Episode Transcript
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Joy Blue (00:10):
Welcome to Here We Are.
The podcast where we celebratethe beauty of being a nerd by
learning about nerdy things fromfellow nerds.
I'm your host, Joy Blue.
I love those moments in lifewhen I learn something
completely new about a person.
Today's guest really is allabout care.
(00:32):
She works at a nonprofit,educating those who care for
youth.
She makes world famous bakedbeans, which I haven't had the
chance to try yet.
And is also a certified nailtech.
If you know me, you know thatI'm not really a girly girl.
My journey with getting my nailsdone began in 2008 when some
college friends had me come getmy nails done with them.
(00:53):
It was incredibly uncomfortablefor me, for reasons that make a
lot more sense after conductingtoday's interview.
I had never before thought aboutthe art of nails.
It's so much more than polish ona piece of finger cartilage.
It's close up, personal, humancare.
I could keep going, but I thinkI'll leave the rest to the
(01:15):
interview.
So without further ado, here'sRandi Slack to tell us all about
the Art Of Nails.
Randi Slack (01:22):
hi everyone.
My name is Randi, also known asBink.
I am an entrepreneur.
And I also work in humanservices.
So I am family friend here ofMiss Joy,
Joy Blue (01:35):
you are.
Randi Slack (01:36):
I'm just here to chat.
What's up?
Joy Blue (01:38):
So excited.
I met you because you work withmy wife, Brie, and you're her
work bestie.
So thus you are also my bestiebecause that's how that works,
obviously.
I don't know a lot about you andI'm so excited to learn more
about you.
I know you've got some stuffthat you nerd out about, so hit
(02:00):
me with something.
What do you wanna nerd out abouttoday?
Randi Slack (02:02):
I would say I'm a nerd about Nails.
Joy Blue (02:06):
Nails.
Randi Slack (02:07):
something that I've done as an entrepreneur in my
early career before I got in thefield that I'm in.
I still take clients actually,but I've been doing nails for
over 20 years.
Joy Blue (02:19):
Okay.
How does one get started indoing nails?
Randi Slack (02:22):
You know what my situation is very different and
special.
I have an older sister whointroduced me to the beauty
industry.
She was doing nails and I wouldgo to school with her.
I was her first client, so I sawwhat it did to her life and how
it changed her and theopportunity that she afforded
for herself for this, cuz it'sjust a rewarding and great craft
(02:46):
to know.
Right.
And, and especially being ablack woman, I'm gonna just say
that too it's not a lot ofopportunities where you have
black nail tech.
So to see my sister do that andthrive.
And we're originally fromSeattle, we moved here about 21
years ago.
And when we moved here, mysister was just building her
clientele in Seattle.
So she moved here and we movedto a whole nother city, right.
(03:06):
Where it's not a common thingand built a whole like business
from ground up.
So
Joy Blue (03:14):
That's
Randi Slack (03:14):
started from her.
Yeah.
She inspired me.
I went to beauty school after acouple semesters at college.
And I was telling my mom, I wantsome money now.
I wanna get in the industry now,and I'm, I'm passionate about
that.
And so I did a little bit ofschool and then I went off and
went to cosmetology school and Iwas a cosmetologist for a while.
I did hair, but then I justfocused on partnering with my
(03:35):
sister and just doing nails.
And then, In my career of doingnails, I went back to school
after I had a established careeras a nail tech and yeah, got my
degree and then actually my, myjob that I have was based off of
one of my tenure clients' sisterwas looking for a program
(03:55):
assistant.
And so I was like, I gotta, Iwanna do something different.
I want some structure.
I've been doing nails, this is agreat, rewarding job, but it's
wear and tear on your body.
Joy Blue (04:05):
Yeah.
Randi Slack (04:06):
And just doing something different.
Human service was alwayssomething I'm attracted to.
I am a service provider bytrade, by my heart.
That's just how I am.
I like to be impactful ineverything that I do.
So if doing your nails andmaking you feel good, let's do
it.
Or, giving you a pedicure,that's, that's spiritual in
itself.
Doing people's hands and feet,that's like a big deal.
(04:26):
So that's something that I don'ttake for granted, and I've
always been attracted toservicing people.
Like every type of job I've had.
I've been a waitress, bartender,yeah.
Joy Blue (04:37):
That's amazing.
I'm really excited to have thisconversation because I have not
grown up with the beautyindustry close by.
I've always kind of dressed as atomboy.
I've always preferred myselfwithout makeup.
I generally have very nakednails.
And so to interact with somebodywho that is a point of value and
that is something that isimportant to you in order to
(05:00):
bring value to both yourself andothers.
I'm just, it's so different forme and it's so amazing and I
just wanna learn so much.
So when you do someone's nails,when you're interacting, like
you said, in that spiritualspace of really, truly caring
for people on a body level, whatdo you feel?
(05:23):
What does it give you?
Randi Slack (05:24):
I share very vulnerable, intimate moments
with my clients.
And it makes me feel like I'mnot alone or it's, it's, it's a
form of therapy, right?
It's not, I still suggest get atherapist and go see a
therapist, but to be honest,that is, Even just going back
how I grew up, right, culturallyspeaking, I'm a black woman
again, and, and I grew up in thesalon.
(05:46):
That's like a culture.
Saturdays were for the salon,that was a whole thing.
Me, my mom and my sisters, weget our hair done.
This is something that has beenpart of my life since forever.
It could be like a church attimes.
It be a celebration, a party, itcould be, a place to mourn.
It's a place to just take offyour crown and be respected,
important to, right.
