Building a Multi-Platform Business with Kira Skye Salgado
Kira Skye Salgado is a multifaceted creative, entrepreneur, and beauty industry innovator based in Atlanta. As the founder of Nails by Kira Skye, she has built a loyal clientele through her luxury nail artistry, press-on collections, and upcoming product line that promotes nail and cuticle health. Her newest venture, Unforgettable Effect, is a fashion and lifestyle brand and digital magazine that captures her bold aesthetic, creative direction, and mission to empower young women through self-expression, style and self love. With a growing presence in modeling, acting, and beauty, Kira continues to push boundaries as a rising voice among Gen Z creatives.
FOUNDING STORY & MOTIVATION
What inspired you to start your business, and what problem were you passionate about solving?
When I moved to east atlanta at 14 going into high school, I was homeschooled and spent 3 years secluded inside. During 2019-2022 I had a lot of time on my hands and going to get my nails done was a luxury that wasn't available to me. I decided to take that leap and start my journey by practicing on myself and my best friend at the time. I went through so much trial and error while doing my own nails, especially doing both hands. For around 3 years I never profited from the skills I developed until I went into 12th grade. For my senior year I went to school in person and throughout the whole year my friends and classmates encouraged me to capitalize off my craft. I never thought that a hobby I started for myself would become a business. I gained a lot of clientele and in March 2023 I created my business @nailsbykiraskye. I posted all my work and made prices for the services I offered. This was just the beginning of my journey as a nail artist and an entrepreneur. After meeting new people who trusted me and loved my work, I was able to see how happy my services made my clients. Empowering them through the work I did made me want to go even harder.
How did your early days as a founder look? Can you share one moment that tested your resilience?
My early days as a founder were nothing close to easy. This business wasn't the plan for me initially but I would define my early days as a learning lesson. After every set that I created I learned new techniques that elevated my craft. From mastering my retention to expanding my creativity and taking around 5-10 hours on every set, I was determined to be the best.
What’s the meaning behind your business name or brand identity?
The meaning behind my brand is luxury services that empower you. When I see how happy my clients are after I finish their nails it fills my heart. Getting your nails done with me is always an uplifting experience and I want every client to leave happier than when they came in.
BUILDING & SCALING
What were the first 3 things you did to build momentum in your business?
The first 3 things I did to build momentum is posting my work, whether that is a carousel of the set I did that week or a reel showing the process. The next thing would be creating deals to draw in potential clients. The last thing I did was post work from other nail artists to give my followers and clients inspiration for their next set. I also started my ambassadors program that allows loyal clients to get their nails done at a discounted price in exchange for me having full creative control and creating content.
How did you land your first paying customer or client?
I was in 12th grade and I was friends with a sweet soul that inspired me to make my nail journey into a business. She was my first client, at that time I did nails at my vanity and stored my supplies under my bed. For her first set I did an all white set with chrome cross charms. She was one of the first people who inspired me to take my skills to the next level and actually profit from it.
What’s one “micro move” that created an outsized impact in your growth journey?
One micro move that has had a huge impact on my journey would have to be me doing my own nails. Whenever I do my own nails I try to always do something different and unique. When I go out it's almost guaranteed that I will receive a complement or comment from not only women but men too. With that I am able to market myself consistently without too much effort. This has helped me gain so much clientele by people seeing my nails in person. Not only does my work speak for itself but the retention of the nails carries the conversation. The nails I do can last up to 6 weeks which is a huge factor when it comes to this industry. Your work can be amazing and creative but how long can it last? I offer everything and that's what I bring up when the conversation arises.
PERSONAL INSIGHT & BALANCE
How do you manage the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship?
A lot of the time I have fallen victim to business burn out. I would describe this as me not posting, interacting or staying consistent and on top of marketing my page. This can have such a negative impact on any business. At the same time doing nails isn't my main job, I work many different jobs frequently such as modeling, acting and hosting. Some highs of entrepreneurship for me would be creating my own services and prices, being able to be my own boss is a lot of responsibility but it's very rewarding at the end of the day. Another high would be seeing how my clients react to their nails, every time it's the most heartwarming feeling knowing that I made my clients happy for even a minute through my services.
What does your current work-life blend look like—and how has that evolved?
