How to Organize Your Nail Desk

As a nail technician and content creator on YouTube, you can guess that I have a lot of supplies and equipment that I use on a daily basis. Luckily one of my passions is also organization! When it comes to workflow, having an organized space is a must for me. I am able to work more productively, find my tools easier and clean up after I’m done working much faster.

I’m going to share with you 5 solutions that I’ve implemented at my nail desk specifically to help me stay more organized and focused as I work on clients.

1 Keep supplies off of your desk

Relocate all of your tools that take up space on your desk onto a moveable cart system. Put each item back into the cart as you’re finished using it. Having everything you need to work on your clients in a cart keeps your desktop clean and cleared for the essentials. The moveable cart can also be stationed beside your desk as you work and then tucked away in a corner when you’re done for the day.

This tiered cart is from Costco, but many different styes can be found at Michaels, HomeSense or Winners

2 Have a “returns” drawer

Keep a drawer in your desk where you can quickly toss nail products and tools that you only need for a specific design or appointment. Having a drawer like this will allow you to keep your desktop nice and tidy as you work while also keeping cleaning up between clients to a minimum as you won’t have to put everything back right away. At the end of your work day, you can return everything from the drawer back to its rightful home. This is a small hack, but can be quite the time saver!

3 Use different types of organizers

One of my favourite pieces that I use to organize my nail brushes is actually a makeup pallet organizer. It fits perfectly in my desk drawer and I use it to hold all of my nail brushes I work with on a regular basis. Try organizing your nail brushes in categories of what you use them for. For example: clear gel brushes, glitter brushes, acrylic brushes, etc… This way, you keep each brush clean and untampered with. Keeping your brushes organized in your desk drawer also helps in other ways. For instance, tucking away all your gel brushes keeps them from being exposed to UV light, which will keep them in good condition.

4 Use clear organizers

Using clear organizers helps make your drawer space look cleaner and more spacious. It also allows you to easily see what is in the organizers, from whichever way you may be looking at them. This makes finding whatever product you need much simpler.

This clear organiser is from Impressions Vanity (another pallet organizer)

5 Keep what you use the most, close!

A product that I use on the majority of my clients’ nails are Clear Jelly Stamper products. Being that I’m mostly reaching for these products, I’ve devoted two drawers in my desk to house them alone. This keeps them at arm’s reach, so I can grab and return them throughout my work day with ease.

One of my CjS drawers is where I keep all of my stamping polishes. Polish holding unit is from CjS, holder to the back is a blush organizer from Impressions Vanity

Bonus Tip: Label away!

Labeling is an excellent organizational strategy. You’re more likely to stay organized if you know where everything goes!