(06:08):
So that is something that hasbeen a part of my life since I
was a child.
Like my mom used to do my hairuntil I got old enough to where
now I can get a hair, have ahairstyle, hair.
So it's been a.
A journey for me.
I'll even go back and this is sofunny.
This is thing I'm thinking aboutthis.
In my sixth grade, I had aproject, right?
We had to pick an AfricanAmerican who invented something.
(06:28):
And my choice of person wasMadame CJ Walker.
And Madame CJ Walker, if, I'msure people have heard of her
name, but she was the firstblack female millionaire and she
was an entrepreneur.
Netflix even did a story abouther life, right?
That was my person.
And Part of my presentation wasmy mother came in and she showed
how she would press my hair and,and I'm sitting in between her
(06:50):
legs like we are at home.
It's, it's more than just, oh, Igotta get my hair washed and
done.
Right.
I remember my mom would picknights that Michael Jackson was
premiering videos that were likea big deal as a kid and we would
sit and get our hair done.
Like it was just like a thing,that's how it's been embedded in
me.
It's a big deal and I, Irecognize it's a big deal to
other women as well
Joy Blue (07:09):
Yeah.
I love how you depicted thatbecause what I see in my head is
all the cultures I've visited,all the places I've been, the
one common place is the kitchentable.
The place where everybody cancome and be human.
Lay down what you got on.
Like just be human.
And what I'm hearing you say isyou have a bonus space where it
(07:29):
is home for you.
It is a place of, of caring atthe body, level of caring, at
the human level, of being ableto have dedicated time for
interpersonal communion.
Randi Slack (07:43):
Hmm.
Joy Blue (07:43):
That's amazing.
I've never thought about it thatway.
Randi Slack (07:47):
And thankfully we have way more spaces, right?
Yes that was a beautiful, familyspirited types environment and
upbringing.
But to be honest, like alsothere, there was not a lot of
options.
You know, My mom had to comehome from work and wash three
girls' hairs and press and curlyou know what I mean?
We had picture days.
And that's why being a blacknail tech was so important to me
(08:09):
too, is because I feel likerepresentation as we're learning
and knowing, us that don't havea choice, can say spin on this.
But now that it's beingrecognized for people that may,
look over that, I feel like it'savailable more and more places,
more spaces.
I could turn on the tv.
We got a black mermaid i, I getteary eyed every time I was just
telling my mom this weekend youshould take me to go see it,
(08:31):
cause it's, that's a big deal.
It's a big deal.
Like all these videos you see ofthe reaction of all children,
especially, black children.
It is just been so inspiring andit just makes me feel good.
I, I wish this came about a longtime ago, but at the end of the
day, I'm happy to say I'm heretoday to see it, still.
So I'm sure there's a lot ofexamples I can to hear and say,
(08:54):
touches my heart being, but whenit relates to this, yeah.
Joy Blue (08:59):
That is amazing.
What I'm hearing you say ischallenging my preconceived
notion that I've never actuallythought about or had words
about.
It's important for us to haverepresentation is so interesting
and to hear you come from theposition of normalizing.
It is humanizing for me is sointeresting because my default,
(09:26):
like the first time I ever gotmy nails done, I almost had a
panic attack.
I was like, what is happening?
This is not a part of me thatever gets cared for.
I don't know what you guys aredoing, but why are you doing
this to me?
But yet I know for so manypeople it is such a place of
relaxation and centering.
And also for some people it'sthe thing that they do to feel
(09:48):
their best.
So then to hear you say when Iget to do this with people and
for people, it's actually anhonor.
I'm processing this as I'msaying it, but Typically feet
are the things that areuntouchable.
But what I'm hearing you say isthat it's a spiritual experience
for you to care for someone'sfeet.
Randi Slack (10:09):
Yeah,
Joy Blue (10:10):
That is truly mind blowing to me.
I
Randi Slack (10:13):
Holistically speaking too, you think about
it, everything in our body,organs, everything.
You can pick one spot on thebottom of your foot that
connects to everything insideyour body, and and same with our
hands too.
We use our hands for almostevery single thing.
And how often do we stop and getour hands taken care of?
Nurtured, massage, soholistically speaking, hands and
(10:38):
feet, the health of that and,and taking care of that is
important.
If you get sick, there's oldschool remedies where they're
like, put an onion in, in yoursock and go to sleep.
Detox, pull out.
Yeah.
So I, I encourage people to, totake care of yourself.
Like I, I'm a nail tech.
I always do my own hands andfeet.
I just started two months agomaking sure I go and get my
(11:00):
nails and feet done by someoneelse because I'm like, I deserve
to let go.
Not be all crammed up, workingon myself on top of this is a
moment where I should relax andtake in.
So I, that's one thing I've beenreally.
Self-care I've added to myroutine cuz I would do my nails
like my own nails.
And that's a beautiful blessingto have but I wanna be serviced.
Joy Blue (11:19):
Yeah.
Okay.
Taking it to a logistical level,what is your most favorite part
of doing someone's hands?
Randi Slack (11:28):
I think it's the reaction.
Right.
I've painted every single coloryou can think of.
I, you know, I've tried orattempted or achieved mul
multiple designs, but I feellike that reaction of, Ooh, take
a picture.
I love my clients.
They feel some type of way whenI don't take a picture of the
(11:50):
nails oh, you didn't take apicture of my nails today.
I'm like, oh, you really feelingyour nails today?
Take, lemme take a picture.
Like that right there brings mejoy.
That's
Joy Blue (11:59):
Oh.
