The Walk Of Life With Susan Lanigan

On this episode of The Walk Of Life Podcast, Cheryl Thibault talks to Susan Lanigan, nail tech, lash tech and now a social media master. She has also contributed to the book Career In The Beauty Industry; See If It’s For You. Today they talk about her, her chapter, her nail life, her lash life, what makes her tick and what’s her walk of life.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• In 2001 I became a single parent having got divorced and I thought: What now? My life has been my children and I wanted to be close to them. How do I create a life that doesn’t keep me away from home day and night? I’d have beauty treatments for years and my nail tech said she thought I’d be a natural. So, I gave it some thought and then I met you, not knowing at the time you had a prestigious nail school. That meeting was serendipitous. I hopped on board, took the full-time course, worked in your spa for a time then set up a mobile company where I went to clients’ homes.
• Lashes came later in my career. For women that are cancer patients and survivors it’s a challenge, you’re dealing with very sparse lashes, lashes that don’t have very good retention, that are brittle, that are really fragile. Women who have challenges appreciate time and consideration to do what needs to be done.
• Vanity was the thing that attracted me to artificial nails! I’ve had some sort of nail enhancement on my nails for the best part of maybe 35 years. It doesn’t matter how pregnant you are, how bad your hair is, if you have nice nails you feel pretty, you just do. I enjoyed the time with the beauty practitioner.
• Most of my very best friends have come from the beauty industry, the people that you meet through your career, be that at trade shows or nail camp or in your spa or salon, there’s a huge connection of a common thread that we all love the beauty industry, we all love making people feel good, we love providing those services. 

 

BEST MOMENTS

‘There are no accidents in life.’

‘My first client was a two-time cancer survivor who was reluctant to go into a spa because a lot of places weren’t up to the standards they should be. She trusted me to come to her home with my sterilised pouches, which she loved.’

‘There’s something that gives to your heart when they look at their fingers, their toes, their lashes. They look at you and just smile, they don’t need to say anything. When you leave them happier than they were when you first arrived, that really does a heart good.’

‘My two favourite services to have done are facials – that’s my number one – I love having my lashes done, but my nails I do myself because I’m meticulous and I like things the way I like them.’

 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Not unlike many little girls, Susan Lanigan had an affinity for beauty. Hair was important to her, and she began having hers ‘streaked’ in the early 80’s. Then came nails. Always a fascination, Susan would watch her nail tech create stunning pink and whites. 

In 2002, Susan relocated back to BC after having been in Saskatchewan for 4 years. Newly divorced, and with three children, she’d had the luxury of being a stay at home Mum. Now that her three children were all in school, she thought, “What am I going to do to best support myself and still be available to the children?”

A Nail Tech encouraged Susan to look into training as a Nail Tech herself. The industry had just become deregulated just as she obtained her education, and she saw a decline in the standards of the industry. Non Standardised Salons (NSS) popped up everywhere. It seemed that many of the clientele didn’t have the good sense to question the practices, only the prices.

Sitting on the sidelines, practising the high standards taught in school, Susan became passionate about preaching ‘the basics’ of nail technology. Health, sanitization, proper nail preparation, and style and structure.

Susan continued to take ongoing education to further her knowledge. The internet exploded with a plethora of good (and not so good) sources of information and education for teaching practices.

Now, online education opens up the possibilities to so many who may not have the time, means or location for good quality education. 

In 2011, Cheryl approached Susan and asked if she would join her team. Susan spent hours pouring over student assignments that came in the mail. Creating short videos on each assignment, bringing attention to the strengths and areas of improvement of their work. She remains with the school today as