Article by Alisha Rimando | Published in 2024
GlossaryLive is proud to celebrate Sarah Petersen (@legacynailart) as the August 2024 Nail Artist of the Month. Co-owner of Salon Legacy in Rollo, Missouri, alongside her sister and hairdresser Ashley Whittingham, Sarah has transformed her passion for art and nail care into a thriving business. With a career spanning 17 years, she is recognized for her talent, ambition, and motivation, attributes that have garnered her success as a nail artist, salon owner, and educator.
Sarah’s journey into the nail industry began with a deep-seated love for creativity and artistry. Over the years, she has skillfully balanced her professional commitments with her role as a wife and mother of three. Her journey is a testament to her exceptional ability to juggle family life with her professional responsibilities. Not content with merely running a successful salon, Sarah completed her educator training in 2014, which propelled her into the international arena.
As an international educator, Sarah had the opportunity to travel and collaborate with some of the world’s top nail artists. “I’m thrilled to be an educator as I find teaching very rewarding, and it’s been a career-long passion of mine,” Sarah shares. Her work has been featured on the cover of NAILS Magazine’s February 2012 issue and showcased in several other issues. Additionally, she has been a featured artist on GlossaryLive’s Salon Stopover and Tag That Trend shows.
Sarah’s enthusiasm for her work is contagious, creating a loving and motivating environment at Salon Legacy. She emphasizes personal well-being, continued education, and team building, which has fostered a loyal and talented team. Long-standing team members Michelle Whitaker and Mindy King, who are more like family to Sarah, have built their careers at Salon Legacy. The newest addition, recent beauty school graduate Calli Naugle, is nearly fully booked after only seven months, a testament to the supportive environment Sarah provides.
In her quest to continually improve her salon’s services, Sarah recently incorporated HEMA-free nail products into the menu. “I’m starting to have more clients concerned about the chemicals they put on and in their bodies. I have chosen to use Light Elegance products. They are professional, and I haven’t had any issues with anything I’ve used from them, including the acrylic and soak-off gel polish line. Now that I’ve done lots of research on the matter, it almost seems crazy that I didn’t do it before,” she explains.
Sarah Petersen’s dedication to her craft, her team, and her clients makes her a deserving recipient of GlossaryLive’s Nail Artist of the Month. Her ability to inspire and lead by example continues to elevate her in the nail industry.