Randi Slack (12:00):
And even when like servicing and doing a pedicure,
like when they're just relaxed,I, it's okay.
Some people are relaxed sittingon their phone.
Like I'm one of those people attimes, but honestly, I like when
someone is, I've knocked somepeople out, like just going to
sleep, just relaxing and lettinggo and waking up and just ah, I
love it.
So I just feel like theaftermath of seeing how I made
(12:22):
someone feel, that's what you doit for.
Joy Blue (12:24):
Hmm.
Randi Slack (12:25):
That's, that's what makes me happy.
Joy Blue (12:27):
I feel that same way when I cook for people,
Randi Slack (12:30):
Yeah.
Joy Blue (12:31):
like I love the process because I get to see the
faces afterwards when they dofeel nourished.
When they do feel cared for.
Okay.
Okay.
Randi Slack (12:40):
I love some food it's a way to my heart,
Joy Blue (12:44):
I will cook for you.
Come on over.
What is the hardest part of amanicure or a pedicure?
What takes the most time
Randi Slack (12:52):
I have a full-time job, so I do my set clientele
I've had for a long time.
I'm not really in a position oftake new clients in, so I have a
schedule for them.
So having that schedule, I'mable to get in and get out.
I, I kind of read the room toocuz I, I'm a mobile nail tech.
I go to my client houses at thetime.
Ever since Covid, I've beenmobile.
(13:13):
And so I block off this amountof time to come service you.
And sometimes I know when youneed me to get in and get out,
and sometimes you wanna sit andtalk and we might watch an
episode of a show we're watchingtogether while I'm servicing
them.
It just depends, it, it dependson how social I am with the
service,
Joy Blue (13:31):
that's valid.
Randi Slack (13:33):
But I do I said, I have a set clientele and so they
appreciate me and the servicethat I offer them, and so I feel
like they accommodate me basedoff of the time that it takes to
go set up at someone's house, dotheir nails.
You can imagine howuncomfortable it is at times.
But it's you, like I said, it'srewarding and I can stop at any
time, but I say that in my mind.
(13:55):
But my clients are like, no, youcan't.
No, you can't.
Joy Blue (13:59):
Well, we're coming back to the thread that I'm
hearing throughout the wholething.
Part of my fascination and who Iam is figuring out what are the
steps along the way, and then wefile and then we, whatever,
whatever, whatever.
But what I'm hearing is mostimportant to you is the human
connection,
Randi Slack (14:18):
Yeah.
Joy Blue (14:18):
which I love too, but that's not something I'd ever
thought about in context of, ofdoing nails.
My mind is blown right now.
Randi Slack (14:27):
Yeah, I, and I'm, I feel like that's just me, period
in life.
I'm a relationship builder.
Look, look, I'm on your podcast.
Like I, I feel very blessed inthat I thrive off of
relationships and I'm justthankful that I continue to get
blessed and cross paths likepeople like you, people like
(14:48):
Brie I just, I'm very thankfuland grateful.
And, I think I'm very open andreceptive and, and it's
important to me because,remember I moved here from a
whole different city, so I movedhere in the middle of my junior
year of high school.
So I was, it was traumatizingbecause I grew up with the same
kids my whole life.
Um, City I'm familiar with.
(15:10):
I moved here.
So a lot of my friends that are,are here, they have.
Friends they grew up with, Idon't, I don't have that
privilege here.
Right?
So I, I'm very strong onbuilding relationships and
connections, especially ifthey're just natural.
I'm not gonna force it.
I can work the opposite side ofthe room with someone, but I
just love energy in the way Ifeel welcome and love, I'm gonna
(15:32):
reciprocate that, or I'm gonnathrow it out there, and if you,
you're with it, join me.
So that's just my, yeah, myattitude.
Now as far as nails and thesteps and all that.
I, like I said, I can do thatwith my hands closed.
I've been doing it for so long.
Like I, I haven't done anythingdifferent.
I typically do natural nails onmy clients, so it's it's,
Joy Blue (15:54):
What do you mean by natural nails?
Randi Slack (15:56):
so you know how people wear acrylics?
Joy Blue (15:59):
Yeah, those are extensions, right?
Randi Slack (16:00):
yep, yep.
Typically I have A big chunk ofmale clients for one, so they
don't get really polished.
I do buff on their hands, but alot of my female clients, they
get no chip on their feet, sono, no chip pedicure, and then
they'll get no chip on theirhands.
So I don't really do likechemical, like heavy chemicals
or anything like that.
Joy Blue (16:21):
sure.
Okay, let's back up.
Let's do some basic definitionshere.
So I heard you say Naturalnails.
I heard you say, Just buff, I'veheard you say no chip.
We've talked about acrylics.
Are there other categories?
Randi Slack (16:38):
Oh yeah, so no chip is a gel polish, but it's
typically what we reference whenwe're talking about color.
So like how regular nail polish,you know.
It comes in a gel form, whichyou cure in a light, it's
supposed to not chip.
That's where the nickname Nochip.
But there's another processcalled a gel builder where you
(16:59):
do layers and layers of hardgel.
Cause nochi is kind of moreflexible.
So this is hard gel.
Right.
That's something, that's aprocess.
So that's typically what people,when they reference, they want
gel nails.
That's what I would consider gelnails.
And that can do over, it couldbe over a natural nail or it
could be on a nail tip.
Like you said, with theextensions.
There's so much, so much, somuch,
Joy Blue (17:22):
Okay.
I've watched people that haveacrylics, the nail tech often
has to file them down, like witha Dremel.
