Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Palazzola.
Hi Jordan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I taught myself how to do my own nails after having my son during COVID in 2020. I was a stay-at-home-mom, living in South St. Louis, doing my nails in my bathroom or in our spare bedroom whenever my baby was asleep. I watched YouTube and TikTok videos at home for over a year before I decided I wanted to go to school.
I went to Grabber School of Hair Design in Webster Groves in January 2022 and got my license by June. My first salon suite was located right across the street from The Pageant on The Delmar Loop at Delmar Beauty Boutiques. After my daughter was born in 2024, I moved into a salon suite in O’Fallon, closer to home.
Painting and drawing have been my favorite hobbies since I was a child, so nail art has always come naturally to me. After 2 years of doing acrylics, I developed an allergy to monomer and I switched to doing Gel X and all other fume-free gel nail enhancements. Gel X has allowed me to focus on my artwork, which is so important to me since I specialize in hand painted nail designs and 3D nail art. I’ve spent years watching nail artists like Devin Strebler (Nailz By Dev) create the most insane hand painted art on such tiny canvases- I’ve always known I wanted to be a nail ARTIST, not just a nail tech!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been a rollercoaster, to say the least! Going independent almost immediately after getting out of school was a huge risk to take and many people doubted me. I’ve always had confidence in myself as an artist and I knew I had potential in the nail industry. Finding a work-life balance as a single mom of 2 and an independent business owner is definitely a challenge, but I have found my flow so I don’t get burnt out often. I’m extremely grateful to be booked and busy with a full clientele. Even after 5 years of experience, I’m still striving to learn more and improve my craft everyday. Building a clientele and a social media platform takes time, effort and consistency- everything else finds its way to you.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My favorite kind of nail art is cartoon characters and anything 3D! I spend hours hand painting and sculpting such intricate designs, it’s hard to believe each tiny masterpiece is temporary- until the next set! I have been working on creating more content on my TikTok, Instagram and Facebook so go follow me: Jewldxjordan! I do so many different types of art- murals on walls, acrylic paintings on canvases, custom press on nails, henna tattoos, almost any kind of commission artwork and of course, extremely detailed, hand painted nail art! After winning my school’s nail art competition with my Alice in Wonderland nails, I fell in love with character art, fine line work, especially cartoons and Disney characters! I am a perfectionist and I truly put my whole heart into every set of nails I get to create. I take my time with every client and take pride in the quality of my work- and the unique experience my clients get to have when booking a session with me in my private space full of art!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I feel successful in my career simply because I have a full clientele of long term, returning clients who trust me and have helped me build my business through word-of-mouth. The best relationships with clients are built through trust and consistency! If you keep your regulars happy, they will do all of the marketing for you. I’m so grateful to have succeeded in creating a full time career and income from my own talents and hobbies. My career is so much than just doing nails to me- it’s how I provide for my children, it’s about the clients who have become my best friends, it’s about being a part of a community of other moms and artists like me. I have successfully made a beautiful life for myself and my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jewldxjordan-llc.square.site/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jewldxjordan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KSkY2cTNX/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jxjnails
