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

Hi Koasia, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
My Business/Career has taught me to never give up. I started as a non-licensed Nail Technician in Mississippi buying acrylic packs from Walmart. My sets were lumpy and didn’t last for more than a few days.

Moving to Chicago, I let go of nails altogether because I didn’t believe I could do it or would be supported. That was until I stepped foot in a black owned and operated nail salon in OakPark. I was floored by the talent and Aura. I knew that was my calling at that moment.

I began purchasing all the nail items I could purchase on Amazon and although I start out okay it took years for me to actually make a living. There were times when I would service co-workers and they would say negative things behind my back, and also only a few family members supported me. I’m very thankful for them. If I would have waited for family, friends, co-workers to validate me or if I just lacked the ability to believe in myself, and given up I would have never started a business.
I’m self-employed, licensed, and obtained my business degree in 2023. I am one of the best in my field and I thank God everyday for the strength to keep going regardless of the hurtful words and negativity.

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.
Work life as a Self-Employed Nail Technician is not all glamorous as social media portrays. It actually takes extreme amounts of effort to “look glamorous” during a long day of dust inhalation and toenails flying across the room!

It can get really ugly before you see the light. It can also get ugly within the light itself. Just when you think you’ve found the perfect salon or salon space, here comes a bad review or a customer who doesn’t agree with your prices. The back end of appointment keeping and managing a business is very tough work. One day you can make $500, the next day $20 and let’s not get started on the amount of time and effort it takes to market research constantly watching trends and incorporate it properly.

As an Artist, getting to a comfortable point in my career was not easy, by far. There were a couple salons that tried to charge me to work for them and one salon owner that even insulted me and my family in Spanish, thinking I wouldn’t understand. Before becoming licensed there were many times I would cry leaving the salon because money or property was being stolen and there was no way for me to prove it. The last salon I was employed in downtown Chicago I knew I had to leave when I could not stop crying during a pedicure because the owner was so vicious.

I had to literally keep the end goal in mind and find quiet spaces to meditate. Along with meditation, journaling, joining my church New Life Community Church, substituting old bad habits for new good habits, reading multiple self-help books, all contributed to me reaching my goals and staying centered and healthy.

I learned that not only is the road to success rocky and unpredictable but it’s also ever-changing. There will always be obstacles, that’s how we grow, but the way we handle these obstacles is the key to success or lack there of.

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal” -Earl Nightingale

I learned that, when setting a goal, you have to first believe that you can achieve it, secondly you have to understand that you have to constantly grow through education and practical. The opposite of growth is deterioration. Either you’re growing or deteriorating. Choose Wisely!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
With Chicago being the 3rd largest city in the United States, the list could go on forever. If you want the best experience I would suggest visiting during the mid-summer months and visiting Lake Michigan, Touring downtown Chicago, going on a boat tour or visiting the numerous museums here. The city of Chicago has so much rich and beautiful history!

I would also suggest visiting the Hyde Park area year round where our former president, Barack Obama and his family once resided. Hyde park is the epitome of Black Excellence!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my Entrepreneur friends of more than 5 years RIP Jessica Bracey aka Mona, Ja’lia Marie.

I would like to shoutout my family who supported my journey along the way Sharon Funches, Chenae Scott, Gwendolyn Scott, Zyia Eldridge, Caitlyn Eldridge, Kodi Wair, Alysha Bouldin, Kledecia Woodard, Kendrick Eldridge, Roderick Eldridge, AJ Eldridge, Chenell Tribblett, and also Alma Funches!

Last but definitely not least my children, and mother, Rest In Peace mom, Diane Tribblett-Eldridge, and my reasons for continuing, the loves of my life Jakob Emmanuel Wair and Kodi Diane Wair. Without them I have no clue where I would be!

Website: Www.Nailvixensintl.com

Instagram: @nailvixenkay

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nailvixenkay?si=KG_7AvzYW9Nc5Ydg

Image Credits
Ja’lia Marie photographed the professional shots of Koasia

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.