Do you do that with what youwere talking about with the gel
layers?
Randi Slack (17:34):
I don't.
I typically don't use a lot ofdrills, we reference that as a
drill, on my clients becausethey're typically natural nail
someone who's getting acrylicbecause you have that thick
buildup that gets applied toyour nails every two weeks, and
you have to drill it down.
Joy Blue (17:49):
Mm-hmm.
Randi Slack (17:50):
Sure.
But like anything, Like gel ornatural nail meaning regular
polish or, or no chip.
I wouldn't use a drill onanyone.
I wouldn't advise them to use adrill on their nails.
I think hand filing would bemore efficient and less
damaging.
Joy Blue (18:06):
Sure.
Okay.
The times I've got no chip,getting it off is a beast.
Randi Slack (18:12):
No, it's not.
Joy Blue (18:14):
Okay, then tell me how to do it.
Randi Slack (18:16):
It's so easy.
You just, so you take a regularbuff, like black buffer.
One, and you just buff the layerso it's not shiny.
Put little polish remover oracetone on a piece of cotton
ball.
Put on your nail bed and wrap itin foil and just sit and watch
TV for 10, 15 minutes.
(18:36):
Then once that do that, you pull'em off.
You should be able to buff orfile away any product.
It should all be softened andeasy to come up basically,
Joy Blue (18:47):
Okay.
Okay.
Does doing gel hurt your nail atall?
Randi Slack (18:54):
I always say anything that's not natural,
natural meaning nothing on yournail, then no.
A anything.
Whether it's a high shine buff,like I mentioned earlier, that's
still something being done tothe surface of your nail bed to
give a result, right?
So same with anything you put onyour nail.
It's going to be damaging insome way, shape, or form.
(19:15):
With when I used to take newclients, my first question would
always be, what's moreimportant?
The integrity of your nail orthe look of your nail, because
you can only get one or theother.
Yes, I can do something that'sultimately damaging if I didn't
properly as a nail professional,take care of your nails, but
like I advise my client, it'stime to self off.
(19:35):
It's time to let your nailsbreathe.
It's time, here's some cuticleoil.
Like I always recommend thingsthat will help if you're gonna
do something artificial.
Because we live in a world wherewho's gonna stop me from wearing
my nails?
Like
Joy Blue (19:49):
Right.
Right.
That's so interesting.
What do you wish people knewabout getting their nails done?
Or what's something that peopleget wrong often?
Randi Slack (20:01):
I think in this day and age, to be honest with you,
There's been a lot of talks onnail techs and their prices.
And one thing I just can neveragree with is not paying a nail
tech appropriately according totheir time, their products,
their attention.
I know nail techs who you know,it may take three hours to get
(20:23):
your nails done.
You have to pay for your time.
If you come in with thosedetails, you have to pay for the
time.
Like inflation affected nails.
We buy products, we buypolishes.
Like that stuff is veryexpensive.
Very expensive.
I remember back the day whereyou can go get a full set of
nails for$25.
Sure.
Right.
But that's not where we're attoday.
Joy Blue (20:44):
Yeah.
Randi Slack (20:45):
Like, we're doing different things.
We're using different products.
Like you gotta pay people fortheir time with any service.
I'm big on that.
I'm a, I, I know what it's liketo be a service provider and,
and so I try to take care ofanyone, even if I feel like my
experience wasn't that great.
I always, you gotta ta pay fortheir time because you never
know.
People are people and humans arehumans.
(21:06):
Right.
And, and although that's thesame thing, I just feel like you
gotta give people the benefit ofthe doubt.
I never know what's going onwith someone and.
I'm not perfect, but I try toapproach everyone like that
until they, establish somethingdifferent, I feel like.
But yeah, like these are peoplewho spend their quality time.
I know, those crystals on thenail, that's money, cost a lot
(21:28):
of money.
So
Joy Blue (21:30):
Fascinating.
Randi Slack (21:31):
I say that.
Joy Blue (21:33):
This has been so amazing
Randi Slack (21:36):
I know I, I can keep talking for like ever,
ever, ever, ever with you.
I was like all worried about amI gonna have a son to talk
about.
But super easy to talk to youand especially about my,
something that I'm passionateabout.
I had no idea we were gonna talkabout this, but I love it, just
the space to even talk aboutlike the spiritual and cultural
relations I have to being in thebeauty industry, which is also
(21:59):
something that gave me a wholecareer in, my life that I'm
living, thankfully.
Joy Blue (22:05):
You're amazing.
I love how you got here, andthank you for sharing with me
about your journey.
Randi Slack (22:09):
Yes.
Thank you for having me,inviting me.
I would love to come and run mymouth anytime.
You're like one show, Randi.
Joy Blue (22:17):
All we can do as many as you want.
So Here We Are! Wasn't that justso fun to listen to?
I learned so much that actuallychanged my perspective.
To those like Randi who provideservices, thank you for creating
spaces for care.
Thank you for giving of yourselfin ways that add value to those
(22:39):
around you.
And Randi, thank you for sharingwith me and being a friend of
our family.
If you've got a flavor of nerdthat you want me to celebrate, I
would love to hear all about it.
So go ahead and email me atherewearethepodcast@gmail.com
and tell me everything.
I love taking time to sit andmake space for nerd to be
celebrated.
(23:00):
If you really like this podcast,I want to financially support
what I'm doing.
Head on over to patreon.com,search for Here We Are The
Podcast and sign up for one ofthe many beautifully written
support tiers.
So until next time, don't forgetthat curiosity wins and the
world needs more nerds.
