First Look Fridays Interview Series: Celebrity Manicurist Patricia Yankee

Celebrity manicurist Patricia Yankee is quite the powerhouse. From educating for major nail companies (including one of my longtime favorites, Dashing Diva) to creating looks for shows at New York Fashion Week and owning two salons, she definitely takes the nail world by storm. Read on to find out how she first became interested in nails and so much more.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I am from a small town in Michigan called Durand. I grew up on a farm as one of 12 children. I went to college for one year in Lansing and studied dance. I always thought I would be a dancer and worked as a dance instructor for 15 years before doing nails. I left Michigan and moved to Florida for 10 years where I obtained my nail license before moving to New York. Once in New York, I did nails and became a consultant for a nail franchise company where I did education and product development. Working with this company also allowed me to travel the world as I helped them launch salons worldwide.

How did you first become interested in beauty, and what led you to become a manicurist?
While I was teaching dancing in Florida, I met a nail tech that worked in a salon next door who asked me to be his hand model for a competition. After experiencing his skills with nail art, he talked me into going to nail school. I went to nail school in Florida while teaching dancing in the evenings and would practice on my students' mothers when I didn't have classes. While doing this, I found out one of my students' fathers had an upscale salon. He hired me right out of school to do nails in his salon part time. From Florida, I moved to New York where I originally came to teach dance, but situations changed and I wound up doing nails!

What are your top 5 favorite beauty products?

CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner. One of its main ingredients is jojoba oil, which is a carrying oil and allows it to penetrate better then most other cuticle oils.

Duri Rejuvacote Nail Growth Polish System. Love this as a base coat for natural manicures because it is moisturizing and nourishes the natural nail.

Nail Tek Foundation I. I love to apply this over Rejuvacote because it is a ridge filler that dries with a slightly tacky finish and allows the polish to adhere better.

Cuccio Naturale Butter Blend in Vanilla Bean & Sugar. Love this as it is super hydrating for the hands and skin, especially in the colder months.

Patricia Nail Lacquer. This is my signature line of nail lacquer that is 4-free and a highly pigmented lacquer that has extremely long wear. Also the colors are fashion forward as I create them from the runway.

What are your top 3 nail tips?
1) Oil, oil, oil!! It is extremely crucial to oil your nails and surrounding cuticle area all year round. This keeps your nails healthy and flexible as well as adding life to your manicure and refreshing it.

2) Don't use your nails as tools to pry things open or anything that would compromise them. Nails need to be strong yet flexible so remember not to use them in any way that could damage them and cause them to crack or chip.

3) Do not try to remove your gel polish by picking or peeling it off! This takes off layers of the nail plate when you peel it and will take weeks of growth to get past this area that was weakened.

What is the most rewarding part of being a manicurist?
The most rewarding part of being a nail technician is the ability to make people feel good about themselves! I also get to know people on a deep level and enjoy being able to be that person they can share their life with.

Being a manicurist must be fun, but what do you do in your spare time?
Honestly most of my time is spent doing some aspect of the nail industry. I have two salon locations and also do consulting for several companies. In addition I have several celebrity clients that I accommodate. Therefore, I don't have much spare time, but when I do I enjoy time with my son and also spend a lot of time at my church.

How can The Beauty of Life readers find you on social media?
You can find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.