nail trifecta:

Technician, Educator, Salon Owner
Dallas Sauers is living proof that achieving your dreams might not be easy, but it certainly is worth it. Starting young as a self-taught nail technician she saw a future of possibilities. Jump ahead 10 years and she runs her own salon, seeks knowledge as an educator, and pursues her passion for nails every day.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. My career as a nail stylist began at age 14, where I worked in a non-standard salon in walking distance from my childhood home. I learned to do nails by watching and practicing on myself and friends. I didn't agree with the salon practices so at age 21, I decided to leave and work for myself. I rented a small house which I operated out of for almost 3 years before opening my first salon. Now, almost 5 years later I have a full service salon and a staff of 19.

What first made you decide to start doing nails? I began to do nails when my boss was in dire need of more help during the summer rush. I always planned on attending college, not doing nails as a career. I went to college and tried "normal" jobs but doing nails were my always passion.

When did you decide that you wanted to be a salon owner? When I opened my salon I worked alone for a year and had no intentions of expanding. Then I attended a Gelish Educator training in California at age 21 and became a Bachelor Educator. That's when I knew I wanted to expand my career and salon. I knew that I had what it takes to be a great teacher and run a business.

Tell us a little bit about the experience of opening a new salon. Opening a new salon is not for the faint of heart. For me, it was about saving everything I could in order to open the salon of my dreams. I am proud to say I've never taken out a loan for either of my salons.. SAVE SAVE SAVE! The high risks come with high rewards though! If you can commit your every day and night to renovations, researching products and techniques, and educating your staff then you can do it.

If you had to give one piece of advice to aspiring salon owners, what would it be? Be different. Pave your own way and be well-known for your own quirks. Find what makes you stand out and go with that! For Dallas Beauty Lounge, we like to stand out by volunteering a ton, having a super chic salon design, and having the newest innovations for beauty in Pittsburgh.

What is it like to be a part of the Nail Alliance education team? Being a part of the Nail Alliance education team has propelled me to pursue every goal of my career. I am grateful to learn from some of the best nail stylists around world who have more than 20 years of experience. At our trainings we get to learn the latest techniques, test new products, and meet the faces that keep our brand growing. Every training is so inspiring.