SCRATCH COLUMNIST
Breaking Down Barriers
Life as a nail tech with ADHD
Nail techs share how they navigate challenges to flourish in their careers
ANTONIA VAISNYS
Nail artist based at Maintain Your Mane, Bolton, UK Surreal Nails @surrealnailsmcr @surrealnails
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. These can interfere with daily functioning and development, and NHS Digital estimates that around 2.5 million people in England have the condition.
UK neurodiversity charity, ADHD Foundation, shares that ADHD is largely genetic. People with ADHD can be described as ‘neurodiverse’ or ‘neurodivergent’, meaning that their brains work differently to what is considered ‘neurotypical’. The official ADHD symbol is a rainbow butterfly, reflecting qualities like rapid mental movement, transformation and diversity. Rainbows are used within neurodiversity symbolism to reflect pride and inclusivity.
Ihave always been impulsive. A new idea means a new opportunity, which was apparent when I decided to become a nail tech last year. This trait is a result of my ADHD, but it wasn’t until my diagnosis in 2023, at the age of 30, that I finally found comfort in my qualities. The diagnosis healed and validated parts of my self-esteem that had been chipped away over time. More than that, my ADHD helped guide me to the world of nails.
Picture this: it was the start of the 2024 summer holidays and my children had six weeks off school, which I could spend with them. It sounds like bliss – except for the fact that I was an agency worker in an alternative provision school. Time off equalled no income. I’ve always managed summers on a tight budget, so I thought last year would be no different.
That was until my eldest daughter suggested that we get our nails done together.
With ADHD being a superpower in that it allows me to hyperfocus, instead of booking an appointment, I said:
‘I’ll teach myself to do nails’. It couldn’t be that hard, right? Wrong. But that didn’t stop me.
“The nail sector is bursting with creativity, which makes it a natural home for many individuals with neurodiversity.”
I jumped in the car and my boyfriend drove me to a questionable location, where I handed over £80 to a Facebook Marketplace seller and brought home two bags of nail products. I then binge-watched hours of tutorials. I was buzzing with confidence and naivety. My first client was my eager daughter, and I set up a nail station on the sofa and got to work. The application?
A handy resource
Scan the QR code to explore the ADHD Foundation’s guide to neurodiversity in the workplace, covering the benefits of neurodiverse input, accommodations for the recruitment process and inclusivity considerations for employers.
The charity also offers neurodiversity training for businesses, which can be tailored to the needs of a workplace. The ADHD Foundation also promotes the Neurodiversity Friendly Business Award, which allows companies to show their commitment to neurodivergent professionals. Enquire at www.adhdfoundation.org.uk.training/business
Highly questionable, but when I started creating nail art, I was in my element.
I’m an artist, and always have been. Whether leading art workshops for young people or creating commissions, art has been a constant in my life. So, I pulled out some tired-looking brushes and five hours later, I had created a strawberry picnic nail design. The look lasted just 24 hours, so I practiced again and again, and I got better – a lot better, in fact.
I couldn’t help but show everyone my work, and suddenly friends and family wanted to be hand models. Even my boyfriend sat for hours at my makeshift nail setup. Before long, people online were trying to book services with me, and my partner said: ‘I bet you could do this as a job’. I laughed and replied: ‘Come off it, it’s just a hobby’.
How the nail industry can support neurodiverse techs
The nail sector is bursting with creativity, which makes it a natural home for many individuals with neurodiversity. However, aspects of it could be more accommodating to neurodivergent brains.
Traditional classrooms can be overwhelming and inaccessible for neurodiverse individuals, as we often require resources that let us learn in our own way, such as online courses, short tutorials and visual tools. It would also be great to learn of nail educators who are neurodivergent. When we talk openly about neurodiversity, it helps create safe, shame-free spaces.
Salons can make changes that help to reduce the overstimulation of noises, smells and fast-paced environments. I wear noise-reducing headphones on busier days, to help me regulate. Simple accommodations like quiet zones, breaks and soft lighting can help businesses be more inclusive.
Most importantly, the nail industry should embrace difference. From a personal point of view, ADHD isn’t a flaw – it just means my brain has a different operating system. Creativity, imagination and the ability to think outside the box make people with ADHD stand out. We bring bold ideas, fresh designs and new ways of working.
Still, that sentence planted a seed and it grew roots fast. I was getting messages daily, because I could paint just about anything on a nail. I started wondering if it could be a viable career, and if there was space for me in the nail community. I pushed my social anxiety aside and messaged local salons to find out what I’d need to do to work professionally.
This is where my ADHD could have created barriers. Academic settings have never been safe spaces for me. I tried university after lockdown to study Youth Work, then switched to Fine Art, hoping a creative degree would suit me better. However, I struggled with the pressures of deadlines and rigid structure of formal learning.
I knew traditional classroom training wouldn’t be right for me. Thankfully, I found an educator who recognised my potential.
In October, I qualified and started working in the same salon I trained in, before moving to business, Maintain Your Mane, in December. A year into my nail journey, I’ve had time to reflect. There have been forgotten appointments, overstimulating days and moments of serious doubt.
But I’ve created a space where clients – especially those that are neurodivergent – feel safe and seen, and that’s powerful.
“It would be great to learn of nail educators who are neurodivergent. When we talk openly about neurodiversity, it helps create safe, shame-free spaces.”
A message for aspiring pros with ADHD
If you have ADHD and are considering a nail career, know there is space for you here. Your hyperfocus, creativity, the way your brain connects things differently: these are gifts. You might forget a client or get distracted mid-task, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. You might just need to do things your way.
There’s no single ‘right’ path into this industry. What matters is your passion, your will to learn, and your ability to express yourself through your work. Don’t let imposter syndrome or traditional systems stop you. Our neurospicy brains make us unstoppable, so show what you can do!