🗓️ June 27th, 2025
Two months ago, Yap & Nails opened its doors for the very first time.
These past two months have been filled with euphoria — and at times, with stress and pressure. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure how much support I’d receive. But then, my grand opening came, and around 20 beautiful women showed up bearing gifts.
That act of kindness filled me with so much love — and hope.
Hope that my vision for Yap & Nails would come to life.
💼 From Burnout to Balance
With 4 years of experience working at salons, I was tired of being overworked, rushing through clients, and being stuck in environments that lacked ethics and care. I rarely had time to offer the kind of quality I knew people deserved. Sure, being on my own is TRIPLE the work, and currently making no profit, simply breaking even, but the tiredness feels different, knowing everyday I am making people feel confident and pretty, following my dreams and working for ME. Just hits differently. Working for someone else, might be TMI but I COULD NEVER CATCH A BREAK.
First shop I ever worked at, I got covid three times, almost dying. Two days after testing positive I was expected to come back to work. Putting clients and my co workers at risk, as a matter of fact, December 24th 2021 the whole shop was sick with covid.
Second shop was a little better, but I was still getting burned out.
I was manipulated into coming in while sick or injured .
I’d get texts like:
“I guess we can’t rely on you anymore.”
Just to guilt me into sacrificing my health or time with my friends or family.
We weren’t paid hourly. No overtime. No insurance. No breaks.
Some days, I’d work from 10AM to 7PM, without eating. Other days, I’d sit around for hours with nothing to do… only to be told to stay late even if there were no clients left.
Some days absolutely no one would come in and was still expected to stay. Just… wasted hours. For free. I could go on and on, I have many stories to tell. But why waste time thinking of the past? One day, once my nervous system has relaxed, I will share lol.
Regardless of what I went through I still remained positive, putting on a smile for my clients to feel welcomed, the love for my craft kept me going. If you ask me now, I’ll tell you every nail tech must experience working in a “chop shop” before going on their own, the sweatshop environment of it is what helped me grow in my craft (also, why I discovered I genuinely love my career), that chapter taught me exactly what I never want to repeat —
and it’s why Yap & Nails was born. 💅✨
🕯️ A Slower, More Intentional Experience
At Yap & Nails, every appointment includes extra time for consultation. We take the time to discuss the health of your nails, answer your questions about care, art, or aftercare, because I truly care about keeping your nails beautiful and intact. There is absolutely no rushing here. I’m also proud to take my time between each client to sanitize and clean the space before the next person arrives. I want every guest to feel as though no one has been there before them — each appointment is personal, private, and meaningful. Another HUGE change for me is that I have now set aside 30 minutes of lunch break!!!
💅 Nails Are an Investment
I believe your nails should be healthy. The space should be relaxing, comfortable enough that you can talk about anything — or not talk at all. I want Yap & Nails to be a place where self-discovery can happen, where your nails feel like an investment. After all, who likes going back to the nail salon after six days because their nails are already chipping or lifting? Not my girls 💅
That is what I call investing in yourself!
💬 A Client Once Told Me:
“I’m grateful I found you because I always wanted a nail tech who was friendly and would talk to me. I’ve heard of people who consider their nail techs part of their family — but that’s so hard to find here.”
That was when it clicked.
Here in South Florida, many salons focus on quantity over quality.
They rush. They skip steps. They often ignore the health of your nails to book one more client.
But this journey has helped me heal.
And it’s brought me the most amazing women, many of whom now feel like friends beyond clients.
🧷 Yap & Nails is a Safe Space
I want Yap & Nails to be more than just a luxury private studio.
I want it to be a safe space 🧷 — where everyone feels welcomed, safe, and heard.
Every day, a soul sits across from me — sharing stories of resilience, heartbreak, joy, or just catching me up on the latest gossip. My clients aren’t just clients. They’re community.
Of course, not everyone wants deep convos — and that’s okay too!
Some clients are more reserved, and Yap & Nails is a space for them too.
It’s about balance. It’s about respecting your energy and creating space that adapts to you.
🎙️ Yap & Nails: The Podcast
This is exactly why I created the Yap & Nails Podcast — a platform where you will see me perform services while I yap with my client, where I hope to share stories, uplift other small businesses, talk about beauty, nails and life. Anything the person receiving the service wants to share!!
Because it’s never just nails.
It’s connection. It’s art. It’s therapy. It’s truth.
I am so excited to expand my education, explore new techniques, and create more art than ever before 🎨💅
Thank you for being part of my journey.
Whether you’re a longtime client or just getting to know me — you’re welcome here.
Let’s build something beautiful, together. 🦋
— Katherinne Magaña, founder of Yap & Nails