Before You Begin is a beginner-friendly, theory-based course for aspiring and growing nail techs who want to actually understand what they’re doing — not just copy steps from random videos. We’ll slow things down, walk through the foundations, and help you feel confident, safe, and prepared before you start working on real people.
Ideal for beginners, self-taught techs, and anyone who feels like they “missed” the basics
Focused on real-world salon knowledge: safety, anatomy, client care, policies, pricing, and business
Self-paced, with lifetime access to all modules and future updates
Before You Begin: Foundations of Professional Gel Nails
Who This Course Is For
Before You Begin is designed for you if:
You’re just starting out and feel overwhelmed by all the information online.
You’ve taken a course before but still feel like you’re missing the foundations.
You’re mostly self-taught and want to make sure you’re doing things safely and correctly.
You want to feel more confident talking to clients, setting boundaries, and charging for your work.
You care about natural nail health, sanitation, and long-term client relationships, not just trends.
You don’t need any prior salon experience to take this course — just an interest in gel nails and a willingness to learn.
What You’ll Learn Inside Before You Begin
The course is broken into clear modules so you can move step by step and come back to what you need, when you need it.
Module 1 – Start Here / Welcome
Get an overview of the course, how to move through it, and how to get the most out of your learning. We’ll set expectations, calm the overwhelm, and get you feeling grounded before you dive in.
Module 2 – Nail Anatomy & Disorders
Learn the structure of the natural nail, common nail conditions, and when you should not work on a client. This is the “why” behind safe gel application and long-term nail health.
Module 3 – Sanitation & Infection Control
Understand how to clean, disinfect, and set up your space so you’re protecting both yourself and your clients. We cover proper terminology, product types, and realistic salon routines.
Module 4 – Crafting Salon Policies
Create policies that actually support you — from cancellations and late arrivals to refunds and boundaries. You’ll get prompts and examples to help you write policies that feel firm, kind, and clear.
Module 5 – Preventing Repetitive Stress Injuries
Learn how to protect your body while you work. We’ll talk about ergonomics, posture, early warning signs, and simple habits and stretches to help you last in this career.
Module 6 – Client Communication & Consultations
Build confidence in talking to clients, asking the right questions, and handling tricky situations. This includes consultation ideas, boundary scripts, and ways to keep conversations clear and kind.
Module 7 – Pricing Your Nail Services
Learn how to think about your pricing in a way that supports you and your clients. We’ll walk through factors to consider, mindset blocks, and how to feel more confident charging for your time and skill.
Module 8 – Business Basics: Licenses, Insurance & Getting Started
Get a realistic look at the “paperwork” side of nails — from business structure and insurance to basic systems and your online presence — so you’re not guessing or hoping you’ve covered everything.
Module 9 – Nail Products 101: Tools, Gels & Essentials
Understand the core tools and products you actually need, what they do, and how to choose wisely. This helps you avoid wasting money and gives you clarity when you’re shopping or setting up.
Module 10 – Your Nail Space: Setting Up for Success
Design a space that works for you and your clients, whether you’re in a full salon or a small corner at home. We’ll talk layout, comfort, cleanliness, and creating a calm, welcoming environment.
Module 11 – Final “You Did It!” & Next Steps
Wrap everything up, reflect on how far you’ve come, and get ideas for what to focus on next — whether that’s more education, building a portfolio, or starting to work with real clients.
Theory-first, not just trends
You’ll understand the reasons behind what you’re doing, so you can make safe, confident decisions with real clients — not just copy designs.
Rooted in real salon experience
Everything I teach comes from working with real people in a real studio, not just doing my own nails for photos.No gatekeeping, no shame
I explain things in a clear, friendly way, without assuming you “should already know this.” Questions and “beginner” moments are welcome here.Beginner-friendly, but not basic
We go beyond surface-level tips into anatomy, safety, policies, pricing, and business — the things that actually make you a professional.Designed to protect your body and your business
We talk about ergonomics, boundaries, and systems so you can build something sustainable, not just cute.
What Makes Before You Begin Different
There are a lot of nail courses out there, but many skip over the foundations or assume you already know them. Before You Begin is designed to fill in those gaps and give you the “why” behind what you do at the table.
What’s Included When You Enroll
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What’s Included When You Enroll *
Before You Begin is designed to be something you can keep coming back to as you grow — not just a one-and-done watch-through.
Video lessons + written guides
Short, focused lessons you can pause, rewatch, and refer back to anytime, with written notes to support what you’re learning.Downloadable resources
Checklists, prompts, and questions to help you build policies, consultations, and systems that actually fit you and your clients.Lifetime access
Ongoing access to all current modules and any future updates to this course, so you can revisit topics whenever you need a refresh.Self-paced learning
Move through the material on your own schedule — no deadlines, no pressure, and plenty of space to pause and practice.Support via email
If you get stuck or something isn’t clear, you can email me with course-related questions and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.
Meet Your Educator
I’m Amelie, a nail tech, educator, and the founder of Totally Polished in Kelowna, BC. I created Before You Begin because I kept meeting new and self-taught nail techs who cared deeply about their work, but felt like no one had ever really explained the foundations to them — the “why” behind what they do.
My goal with this course is to give you the knowledge, context, and support I wish I’d had at the start: clear, honest education without gatekeeping or shame, so you can feel confident, safe, and truly prepared to work with real people.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You get lifetime access to all current modules and any future updates to this course. You can come back to the lessons anytime you need a refresh.
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Yes. Before You Begin was created with beginners and self-taught techs in mind. You don’t need salon experience to start — just an interest in gel nails and a willingness to learn.
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No. You can begin the course with just a notebook and an open mind. We’ll talk through tools, products, and setup inside the course so you can make more informed choices when you’re ready to invest in supplies.
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This course focuses on foundations, theory, and real-world knowledge. It does not replace any licensing, certifications, or formal schooling that may be required where you live. You’re responsible for checking the requirements in your area.
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You’re welcome to email me with course-related questions, and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction or clarify anything that feels confusing. I want you to feel supported, not stuck.