13 Moments of Empathy That Teach Us Real Compassion Still Brings Hope and Gratitude to the Human Heart


For six years at the salon where I worked through college, one client came every other Wednesday and asked for something for church. She picked the same coral every single time, and in my last week she brought me my own bottle of it for the road. These 10 nail techs and their clients have shared a table for years, and one of them for two decades.
“After being a nail tech for 10 years this will be my last weekend working! Here are some nails I’ve done this last year.”
Thank you so much! I can’t believe it’s been 10 years, so I thought it was time to share! Thank you for your kind words.
I actually did nails to help me pay for school. I am a 3D game artist now! The only reason why I am stepping down completely as a nail tech is because my husband started travel nursing so I will be bouncing around different states with him every 3 or so months! I wouldn’t want to try to rebuild a clientele every 3 months.
I will miss my clients greatly too! It’s been the hardest part about moving honestly.
“One of the biggest perks to having the same nail tech for 6.5 years is knowing that the quality will aways be amazing. And that she won’t judge you for wanting the same 3 colors all the time”
“Insane knowledge I developed over 16 years of being a nail tech”
So over the years I have consumed a vast knowledge from personal encounters with “nail biters/pickers” and made it a goal to make their nails last as best as I could.
Never in my life I would dare say until a few months ago I “digged” out the cuticle area of a 30 years plus nail biter. She told me for the last 5 years she had been getting a new set every week to try to stop her habit. As I’m examining her nail beds I notice that she has the tiniest nail beds on a grown woman I have ever seen.
I asked her has it always been this small and she nonchalantly replied “I think so” then proceeded to say it’s her fault she bites off all her sets and that she knows her nails are bad. I decided to push her cuticles first as I know some nail biters have thick cuticles that covers the base of the nail bed. BUT hers were much farther back than she thought.
I revealed about an INCH of nail beds underneath her thick callous’s cuticles. So I carefully removed every dead cuticle possible. She went from a toddler’s nail beds to a full size 7 pinky beds.
From the author:
The coral lady never once looked at the color wall. She’d sit down, set her purse on her lap and say “something for church,” and I’d already be shaking the bottle. In six years she’s changed her nail shape exactly once, from round to squoval, and she warned me a full week in advance.
“I will pay for your next manicure if you can help me find my nail tech.”
Y’all, I’m devastated. I showed up for my nail appointment this morning only to be told that the woman I’ve been seeing every 3 weeks for the past five years no longer works there.
If you can help me find this nail tech, I will pay for your next manicure.
Some background info that may help:
— My manicurist’s name is Vicky and she’s the literal BEST
Vicky was the original owner, but sold a couple of months ago.
— Recently, I believe they sold again, and there’s a whole new staff.
I’d also like to add that the new salon owners are very nice, and the manicure/fill I got is fine. But it’s not as good as Vicky’s and I felt rushed.
Update: I’ll update if I find her and DM the person who helped to pay for a mani!!! It also occurred to me that she may not have even started anywhere yet since my mom saw her just last Sunday. I appreciate y’all SO MUCH.
“My nail tech told me today she is moving away...”
I think those are my top favorite set she ever did for me. She’s moving to Miami!
Lmao! Miami is a 4-hour drive for me... I have HIGHLY considered making the drive every month.
That set made me want to plan a vaca to Greece, haha!
This was the last nail consultation in this salon, and it was planned that way: the final client was the longest client of all, the one who became a friend. They spent the appointment debating the base color — milky white or not — and glitter got a firm “yuck.” At one point the client summed it up: “I see you more than I see my friend.”
“What better way to end this season of life with having my longest client that became my friend, be my last client.”
“I gifted one of my loyal clients today. I told her I would do whatever she wanted — and she chose these. Short, square, nude to glitter ombre acrylic nails with rhinestones. I APPRECIATE YOU!!”
She deserves it. She has been by my side since day one. I appreciate her bc without her... There is no me. Period!
From the author:
When I left that salon, the hardest part wasn’t giving up the Saturday rush or the acetone headaches. It was the appointment book: the same names in the same slots, every other week, for years. I knew exactly which clients would ask where I went. The coral lady didn’t ask. She just brought the bottle.
“Same client who has been loyal to me since I first started doing nails and has loved my improvement.”
The first set I did on her was in my first 4 months of doing nails.
Four years of doing this client’s nails, and this time the client sat down engaged. They picked colors the usual way, by rejecting every green that looked like “baby poop,” and settled on going back to short square nails.
“FOUR YEARS doing this lady’s nails and now she’s engaged.”
From the author:
My sisters still tease me that I can tell them apart by their hands faster than by their voices on the phone. It’s a salon habit. After a few years at the table, you know a client by her cuticles, her shade and the one thing she always brings up in the last ten minutes.
“My nail lady is amazing!”
I have been going to Holly in Utah for 20 years and she keeps impressing me! All I suggested here was something butterflyish.
Thank you! If I have them on I’m fine! As soon as they are off I torture my fingers.
Twenty years at the same table in Utah, and the client still sits down, suggests “something butterflyish” and gets surprised. Over that much time, almost everything around the chair changes except the two people sitting across from each other.
Have you been going to the same nail tech for years? Tell us in the comments.











