Best of the Gold Coast: Mermaid Beach nail technician Shenae Darbyshire crowned the city’s best
A Mermaid Beach business owner who started her career painting her mum’s nails over an ironing board has this week been voted the Gold Coast’s best nail technician.
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A Mermaid Beach business owner who started her career painting her mum’s nails over an ironing board has this week been voted the Gold Coast’s best nail technician.
Nailed It Nail Bar owner Shenae Darbyshire was crowned the Coast’s best nail technician by Bulletin readers.
Ms Darbyshire and senior technician Alexia Rivera provide on-trend acrylic and shellac nail services.
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The Mermaid Beach nail bar has more than 13,000 Instagram followers and Ms Darbyshire said they were booked out a month in advance.
She said she was “ecstatic” to win the competition after opening the business as a sole operator in 2016.
“I’m so happy. I never expected to be this successful and quite quickly,” Ms Darbyshire said.
The mum-to-be said she gradually built a client base while renting space in salons until one day in 2016 she saw the perfect space for herself.
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“I was stopped in traffic on the Gold Coast highway at Mermaid Beach when I saw (the space) was available.
“I knew it had potential because there was a lot of foot traffic, great cafes and a few well-known restaurants around.
“We’re really seeing just regulars and I’m trying to hire someone because we’re booked out a month in advance.”
Ms Darbyshire credited her success to having a passion for the industry and keeping across the latest trends.
“I was passionate about nails since I was about 11. I used to get the ironing board out and mum and I would sit either side of the board and I used paint her nails.
“I like to keep up-to-date with trends and interacting with clients and give them what they’re vibing at the time.
“And I’m always doing masterclasses with girls in the (United Kingdom) UK to update my skills.
“Thank you to my support network, my family, friends and clients, I really feel the love and appreciate it and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”
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