We had the good fortune of connecting with Enley Colbert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Enley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Basically, in the wake of the pandemic shutdown, I had to either find a new job or create one. Luckily, about 8 months before that I had started a traveling diabetic pedicure business with the skills I learned from the podiatry doctors I had worked for in the past. That was something I usually did on weekends when I wasn’t working my regular Monday through Friday job. Of course, there was an immediate increase in clients from my usual 2-4 clients every weekend to about 10-15 clients or more every week! I was a little overwhelmed at 1st but I just dove in headfirst. A lot of my clients were women & repeatedly asked if I also did nails. I answered “No, but I should.” So I practiced doing nails in my basement for about 6 months, went to school, got my nail license and opened my 1st nail studio by April 2021.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Since I started out doing diabetic pedicures, I became really good at disguising fungal/damaged toenails cosmetically without using acrylic. I worked really hard to develop my brand & just give an overall great service. It was definitely a challenge in the beginning from overhead costs to figuring out the best product brands for me. I started questioning whether or not I should’ve worked in a nail salon 1st for product/procedure knowledge. I was able to get some good insight from a few friends that are already in the nail business that really helped me through my difficulties. I’m definitely a go-to for great nail enhancement application & longevity but in the event you need a podiatrist & someone to help maintain the health of your nails, I’m your lady!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well…Atlanta is so rich with culture, I would take them to a few different places. I would probably want to plan it around Atlanta restaurant week, that way we could experience a wide variety of foods while still exploring the city. We would start at the Botanical Gardens or the Georgia Aquarium. We could rent bikes & ride them down at The Battery. We would have a spa day at either Chateau Elan or Spa Sydell. At some point we would go to a distillery or a paint & sip for the experience. Then we would wind down at an NFL or NBA game before my friend had to go back home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There was definitely an abundance of support as a group from my closest people. My parents & my husband’s parents helped with looking after my children during virtual school so I could finish nail school. 3 of my friends in particular either helped me brainstorm business plans/logo ideas, let me use their hands for practicing, and/or sent me nail supplies in the mail.

Website: Thenailcodellc.glossgenius.com

Instagram: @thenailcode_llc

Linkedin: Linktr.ee/thenailcodeen

Facebook: The Nail Code, LLC

Image Credits
Shot by MK

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