Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Rossi.
Hi Kristin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi! Nails By KR here! My name is Kristin Rossi, and I am an international nail artist specializing in international fashion shows, editorial photo shoots, and high-profile clientele. I am the proud owner and creator of the Nails By KR brand. I have been a licensed nail technician since 1992, and at 20 years old, I sold my little red convertable and opened up my first salon. Since then, I have owned and operated salons in Michigan, Florida, and now Colorado.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I became a licensed nail technician in Michigan in 1992. I had been doing nails for about ten months and was already making more money than most teachers were making, which was my original career trajectory. So, I sold my little red convertible my father bought me for my Sweet 16th Birthday, used the money to open up my first salon and never looked back.
After many years of both failures and successes, I found myself in Denver, Colorado. My father had a massive stroke, so I packed up myself and my daughter, drove across the country to the Mile High City and began a new life. A couple of years into my new life in Denver, my daughter and I were in a terrible car accident. Thankfully, she was unharmed, however, I wasn’t as lucky. I suffered a traumatic brain injury which left me with almost complete memory loss. I also lost partial vision and hearing on my right side, loss of speech, loss of balance and I was six weeks pregnant.
Have you ever heard that hard work and determination get you everywhere? Well, I’m living proof it does, and because of it, I took my recovery to the next level! My doctors were constantly telling me the brain is a mystery be prepared to spend the rest of your life like this. Mind you, at this time I was relearning how to shower, walk, remember my daughters’ name, remember where the dishes were in the cupboards, etc. But being an athlete my whole life gave me the tools to dig deep and never give up.
Prior to the accident, I had been doing a few of my friend’s nails for fun but wasn’t taking it too seriously. Needing hand and eye coordination therapy from the car accident, I resumed my craft strictly as part of my PT not knowing what a valuable asset it would be in my recovery. The benefits were endless! I started an Instagram account at the urging of one of my clients, and well, as they say, the rest is history.
Struggles along the way are what make us who we are and hopefully a better version of our younger more naive selves. I’ve always welcomed obstacles and challenges because it forces us to look outside of the box. Most of the time the answers aren’t always in front of us. This sets the imagination in motion to seek new and undiscovered methods to take us to our new triumphs.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What does Nails By KR do?… Well, to put it simply, I add a little sparkle in people’s lives.
I don’t just do nails, I’m a therapist, a motivator, a mother, a wife, a friend, a philanthropist, but mostly I’m a woman living my best life.
I’m so proud of all of my accomplishments from my children to my publications to my everyday clientele. I also take great pride in giving back to the community.
Some of you may know I’m a huge supporter of the LBGTQIA community. My Nails By KR Custom Press On nail business caters to drag queens, editorial fashion shoots, and fashion designers from all over the world. This business got me thinking that the world needs a little more sparkle in it, and I created a new philanthropy endeavor to do just that! It’s called Nail It Forward. It’s a program that allows anyone from every corner of the globe to nominate someone who may need to feel a little more “glamtastic.” How it works – email your nominee to [email protected] and tell me what makes them shine. Each month Nails By KR will donate a set of Custom Press On nails to selected nominees. Recipients can then choose to nominate someone else.
What sets me apart from others? That’s always a tough question, however over the years, I’ve come to realize that the combination of my real-world experience, strong work ethic, integrity, empathy and self-awareness have escalated me to the top of my game. Not to mention I’m a pretty good nail tech.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I feel like I’m kind of an open book but I think a lot of colleagues, collaborators, and friends I’ve made in the fashion industry may not know that I was once an avid surfer and skydiver!
Before moving to Denver, I was living in and operating a salon in Florida while also traveling all over the world. I have surfed and skydived at some of the most beautiful locations around the globe!
Fun fact #2 I was a judge in The World Cannabis Cup in 2005 in Amsterdam.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nails.by.kr
- Other: #nailsbykr
Image Credits
Rocking my nails – Pearl Gutierrez Valerie Carpenter Christie Carlin Taylor Riot Jillian Johnson