Bye
Welcome to Here We Are.
The podcast where we celebratethe beauty of being a nerd by
learning about nerdy things fromfellow nerds.
I'm your host, Joy Blue.
I love those moments in lifewhen I learn something
completely new about a person.
Today's guest really is allabout care.
(00:32):
She works at a nonprofit,educating those who care for
youth.
She makes world famous bakedbeans, which I haven't had the
chance to try yet.
And is also a certified nailtech.
If you know me, you know thatI'm not really a girly girl.
My journey with getting my nailsdone began in 2008 when some
college friends had me come getmy nails done with them.
(00:53):
It was incredibly uncomfortablefor me, for reasons that make a
lot more sense after conductingtoday's interview.
I had never before thought aboutthe art of nails.
It's so much more than polish ona piece of finger cartilage.
It's close up, personal, humancare.
I could keep going, but I thinkI'll leave the rest to the
(01:15):
interview.
So without further ado, here'sRandi Slack to tell us all about
the Art Of Nails.
Randi Slack (01:22):
hi everyone.
My name is Randi, also known asBink.
I am an entrepreneur.
And I also work in humanservices.
So I am family friend here ofMiss Joy,
Joy Blue (01:35):
you are.
Randi Slack (01:36):
I'm just here to chat.
What's up?
Joy Blue (01:38):
So excited.
I met you because you work withmy wife, Brie, and you're her
work bestie.
So thus you are also my bestiebecause that's how that works,
obviously.
I don't know a lot about you andI'm so excited to learn more
about you.
I know you've got some stuffthat you nerd out about, so hit
(02:00):
me with something.
What do you wanna nerd out abouttoday?
Randi Slack (02:02):
I would say I'm a nerd about Nails.
Joy Blue (02:06):
Nails.
Randi Slack (02:07):
something that I've done as an entrepreneur in my
early career before I got in thefield that I'm in.
I still take clients actually,but I've been doing nails for
over 20 years.
Joy Blue (02:19):
Okay.
How does one get started indoing nails?
Randi Slack (02:22):
You know what my situation is very different and
special.
I have an older sister whointroduced me to the beauty
industry.
She was doing nails and I wouldgo to school with her.
I was her first client, so I sawwhat it did to her life and how
it changed her and theopportunity that she afforded
for herself for this, cuz it'sjust a rewarding and great craft
(02:46):
to know.
Right.
And, and especially being ablack woman, I'm gonna just say
that too it's not a lot ofopportunities where you have
black nail tech.
So to see my sister do that andthrive.
And we're originally fromSeattle, we moved here about 21
years ago.
And when we moved here, mysister was just building her
clientele in Seattle.
So she moved here and we movedto a whole nother city, right.
(03:06):
Where it's not a common thingand built a whole like business
from ground up.
So
Joy Blue (03:14):
That's
Randi Slack (03:14):
started from her.
Yeah.
She inspired me.
I went to beauty school after acouple semesters at college.
And I was telling my mom, I wantsome money now.
I wanna get in the industry now,and I'm, I'm passionate about
that.
And so I did a little bit ofschool and then I went off and
went to cosmetology school and Iwas a cosmetologist for a while.
I did hair, but then I justfocused on partnering with my
(03:35):
sister and just doing nails.
And then, In my career of doingnails, I went back to school
after I had a established careeras a nail tech and yeah, got my
degree and then actually my, myjob that I have was based off of
one of my tenure clients' sisterwas looking for a program
(03:55):
assistant.
And so I was like, I gotta, Iwanna do something different.
I want some structure.
I've been doing nails, this is agreat, rewarding job, but it's
wear and tear on your body.
Joy Blue (04:05):
Yeah.
Randi Slack (04:06):
And just doing something different.
Human service was alwayssomething I'm attracted to.
I am a service provider bytrade, by my heart.
That's just how I am.
I like to be impactful ineverything that I do.
So if doing your nails andmaking you feel good, let's do
it.
Or, giving you a pedicure,that's, that's spiritual in
itself.
Doing people's hands and feet,that's like a big deal.
(04:26):
So that's something that I don'ttake for granted, and I've
always been attracted toservicing people.
Like every type of job I've had.
I've been a waitress, bartender,yeah.
Joy Blue (04:37):
That's amazing.
I'm really excited to have thisconversation because I have not
grown up with the beautyindustry close by.
I've always kind of dressed as atomboy.
I've always preferred myselfwithout makeup.
I generally have very nakednails.
And so to interact with somebodywho that is a point of value and
that is something that isimportant to you in order to
(05:00):
bring value to both yourself andothers.
I'm just, it's so different forme and it's so amazing and I
just wanna learn so much.
So when you do someone's nails,when you're interacting, like
you said, in that spiritualspace of really, truly caring
for people on a body level, whatdo you feel?
(05:23):
What does it give you?
Randi Slack (05:24):
I share very vulnerable, intimate moments
with my clients.
And it makes me feel like I'mnot alone or it's, it's, it's a
form of therapy, right?
It's not, I still suggest get atherapist and go see a
therapist, but to be honest,that is, Even just going back
how I grew up, right, culturallyspeaking, I'm a black woman
again, and, and I grew up in thesalon.
(05:46):
That's like a culture.
Saturdays were for the salon,that was a whole thing.
Me, my mom and my sisters, weget our hair done.
This is something that has beenpart of my life since forever.
It could be like a church attimes.
It be a celebration, a party, itcould be, a place to mourn.
It's a place to just take offyour crown and be respected,
important to, right.
