The Nail Files/ January 11, 2026January 11, 2026

What I Really Made From That Pretty Nail in 2025 (A Transition Year Recap)

2025 was a big turning point for me.

If you’ve been following my journey, you probably know that I closed my in-person nail services business earlier this year. Around the same time, I also lost my full-time job. It was a lot to process all at once.

That season forced me to pause and rethink what I wanted That Pretty Nail to become.

Instead of offering services, I started transitioning my business toward blogging, content creation, and selling press-on nails online. And this post is an honest recap of what that transition actually looked like, how much I made, what worked, what didn’t, and what I learned along the way.

If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, selling press-on nails, or building something while working full-time, I hope this gives you a realistic perspective.

A Quick Recap of My Journey

I opened my home-based nail services business in July 2023. It was something I worked hard on and learned a lot from, but by February 2025, I officially closed it.

After closing my studio, I decided to take blogging more seriously. I started writing about:

my experience as a nail tech
what I learned from working in a spa and studio setting
how to do nails properly at home (the “spa way”)

My goal wasn’t just to document my journey. I wanted to build authority, trust, and genuinely help people, while slowly exploring affiliate income as a long-term option.

In June 2025, I launched my press-on nail shop on Etsy – my first time selling press-ons online.

Throughout the year, I continued posting short-form content on TikTok and Instagram, but I slowly shifted away from random posting. Instead, I focused more on:

nail designs
educational content
meaningful blog posts
long-form YouTube videos

Looking back, 2025 was not a scaling year for me. It was a transition year, full of learning, experimenting, and personal growth.

Did I Actually Make Any Money in 2025?

Yes. I did make some money in 2025.

Before I break it down, I want to be clear: the numbers below are revenue, not profit. I’m not including ad spend, tools, supplies, or other business expenses here.

Still, making any money during a transition year felt meaningful.

Income Stream #1: Blog + Amazon Affiliate Marketing

This income stream surprised me the most.

I joined the Amazon Associates program after I started blogging more seriously. Most of my posts focus on:

I also wanted my blog to be a safe, honest space where I could share real product opinions and explain how I actually run my nail business.

By the end of 2025, I made around $60 from Amazon affiliate links.

It wasn’t immediate. I started blogging early in the year and didn’t see results until October and November. At first, it was only a few dollars a month, but around the holiday season, traffic picked up and so did clicks.

It also wasn’t smooth. My Amazon Associates account was initially cancelled after six months because I didn’t make any sales. I reapplied right away, and the second time, my account was approved for both Canada and the U.S. and that’s when sales started coming in.

This experience proved something important to me:
you don’t need a huge following to make affiliate income. Helpful, honest content can still convert.

Income Stream #2: Etsy Press-On Nails

Etsy was honestly the most challenging part of my year.

I launched my press-on shop in June and didn’t get my first sale for a long time. I experimented with lowering prices, running Etsy ads, optimizing listings, and posting more consistently.

My first sale was a press-on set sold for $10 (yes, I’ve talked about this in my videos 😅).

Eventually, I sold another set through ads. In total, I made around $60 before fees, which worked out to about $37 after Etsy fees and shipping.

It wasn’t a lot, but it showed me that my press-on launch wasn’t a complete failure. There is demand, it just needs more focus, consistency, and time.

If you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes planning and prep that went into this launch, I shared more details in my post about launching my first press-on nail shop, including what I’d do differently next time.

Income Stream #3: Custom Set From a Returning Client

The third income stream didn’t come from Etsy.

It came from a returning client who used to come to me when I was still offering in-person nail services. She reached out and ordered a custom press-on set, which brought in about $55 CAD.

That moment meant more than the money.

It reminded me that even though I closed my studio, my brand didn’t disappear. The trust I built in the past still mattered, something I reflect on more deeply in my post about closing my home-based nail studio and what came next.

Total Income From That Pretty Nail in 2025

Altogether, I made around $180 from That Pretty Nail in 2025.

Because I didn’t have big expectations, this actually felt validating. It confirmed that:

people are willing to support my work
my business has potential
I’m building something real, even if it’s slow

It also made me feel more hopeful going into 2026.

What 2025 Taught Me

Losing my job earlier in the year taught me how important it is to always have a backup plan. It pushed me to take That Pretty Nail more seriously as a long-term business.

The good news is that I did find another full-time job, which gives me stability while I continue building this on the side. But that also led to another big lesson: consistency is hard.

Building a business while working full-time is challenging. Planning ahead is crucial, but honestly, the hardest part is sticking to the plan.

Another big lesson:
you don’t need a massive audience to make money.

Authentic content, real experiences, and honest opinions actually help people. When you help people, they’re more likely to support you. I’ve seen this through my blog, my YouTube channel, and even posts about damaged nails after removal and how to repair them that continue to help readers long after publishing.

Most importantly, I’m incredibly grateful for you who’s followed my journey, watched my videos, left comments, and quietly supported me this year.

2025 wasn’t a big financial win, but it was a huge year of personal growth.

When I first started That Pretty Nail, I thought I would only provide nail services. Over time, both I and the business changed and that’s what amazed me.

If you’re thinking about starting a small business or side hustle in the new year, 2026, my advice is simple:
start small. Starting small gives you room to learn, grow, and pivot.

What I’m Working Toward in 2026

There are things I said I would do in 2025 and didn’t. But I also accomplished things I wasn’t sure would go anywhere.

In 2026, I want to:

expand my Etsy shop
sell more press-on nail sets
stay consistent with blogging
focus more intentionally on YouTube

YouTube takes a lot of energy, and editing is still a challenge. One day, I’d love to work with an editor, just not yet. When I’m ready financially, that’s something I want to explore so I can spend more time creating.

I’m also interested in developing digital products and who knows possibly working with brands or sponsorships in the future.

Only time will tell.

If you have questions about starting a side hustle or small business, feel free to leave a comment. I love reading your stories, and I’ll always share what I know.

Thank you so much for being here and supporting my journey.
Happy New Year and I’ll see you in the next post 🤍

Tools I Use & Recommend (Affiliate Picks)

These are the exact tools I use in my setup and prep process. I’ve added affiliate links below so you can shop them easily — I only recommend what I actually use:

PRESS-ON SUPPLIES: