Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaileigh Tobusch.
Hi Kaileigh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My husband & I are originally from a suburb of Chicago. We have now been married for 15 years & have a 7-year-old daughter. He is in the Marine Corps & that is what brought us to CA. We have bounced around the US a bit- him always deployed & me trying to create a life for myself with each new place we moved. Things were hard. Working dead-end jobs. Going to random schools just to kill time, till we moved again. When we were at our 2nd duty station- I had met a girl randomly from a yard sale post. She came over to buy Firewood from me. We got to chit chatting; she did hair. We hit it off. She told me about an assistant position at her salon. I applied & got the job at her salon. I knew pretty quick that this is where I wanted to be. I loved the salon environment. Sadly, we had to move to a new duty station & again found myself in a new place, husband gone & a new mom. As my daughter got older, I had to figure out what I wanted to do. Thinking back to working in the salon- I came up with Nail school. That is a skill set I could move around with, maintain a career & still be able to be present with my Family. I came up with plan- My husband was deployed, I had set a timeline that I would start school when he returned, my daughter was turning 4, she could go to full-time preschool & I could start something for me. Of course, Covid happened. My husband was stuck on deployment; things were shut down. I had been hounding the Beauty School about class dates & when they would reopen- I think I sent emails monthly asking. Finally, I got my class date but then got news my husband was leaving again. I was determined nothing was stopping me. I spent so much of our savings, funding school for me, funding full-time preschool, hired help for the weekends because I had school on Saturdays & no family to help. It was a stressful, but I did it. I graduated. Because Covid was happening State Boards were months away. I had amazing friends & neighbors who let me practice on them to keep my skills current. Finally, I took my Boards & Obtained my license. 2 month later, I had started my 1st job as a Nail Tech. I was basically thrown to the wolves at this salon. It was an hourly paid position. I had very little training and was booked back-to-back- I wanted to give up. It was hard work. I was underpaid & always asked by my employer for more. Now that I look back, it was a hard time for me but even through the stress, I became better at my skill set & I was contributing to my family & in turn we were able to finally buy our dream home in Downtown Oceanside- I just decided I had to kept my head down & continued working at the salon. I loved my coworkers, I loved being creative, I loved my clients, I loved our conversations. I loved that I got to connect with people & make them happy, but deep down, I was not. I was getting burnt out. Being an hrly employee meant they wanted me to put them 1st, finally, I decided that being an hrly employee was not working. Although it was terrifying- I made the jump and started my own business- Nailed By. K.Tobusch. I have been booth renting for just over a year now & continuing to grow my business. I love the connections I have made & continue to make through doing nails. I love having the flexibility & the fact I never have to question my family or myself as a priority… with my husband being Active Duty, we are facing him going overseas again- he has been away so much, but this time, I have something for myself- A thriving business. My family, friends & clients are the best with endless amounts of love & support. As a business owner, a wife & mother- I am “on” 24/7 but this is exactly where I am supposed to be- I am truly happy & the possibilities are endless.
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?
Being an a spouse of an active-duty service member- moving, not having stability. That has been a rough road to navigate.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a licensed nail technician. I specialize in dry manicuring, nail art & gel services.
I would have to say that nail health is my number one priority. I have had a lot of clients who have terrible anxiety and in turn, bite their nails. We have been able to break that habit and work through what their triggers are and ultimately get them to stop destroying their nails- I would say that is what I am most proud of. Truly helping people, Connection & giving them a judgment-free space & helping them feel good about themselves again.
I think my expectations that I set for myself – sets me apart from others. The quality of the items that I use, keeping up with education, trying to get the nails as close to perfection as possible. Also, the environment I have created.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Social media is a huge tool in this business. You can reach people all around the world and access information education, and also find other nail techs in our area and just create relationships. Even though we all do the same thing, we’re all so different, and there is always an opportunity to learn and grow from one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nailedbyktobusch.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nailedbyktobusch/?hl=en