(06:08):
So that is something that hasbeen a part of my life since I
was a child.
Like my mom used to do my hairuntil I got old enough to where
now I can get a hair, have ahairstyle, hair.
So it's been a.
A journey for me.
I'll even go back and this is sofunny.
This is thing I'm thinking aboutthis.
In my sixth grade, I had aproject, right?
We had to pick an AfricanAmerican who invented something.
(06:28):
And my choice of person wasMadame CJ Walker.
And Madame CJ Walker, if, I'msure people have heard of her
name, but she was the firstblack female millionaire and she
was an entrepreneur.
Netflix even did a story abouther life, right?
That was my person.
And Part of my presentation wasmy mother came in and she showed
how she would press my hair and,and I'm sitting in between her
(06:50):
legs like we are at home.
It's, it's more than just, oh, Igotta get my hair washed and
done.
Right.
I remember my mom would picknights that Michael Jackson was
premiering videos that were likea big deal as a kid and we would
sit and get our hair done.
Like it was just like a thing,that's how it's been embedded in
me.
It's a big deal and I, Irecognize it's a big deal to
other women as well
Joy Blue (07:09):
Yeah.
I love how you depicted thatbecause what I see in my head is
all the cultures I've visited,all the places I've been, the
one common place is the kitchentable.
The place where everybody cancome and be human.
Lay down what you got on.
Like just be human.
And what I'm hearing you say isyou have a bonus space where it
(07:29):
is home for you.
It is a place of, of caring atthe body, level of caring, at
the human level, of being ableto have dedicated time for
interpersonal communion.
Randi Slack (07:43):
Hmm.
Joy Blue (07:43):
That's amazing.
I've never thought about it thatway.
Randi Slack (07:47):
And thankfully we have way more spaces, right?
Yes that was a beautiful, familyspirited types environment and
upbringing.
But to be honest, like alsothere, there was not a lot of
options.
You know, My mom had to comehome from work and wash three
girls' hairs and press and curlyou know what I mean?
We had picture days.
And that's why being a blacknail tech was so important to me
(08:09):
too, is because I feel likerepresentation as we're learning
and knowing, us that don't havea choice, can say spin on this.
But now that it's beingrecognized for people that may,
look over that, I feel like it'savailable more and more places,
more spaces.
I could turn on the tv.
We got a black mermaid i, I getteary eyed every time I was just
telling my mom this weekend youshould take me to go see it,
(08:31):
cause it's, that's a big deal.
It's a big deal.
Like all these videos you see ofthe reaction of all children,
especially, black children.
It is just been so inspiring andit just makes me feel good.
I, I wish this came about a longtime ago, but at the end of the
day, I'm happy to say I'm heretoday to see it, still.
So I'm sure there's a lot ofexamples I can to hear and say,
(08:54):
touches my heart being, but whenit relates to this, yeah.
Joy Blue (08:59):
That is amazing.
What I'm hearing you say ischallenging my preconceived
notion that I've never actuallythought about or had words
about.
It's important for us to haverepresentation is so interesting
and to hear you come from theposition of normalizing.
It is humanizing for me is sointeresting because my default,
(09:26):
like the first time I ever gotmy nails done, I almost had a
panic attack.
I was like, what is happening?
This is not a part of me thatever gets cared for.
I don't know what you guys aredoing, but why are you doing
this to me?
But yet I know for so manypeople it is such a place of
relaxation and centering.
And also for some people it'sthe thing that they do to feel
(09:48):
their best.
So then to hear you say when Iget to do this with people and
for people, it's actually anhonor.
I'm processing this as I'msaying it, but Typically feet
are the things that areuntouchable.
But what I'm hearing you say isthat it's a spiritual experience
for you to care for someone'sfeet.
Randi Slack (10:09):
Yeah,
Joy Blue (10:10):
That is truly mind blowing to me.
I
Randi Slack (10:13):
Holistically speaking too, you think about
it, everything in our body,organs, everything.
You can pick one spot on thebottom of your foot that
connects to everything insideyour body, and and same with our
hands too.
We use our hands for almostevery single thing.
And how often do we stop and getour hands taken care of?
Nurtured, massage, soholistically speaking, hands and
(10:38):
feet, the health of that and,and taking care of that is
important.
If you get sick, there's oldschool remedies where they're
like, put an onion in, in yoursock and go to sleep.
Detox, pull out.
Yeah.
So I, I encourage people to, totake care of yourself.
Like I, I'm a nail tech.
I always do my own hands andfeet.
I just started two months agomaking sure I go and get my
(11:00):
nails and feet done by someoneelse because I'm like, I deserve
to let go.
Not be all crammed up, workingon myself on top of this is a
moment where I should relax andtake in.
So I, that's one thing I've beenreally.
Self-care I've added to myroutine cuz I would do my nails
like my own nails.
And that's a beautiful blessingto have but I wanna be serviced.
Joy Blue (11:19):
Yeah.
Okay.
Taking it to a logistical level,what is your most favorite part
of doing someone's hands?
Randi Slack (11:28):
I think it's the reaction.
Right.
I've painted every single coloryou can think of.
I, you know, I've tried orattempted or achieved mul
multiple designs, but I feellike that reaction of, Ooh, take
a picture.
I love my clients.
They feel some type of way whenI don't take a picture of the
(11:50):
nails oh, you didn't take apicture of my nails today.
I'm like, oh, you really feelingyour nails today?
Take, lemme take a picture.
Like that right there brings mejoy.
That's
Joy Blue (11:59):
Oh.
