We are spotlighting the winners of Beauty Launchpad's 25 Under 50K contest for 2025, sponsored by SalonCentric.
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We are spotlighting the winners of Beauty Launchpad's 25 Under 50K contest for 2025, sponsored by SalonCentric.
Here, you will get to know Ashley Biasella (@badash_nails), a nail artist and salon owner of Bad Ash Nails in Gilbert, AZ who specializes in hard gel and hand-painted nail art.
Q&A with Ashley:
Beauty Launchpad (BLP): What is a fun fact about you?
Ashley Biasella (AB): I'm obsessed with all things to do with cryptids or anything spooky, but mothman is my favorite. I even have mothman shirts and a little mothman plushie.
BLP: How did you get your start in the industry?
AB: I started when I was very young because I wanted to do nails to get me through college, but it became my passion and turned into an amazing lifelong career.
BLP: What is your proudest accomplishment/achievement in the industry so far?
AB: My greatest achievement is definitely when I became an educator for Light Elegance and started traveling with them and teaching classes. It's been a one-of-a-kind experience and a highlight of my career. Watching nail techs learn and grow in class has been something I'm truly grateful to be a part of.
BLP: What is your current favorite nail trend?
AB: My current favorite nail trend is probably anything with layered embossing or isolated chrome in an almost stained glass look, but hand-painted nail art, regardless of trend, will always be my favorite.
BLP: What is a tip you have for your fellow beauty pros who are looking to grow their following on socials?
AB: Be genuine and be true to you. People will follow you because of talent, sure, but even more people will follow because they like the person behind the art.
BLP: What advice would you give to the younger version of yourself just starting out in the industry, looking back on your whole career?
AB: Oh man, this question has me a little emotional. Honestly, the advice I would give my younger self would be to stop trying to fit into the perfect molds everyone tried to shove me into. Owners wanted me to dress a certain way, do nails a certain way or stop putting “weird things” on nails, and I thought it meant I wasn't good. But I was good, I was just being me, and I had my own unique style of art.
I would tell myself that I may not know it yet, but that art is what sets me apart someday and creates a following of other artists who want to learn from me and learn how and why I do nails the way I do. It wouldn't be something to hide — it would be the reason I have everything I've ever wanted in a career.
BLP: What is a tip/technique you’ve learned that’s helped you be more efficient/successful in your services or business?
AB: As cliché as it sounds, always have your nails done. It's a conversation starter and a great way to build your business. One question I always get asked is how I attract a clientele that wants art that I like to do and fits my style, and the answer is that I wear it on my nails, and I use it as an ice breaker everywhere I go.
BLP: Who is someone you consider a mentor/role model in the industry?
AB: I have a couple powerhouses that I look up to in this industry. The first would be Lezlie McConnell — she is truly the gold standard. She embodies a balance boldness and grace like no one I've ever met, and she has inspired me over the years to come out of my shell and helped me see my value not through others eyes but through my own.
The second is Elaine Watson. She's the reason I got into competing, and watching her be a titan in this industry inspired me to reach higher and helped me realize I could do more than work behind the desk. Meeting her was a total fangirl moment for me. She has seen so much in me that I didn't see in myself and has helped create a much stronger side to me that I didn't know I had.
Crazy enough, both of these amazing women are now my superiors and getting to grow and learn from each them has truly been a gift.
BLP: What is a practice/ritual you have to care for your mental health and set boundaries between your work and personal life?
AB: Definitely the moment of silence before I go into the salon and when I leave before I drive home. I do deep breathing, and I allow myself to let go of anything that doesn't belong to me or my space. Outside of that, reading self help books and journaling does so much for your mental health. It has been so helpful to me over the years in adjusting to taking better care of myself. Also, putting my phone on do not disturb, which sounds so simple, but it helps so much. As service providers, I think a lot of us struggle with that simple boundary.
BLP: What do you think needs to change in the industry to help beauty pros continue to grow and thrive?
AB: I think one of the biggest things that needs to change in this industry is how we view education and social media. We hold people on social media to be the final word instead of doing our own research and seeking out higher education. So many nail techs stop furthering their education after school when it should be something we are all striving for every year. Lack of education will be something that has a heavy affect on our industry, especially with product allergies on the rise and Amazon products running rampant even amongst professional techs.
BLP: What is a career goal you have for yourself?
AB: My next career goal is to have a heavier involvement in creating more programs and more in-person networking events and education. I would love to be a part of the next era of education as our industry grows and changes.