My work life blend would be described as something new everyday, whether it is doing nails one day, modeling the next, working on my magazine or stepping on set for a multi million dollar production. I love to try new things which sometimes makes it difficult to stay consistent with just one thing. Sometimes I feel like I need a manager and assistant to help me with scheduling and booking jobs. Considering I still do nails often, even when I'm taking a break from posting my clients still manage to book me when I am free. My work life blend has evolved tremendously and recently hasn't given me much time to relax which can be a pro and a con but staying busy, consistent and putting my best foot forward is always my goal.
VISIBILITY & AUTHORITY
Can you share one risk you took that paid off in an unexpected way?
One risk I took other than paying thousands for supplies would be putting myself out there promoting my business and art even if I thought my work wouldn't be good enough or appreciated. Surprisingly when I took that risk years ago I received so much love and support which coming from being a girl who was severely bullied for everything when I was younger, it gave me confidence to keep going because people don't see that girl in grade school, they saw a woman, a creative, and now a business owner. I've always cared what other people think even if it's about my work, being self conscious has been a struggle of mine for so long. Being able to express myself this way and build a business has been the most rewarding thing so far.
TOOLS & TACTICS
What are your favorite tools or systems for staying organized and productive?
Some of my favorite tools or applications I use to stay organized and productive would include, Pinterest for inspiration, Canva for creating anything from flyers to even my magazine. Notion is a great place to store notes, create budgets etc, Chat GPT to ask anything, create captions, and generate ideas. I use Square to run everything that has to do with scheduling appointments and creating/editing my booking website which was originally a template I bought off of Etsy and tweaked to my liking. These to me are some of the best systems and applications.
What’s your approach to pricing your services or offers?
I have always done my best to make my prices affordable for everyone, even the clients who only come to me for special occasions such as birthdays or vacations. One thing I like to do is make an all inclusive service, my birthday offer includes any length, shape and design for $150 which is a great price for my clients who love to go all out. I offer many discounts such as a referral program that gives clients who refer other clients $5 off their next set which they can either save or spend. Another discount I offer includes the student discount which is 15% off your service and for new clients they receive $10 off. I am always being told to raise my prices because not only is my work creative, original, it's durable and lasts up to 6 weeks. Though getting your nails done is a luxury service at the end of the day I want to be reasonable and charge what I would pay.
LEGACY & ADVICE
What does success look like for you now vs. when you started?
To me when I started success looked like having nails that stand out and actually looked appealing. Now success looks very different, dreams I never imagined have turned into attainable goals. Success to me now looks like starting my own nail supplies line, owning a commercial property and renting out suites to other service providers, and turning my brand into a legacy. The legacy I want to leave is something bigger than I ever thought. Success to me will always be uplifting, empowering and motivating others in my position and people who may see themselves in me. No matter what I do I want to make a positive impact, that's how I would define success now.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a founder just starting out?
One piece of advice I would give a founder starting out would be to not only believe in yourself but to stay consistent and learn as much as you can. Even if it's a hobby, once you see how your products or services benefit people it will bring so much more value to what you do. Genuinely loving what you do is the end goal, don't get stuck doing something you have to tolerate. Never settle for less and always branch out if you don't fully align with what you're trying to present to the world. Being truly authentic is the key to success.
What legacy do you hope to leave through your business?
The legacy I hope to leave through my business is one that empowers entrepreneurs and creatives to bet on themselves, even when the odds feel stacked against them. I want my journey to serve as living proof that you don’t have to have it all figured out to start, you just have to start. Through my work in beauty, fashion, and media, I aim to create space for bold expression, fearless creativity, and authentic storytelling. I hope that when someone sees my name, my brand, or anything I’ve built, they feel encouraged to take that same risk to trust their vision and push forward with purpose. If I can do it, so can they. That’s the impact I want to make not just success, but inspiration in motion.
What can we promote for you (offer, product, launch, etc.)?
Currently I am close to launching my editorial fashion magazine, Unforgettable Effect made to remind people of their value and impact they make in the world. The first volume was announced on my birthday, June 8th and features me throughout from my upbringing to my strengths and struggles, to where I want to go with my future and my brand. I am still actively doing nails and I have launched my first product, “Nourishing Nail Serum” made to hydrate and restore nails and cuticles made with 100% pure ingredients. I am very big on health and wanted to make sure that if I ever launched a product that it was organic and safe for long term use.
Where can our readers/listeners find you online?
You can find me on instagram;
@Kirassalgado
@Kiraskyearchive
@Nailsbykiraskye
@Unforgettableeffect
You can find me on tiktok;
@Kiraskyesalgado
@Kirassalgado
@Nailsbykiraskye
@Unforgettableeffect