Randi Slack (12:00):
And even when like servicing and doing a pedicure,
like when they're just relaxed,I, it's okay.
Some people are relaxed sittingon their phone.
Like I'm one of those people attimes, but honestly, I like when
someone is, I've knocked somepeople out, like just going to
sleep, just relaxing and lettinggo and waking up and just ah, I
love it.
So I just feel like theaftermath of seeing how I made
(12:22):
someone feel, that's what you doit for.
Joy Blue (12:24):
Hmm.
Randi Slack (12:25):
That's, that's what makes me happy.
Joy Blue (12:27):
I feel that same way when I cook for people,
Randi Slack (12:30):
Yeah.
Joy Blue (12:31):
like I love the process because I get to see the
faces afterwards when they dofeel nourished.
When they do feel cared for.
Okay.
Okay.
Randi Slack (12:40):
I love some food it's a way to my heart,
Joy Blue (12:44):
I will cook for you.
Come on over.
What is the hardest part of amanicure or a pedicure?
What takes the most time
Randi Slack (12:52):
I have a full-time job, so I do my set clientele
I've had for a long time.
I'm not really in a position oftake new clients in, so I have a
schedule for them.
So having that schedule, I'mable to get in and get out.
I, I kind of read the room toocuz I, I'm a mobile nail tech.
I go to my client houses at thetime.
Ever since Covid, I've beenmobile.
(13:13):
And so I block off this amountof time to come service you.
And sometimes I know when youneed me to get in and get out,
and sometimes you wanna sit andtalk and we might watch an
episode of a show we're watchingtogether while I'm servicing
them.
It just depends, it, it dependson how social I am with the
service,
Joy Blue (13:31):
that's valid.
Randi Slack (13:33):
But I do I said, I have a set clientele and so they
appreciate me and the servicethat I offer them, and so I feel
like they accommodate me basedoff of the time that it takes to
go set up at someone's house, dotheir nails.
You can imagine howuncomfortable it is at times.
But it's you, like I said, it'srewarding and I can stop at any
time, but I say that in my mind.
(13:55):
But my clients are like, no, youcan't.
No, you can't.
Joy Blue (13:59):
Well, we're coming back to the thread that I'm
hearing throughout the wholething.
Part of my fascination and who Iam is figuring out what are the
steps along the way, and then wefile and then we, whatever,
whatever, whatever.
But what I'm hearing is mostimportant to you is the human
connection,
Randi Slack (14:18):
Yeah.
Joy Blue (14:18):
which I love too, but that's not something I'd ever
thought about in context of, ofdoing nails.
My mind is blown right now.
Randi Slack (14:27):
Yeah, I, and I'm, I feel like that's just me, period
in life.
I'm a relationship builder.
Look, look, I'm on your podcast.
Like I, I feel very blessed inthat I thrive off of
relationships and I'm justthankful that I continue to get
blessed and cross paths likepeople like you, people like
(14:48):
Brie I just, I'm very thankfuland grateful.
And, I think I'm very open andreceptive and, and it's
important to me because,remember I moved here from a
whole different city, so I movedhere in the middle of my junior
year of high school.
So I was, it was traumatizingbecause I grew up with the same
kids my whole life.
Um, City I'm familiar with.
(15:10):
I moved here.
So a lot of my friends that are,are here, they have.
Friends they grew up with, Idon't, I don't have that
privilege here.
Right?
So I, I'm very strong onbuilding relationships and
connections, especially ifthey're just natural.
I'm not gonna force it.
I can work the opposite side ofthe room with someone, but I
just love energy in the way Ifeel welcome and love, I'm gonna
(15:32):
reciprocate that, or I'm gonnathrow it out there, and if you,
you're with it, join me.
So that's just my, yeah, myattitude.
Now as far as nails and thesteps and all that.
I, like I said, I can do thatwith my hands closed.
I've been doing it for so long.
Like I, I haven't done anythingdifferent.
I typically do natural nails onmy clients, so it's it's,
Joy Blue (15:54):
What do you mean by natural nails?
Randi Slack (15:56):
so you know how people wear acrylics?
Joy Blue (15:59):
Yeah, those are extensions, right?
Randi Slack (16:00):
yep, yep.
Typically I have A big chunk ofmale clients for one, so they
don't get really polished.
I do buff on their hands, but alot of my female clients, they
get no chip on their feet, sono, no chip pedicure, and then
they'll get no chip on theirhands.
So I don't really do likechemical, like heavy chemicals
or anything like that.
Joy Blue (16:21):
sure.
Okay, let's back up.
Let's do some basic definitionshere.
So I heard you say Naturalnails.
I heard you say, Just buff, I'veheard you say no chip.
We've talked about acrylics.
Are there other categories?
Randi Slack (16:38):
Oh yeah, so no chip is a gel polish, but it's
typically what we reference whenwe're talking about color.
So like how regular nail polish,you know.
It comes in a gel form, whichyou cure in a light, it's
supposed to not chip.
That's where the nickname Nochip.
But there's another processcalled a gel builder where you
(16:59):
do layers and layers of hardgel.
Cause nochi is kind of moreflexible.
So this is hard gel.
Right.
That's something, that's aprocess.
So that's typically what people,when they reference, they want
gel nails.
That's what I would consider gelnails.
And that can do over, it couldbe over a natural nail or it
could be on a nail tip.
Like you said, with theextensions.
There's so much, so much, somuch,
Joy Blue (17:22):
Okay.
I've watched people that haveacrylics, the nail tech often
has to file them down, like witha Dremel.
