4 mins
Confidence crisis
Nail pros share their experiences with imposter syndrome & offer tips to help overcome it
Have you ever felt undeserving or that success is beyond your means? Perhaps you’ve felt like your career journey has been down to luck, or have worried that clients won’t rebook. These are all common imposter syndrome thoughts, and if you’ve experienced these niggling beliefs – you aren’t alone.
In 2018, insurance company, AXA, found that 24% of business owners suffer with these thoughts, which rose to a staggering 78% in 2022, according to personal finance company, NerdWallet. So, it’s likely you’ve come across the ‘imposter syndrome’ term, but what is it?
EVENTS
Glitterbels ambassador, Katie Turner, says: “I remember being asked to be a Glitterbels ambassador and thinking that I wasn’t in the right room. Being surrounded by incredible nail techs and inspiring people made me feel like I wasn’t meant to be in that position.”
Katie Turner
Louise Flowers, OPI educator for North East England, shared a similar experience: “I attended The Scratch Stars Party with OPI in July, which was a dream come true. However, I spent the weeks running up to it feeling overwhelmed at the thought of mixing with industry idols.”
Louise Flowers
The main characteristic is the belief you will be ‘found out’ as a ‘fraud’ because you aren’t capable of the role you’re playing – largely as a result of self-doubt and low confidence. There is a risk of burnout when trying to prove yourself.
Louise Flowers with Sammy MacDonald, OPI Nail Boss, at The Scratch Stars Party 2024.
Imposter syndrome can surface in various forms, but after asking Scratch’s Instagram followers, the responses highlighted the following as the most popular areas affecting beauty professionals...
The Scratch Stars Party 2024 dancefloor.
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
Louise attended The Scratch Stars Party 2024 and surprised herself. “I loved every second of the evening, and nothing bad happened,” she says.
Amy McCall
NAIL ART ANXIETIES
“Sometimes, when clients show me inspiration photos for their nail art, I panic,” admits Scotland-based nail pro, Amy McCall.
“Recently, I said to a client ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to achieve this, but I can try’.”
Instagram.com/amymccallnailartist
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
Amy tried a Japanese-style design at her client’s request, and comments: “The finished nails looked much better than I thought they would, and are my favourite design to date!”
PRICE PAUSE
Beauty professionals suffering with imposter syndrome are often reluctant to increase their prices, devaluing their abilities and jeopardising the growth of their businesses.
“In the past, I have charged very little for my work,” shares Katie Turner. “This is because I had overwhelming feelings that I couldn’t charge the same as another tech locally because, in my eyes, their work was at a different level and they had been in the industry for a longer period of time.”
Amy McCall shares a similar experience, commenting: “I knew I needed to increase my prices, but I thought that my work wasn’t good enough for clients to pay more of their hard-earned money towards. I waited longer than I should have to take the leap, and was extremely nervous.”
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
Having increased her prices, Amy reveals the outcome: “I became busier than ever!”
STIFLING SUCCESS
Where has the rise in self-doubt come from? Katie Turner believes the answer lies in social media comparison, commenting: “We’re used to seeing ‘perfect’ nails, salons and artwork on social media. Not many people talk about the hard days or challenges. You see work produced and instantly compare it to your own, before picking it apart.”
Constant comparison to ‘the best of the best’ on social media can prevent beauty professionals from pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, becoming their own barriers to success.
Calley Barham
Glitterbels education ambassador, Calley Barham, reveals: “I’ve been too scared to post a set of nails before, because I have seen a tiny flaw that might be picked up by potential clients. This has made me turn people away, because I fear I’m not good enough.”
Katie Turner adds: “Imposter syndrome makes you feel as if you shouldn’t be pushing yourself to achieve things you want to achieve, because you haven’t got the skills to create what others have. I’ve stopped myself from entering competitions on so many occasions, thinking that my work wasn’t at the right level.”
LIVED & LEARNED
Do these experiences feel relatable? Nail techs offer advice and reminders to help shift limiting beliefs:
Calley Barham advises: “Do not compare yourself to others on social media. Instead, use their posts as inspiration. Everyone is at a different stage of their nail journey, and yours is unique to you. The only comparison you should be making is of your own work against your last set of nails, to ensure growth and progression.”
Katie Turner comments: “Push yourself out of your comfort zone into spaces you think you can’t be in, because you can! Show your personality and remember the qualities that make you an amazing nail tech.”
“We’re used to seeing ‘perfect’ nails, salons and artwork on social media. Not many people talk about the hard days or challenges. You see work produced and instantly compare it to your own, before picking it apart.”