My name is Shannon Martin, and I am a Glitterbels Educator based in Manchester. As Christmas quickly approaches, I can’t help but think back to my first year as a beginner nail tech, facing the festive season. If I could go back and give my younger self some honest advice - the kind that saves stress, boosts confidence, and helps you truly enjoy the busiest time of the year, here’s what I would say.
1. Protect Your Energy and Set Boundaries
One of the biggest lessons I learned is the importance of looking after yourself. The festive season can dramatically increase your workload, and when you’re trying to build a business, it can feel impossible to say no. But setting a work schedule and actually sticking to it is essential.
Don’t fall into the trap of squeezing clients in outside your working hours. Keep time aside for your own errands, rest, and self-care. Burnout is very real in this industry, and Christmas will push your limits if you’re not careful. You deserve to enjoy the season too, not just survive it.
2. Invest in a Design Course Early
Christmas is peak nail art season, so sharpening your skills beforehand is a game-changer. A design course will give you techniques, confidence, and a stronger sense of your worth — which means you can price your services properly.
It also helps you discover what you are and aren’t comfortable with. Nail art isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. What matters is knowing your strengths and allowing enough time for the designs you offer. If I could go back, I would focus on mastering the essentials: snowflakes, candy canes, textured nails — all the festive favourites clients love.
3. Get Your Diary Organised Early
Encourage your regular clients to book their Christmas appointments well in advance, and get your diary organised before December chaos hits. It’s so easy to lose track of your own life when you’re fully booked, so block out specific days for your own Christmas shopping, wrapping, and planning.
Most importantly, set a final working day — and honour it. Make it clear to your clients when you’re finishing for the holidays. You deserve a proper break, and taking one is not something you ever need to feel guilty about.
4. Stock Up on Supplies Before the Rush
Every nail tech is running at full pace in December, which means products go out of stock quickly. Order early and make sure you’ve got plenty of your essentials — nail files, top coats, gels, art brushes, and whatever else you burn through during the busy season.
If something is unavailable, you’ll have enough time to find alternatives and adjust your plans instead of panicking halfway through an appointment.
5. Prepare Your Nail Art in Advance
Practice your Christmas nail art ahead of time and create swatch sticks of designs you feel confident offering. Not only does this inspire clients, but it guides them toward designs you can execute quickly and beautifully — saving you time while keeping standards high.
Sit one of our Glitterbels design courses to really strengthen technique and product use. We have online and classroom courses available depending on what suits you best.
6. Stay on Top of Your Socials (Without Stressing Yourself Out)
Social media is powerful during the festive season, but January isn’t the time to post Christmas nails. Stay active while you’re busy, even if that means scheduling posts or pre-writing captions. If you wait too long to upload festive sets, they lose impact — and clients may even assume you didn’t like their nails.
Consistent posting during the season boosts your engagement, attracts new clients, and showcases your best work when people are most interested.
7. Remember to Enjoy It
Lastly, I’d tell myself to enjoy Christmas. Yes, it’s busy - sometimes overwhelmingly so — but it’s also incredibly rewarding. You’ll gain new clients, strengthen your skills, and see your confidence skyrocket. The festive rush brings opportunity, creativity, and a wonderful reminder of why you fell in love with nails in the first place.
You can follow me on Instagram @Inkcredibrow_shannon_martin for more advice, tips, tricks, and nail content! If you’re local to Manchester or interested in training with me, you can book your training with myself via Shannon Martin – Glitterbels