Educator Feature | Leanne Brown | The Style Academy

Leanne Brown

Educator Feature | Leanne Brown

Advanced Nail Tech Educator

What is your name and position?
My name is Leanne Brown.
Journey Person Esthetician
Nail Salon/Spa Owner Slayed
Spa and Nail Educator TSA

PTC Skills Sask Beauty Therapy

NTC Skills Canada Beauty Therapy

Can you share a little background on your career in the industry?
I am a Richards Alumni, graduating in 2001 from Cosmetology, Advanced Esthetics & Nails. I have extensive training in skincare, make-up, spray tanning, piercing and medical Esthetics as well as Laser training, my favorite still is Artificial Nails. I co-own (with my best friend) Slayed Esthetics Lounge, where I continue to offer services to my loyal clientele.

Many of my couture looks have been published in Nail magazines and I have had the opportunity to work on celebrities, movie sets, fashion shows and many other events. I am actively involved in Skills Saskatchewan for the last 5 years, now the Technical Chair for trade 30 in Beauty Therapy as well as a national judge for Skills Canada. I also joined the Saskatchewan Fashion Week team in 2017 as the Nail Committee Leader and the first-ever key Nail Artist.

Leanne Brown nail works

Cross-section of nail works by Leanne

What made you choose this career?
I feel the beauty industry chose me, I never wanted to do anything else. I was like 3 when ‘I said I’m going to have a salon one day.’ I was around 10 walking around the neighbourhood with a beauty kit hooking all the ladies up with waxing services!
I was going to attend beauty school, but was talked out of it by a school counsellor who said I would ‘make no money and struggle my whole life.’ I listened and upgraded my classes to get into nursing. But I went to a hair show and was enrolled in Richards a few days later. I knew it was my passion and I knew I could do better and better the more I experienced and learned. . I love my industry. They say the average person has 5-7 careers in their life, well I have done them all within this industry

What’s the most valuable thing you have taken away from your education?
Learning new skills and tools to grow and become a better person and artist.

Who are some of your favourite artists to follow?
I’m fortunate to work along
Side of some amazing artists in my city I’m inspired by them daily. Support local.

What is the most important thing you want your students to take away?
To always do your best and to keep growing in every aspect of your life.

What has been your biggest aha moment as an educator?
I had some students that were passed on to me that were failing and wanting to drop out. I had a meeting and researched some things to help them with their learning journey. A few months later they had 80s and 90s and were succeeding and doing so well. On the day of their final, they said how they had never done so well in school. They cried we hugged, it was wonderful They both are still thriving in this industry. I am thankful for the experience because it has taught me how to help other students be successful.

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Leanne Brown children

Leanne Brown children

Photos of Leanne’s family

What keeps you inspired /motivated?
My brain doesn’t stop with ideas, it’s kind of annoying.

What do you love most about teaching?
The growth that happens with their journey.

What are some of your biggest achievements?
My family, My personal growth and my career.

Who has been your biggest inspiration and why?
My husband, my backbone always there and my biggest supporter.

What have been some obstacles that you’ve faced in your career?
How have you overcome them? Covid has been the biggest obstacle in my career, and I am still trying to get through it.

What are your favourite services or area of your career that you enjoy the most?
Nails all the way! #NAILNERD

What is the one piece of advice you would share or that you received over the years?
Everyone is so different but this is something I’m still working on but it really stuck. TREAT PEOPLE HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED…NOPE ! TREAT PEOPLE HOW THEY WANT TO BE TREATED.

Is there anything else you would like to share /add?
In the fast-growing and vibrant nail industry, Nail Technicians opportunities have boomed substantially in the last few years. With more women and men requiring regular appointments with qualified technicians. With the demand for good manicures comes a demand for good nail Technicians.

And being a nail technician is more than just painting nails. Being a good Nail Technician is a way of life. If exploring your artistic skills, being challenged every day and meeting new people are something you enjoy, then nail tech might be just the thing for you.