Do you do that with what youwere talking about with the gel
layers?
Randi Slack (17:34):
I don't.
I typically don't use a lot ofdrills, we reference that as a
drill, on my clients becausethey're typically natural nail
someone who's getting acrylicbecause you have that thick
buildup that gets applied toyour nails every two weeks, and
you have to drill it down.
Joy Blue (17:49):
Mm-hmm.
Randi Slack (17:50):
Sure.
But like anything, Like gel ornatural nail meaning regular
polish or, or no chip.
I wouldn't use a drill onanyone.
I wouldn't advise them to use adrill on their nails.
I think hand filing would bemore efficient and less
damaging.
Joy Blue (18:06):
Sure.
Okay.
The times I've got no chip,getting it off is a beast.
Randi Slack (18:12):
No, it's not.
Joy Blue (18:14):
Okay, then tell me how to do it.
Randi Slack (18:16):
It's so easy.
You just, so you take a regularbuff, like black buffer.
One, and you just buff the layerso it's not shiny.
Put little polish remover oracetone on a piece of cotton
ball.
Put on your nail bed and wrap itin foil and just sit and watch
TV for 10, 15 minutes.
(18:36):
Then once that do that, you pull'em off.
You should be able to buff orfile away any product.
It should all be softened andeasy to come up basically,
Joy Blue (18:47):
Okay.
Okay.
Does doing gel hurt your nail atall?
Randi Slack (18:54):
I always say anything that's not natural,
natural meaning nothing on yournail, then no.
A anything.
Whether it's a high shine buff,like I mentioned earlier, that's
still something being done tothe surface of your nail bed to
give a result, right?
So same with anything you put onyour nail.
It's going to be damaging insome way, shape, or form.
(19:15):
With when I used to take newclients, my first question would
always be, what's moreimportant?
The integrity of your nail orthe look of your nail, because
you can only get one or theother.
Yes, I can do something that'sultimately damaging if I didn't
properly as a nail professional,take care of your nails, but
like I advise my client, it'stime to self off.
(19:35):
It's time to let your nailsbreathe.
It's time, here's some cuticleoil.
Like I always recommend thingsthat will help if you're gonna
do something artificial.
Because we live in a world wherewho's gonna stop me from wearing
my nails?
Like
Joy Blue (19:49):
Right.
Right.
That's so interesting.
What do you wish people knewabout getting their nails done?
Or what's something that peopleget wrong often?
Randi Slack (20:01):
I think in this day and age, to be honest with you,
There's been a lot of talks onnail techs and their prices.
And one thing I just can neveragree with is not paying a nail
tech appropriately according totheir time, their products,
their attention.
I know nail techs who you know,it may take three hours to get
(20:23):
your nails done.
You have to pay for your time.
If you come in with thosedetails, you have to pay for the
time.
Like inflation affected nails.
We buy products, we buypolishes.
Like that stuff is veryexpensive.
Very expensive.
I remember back the day whereyou can go get a full set of
nails for$25.
Sure.
Right.
But that's not where we're attoday.
Joy Blue (20:44):
Yeah.
Randi Slack (20:45):
Like, we're doing different things.
We're using different products.
Like you gotta pay people fortheir time with any service.
I'm big on that.
I'm a, I, I know what it's liketo be a service provider and,
and so I try to take care ofanyone, even if I feel like my
experience wasn't that great.
I always, you gotta ta pay fortheir time because you never
know.
People are people and humans arehumans.
(21:06):
Right.
And, and although that's thesame thing, I just feel like you
gotta give people the benefit ofthe doubt.
I never know what's going onwith someone and.
I'm not perfect, but I try toapproach everyone like that
until they, establish somethingdifferent, I feel like.
But yeah, like these are peoplewho spend their quality time.
I know, those crystals on thenail, that's money, cost a lot
(21:28):
of money.
So
Joy Blue (21:30):
Fascinating.
Randi Slack (21:31):
I say that.
Joy Blue (21:33):
This has been so amazing
Randi Slack (21:36):
I know I, I can keep talking for like ever,
ever, ever, ever with you.
I was like all worried about amI gonna have a son to talk
about.
But super easy to talk to youand especially about my,
something that I'm passionateabout.
I had no idea we were gonna talkabout this, but I love it, just
the space to even talk aboutlike the spiritual and cultural
relations I have to being in thebeauty industry, which is also
(21:59):
something that gave me a wholecareer in, my life that I'm
living, thankfully.
Joy Blue (22:05):
You're amazing.
I love how you got here, andthank you for sharing with me
about your journey.
Randi Slack (22:09):
Yes.
Thank you for having me,inviting me.
I would love to come and run mymouth anytime.
You're like one show, Randi.
Joy Blue (22:17):
All we can do as many as you want.
So Here We Are! Wasn't that justso fun to listen to?
I learned so much that actuallychanged my perspective.
To those like Randi who provideservices, thank you for creating
spaces for care.
Thank you for giving of yourselfin ways that add value to those
(22:39):
around you.
And Randi, thank you for sharingwith me and being a friend of
our family.
If you've got a flavor of nerdthat you want me to celebrate, I
would love to hear all about it.
So go ahead and email me atherewearethepodcast@gmail.com
and tell me everything.
I love taking time to sit andmake space for nerd to be
celebrated.
(23:00):
If you really like this podcast,I want to financially support
what I'm doing.
Head on over to patreon.com,search for Here We Are The
Podcast and sign up for one ofthe many beautifully written
support tiers.
So until next time, don't forgetthat curiosity wins and the
world needs more nerds.
Bye
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