brand I knew this was my path.
So I got licensed, graduated, and worked my butt off, even with my fibromyalgia, add a mobile nail tech. Once my body was very clear it could not do that AT ALL, I had to pivot.
I opened my first salon space January 27, 2025 and slowly but surely, my beauty healing salon empire is forming.
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?
No! Not at all, getting away from corporate America feels impossible, or still had me sucked in so I can spend as much time on my salon. Finances are difficult as a single, disabled mom to an autistic kiddos. And my particular flavor of Neurodivergance makes my brain very mean to me so it’s lots of big jumps forward then pauses. I hope to being on help soon!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a nail artist and I specialize in making your nail expertise a transformative one, full of healing, insight, and rejuvenation.
I mainly specialize in a style called reverse stamping and am starting to incorporate hand drawn and specialty designs.
I am most proud of the impact my service had on my clients. They come back for the experience provided, not just the great nails!
What sets me apart is that I’m a psychic medium & reiki master. How many nail salons can you go to and get a mani, pedicure, Tarot reading AND get to talk to your grandma that passed? I’ll wait.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk taking is necessary as an entrepreneur. If I hadn’t taken risks and listed to my mean brain, I would never have been on TV. I would never have gotten licensed. I never would have tried to save my own life by changing my life path. That is priceless and worth every risk.
Pricing:
- Nails $45 + Pedicures $25+ Psychic Services $60+ Medium Services starts at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Lilluxurynails.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilluxurynails?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilluxurynails?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Image Credits
Bonnie Harding
