Meet Dachesca “Dache” Payano

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dachesca “Dache” Payano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dachesca “Dache”, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
To me, risk is the turning point in any success story. When you take a risk you’re putting everything on the line – where if you fail you take a loss, but if you win, you gain not only what you want but also the confidence to keep taking risks. I believe the confidence to take a risk is what makes a successful person. The hardest part of growth, however, is taking risks which is why it’s never easy to say “I’m ready to put it all on the line for my passion”. Then again, if taking risks were easy, success would be common and therefore mundane. That’s why I have changed my mindset when it comes to betting on myself because when you believe in yourself to the point of ignoring the possibility of failure, taking risks becomes a way of life.

After I graduated high school in 2024, I had built a growing platform online and a fully booked nail business. After listening to what other people felt I should do, I decided to go to Pace University in Manhattan to become a marketing major. This decision impacted not only my mental health, but also my business. Since I was a full time student and juggling a business and social media at the same, it was challenging to excel at everything. After my first semester at Pace I took the risk of taking a leave of absence to focus on my nail business and social media. I left it all up to God and asked for guidance and direction, as I wasn’t sure if I was making the right decision. The first YouTube video I posted after leaving college gained me over 20,000 new subscribers in what felt like overnight. Not long after that, I started making money from social media and my business was at an all time high. That leave of absence was supposed to be for 1 semester… I haven’t been back to college since. That risk changed my life, and now I preach to others what taking risks has done for me and encourage them to do the same.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What makes my passion different is that I get to express myself not only through nails and art, but also through the videos I create. I have always loved making videos. When I was younger, I would make skits and pretend the mirror was a camera. Even before I started my “Nailed By Dache” YouTube channel, I posted videos about everything – gaming, skincare, and random thoughts. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would end up in a creative field.

I love painting, writing, and creating in general because it gives me a deep sense of joy and belonging.

When I was 15 years old, I discovered that I could channel my artistic abilities into nail art, and it completely changed my life. There is something so powerful about creating art that people can carry with them every day. Knowing that my work can make someone feel beautiful is an incredible feeling because I remember how confident and happy I felt the first time I got my own nails done.

Beyond the art itself, I have grown to love the relationships that come with my work. I have met so many amazing people, and many of my clients feel like family to me. I learn about their lives, their struggles, and their interests, while also creating a safe space where they can relax and feel cared for. That part of being a nail technician is often overlooked. Doing nails has helped me become more social, compassionate, and selfless, and it has also become an outlet for me whenever life feels overwhelming.

The best part about my craft is being able to share my love for nails online and inspire others through my story. What started as a hobby has now grown into something much bigger. I want to share my experiences with anyone willing to listen because nails truly changed my life.

Unfortunately, many people still do not view nail technicians as professionals or entrepreneurs. What they fail to realize is the amount of dedication, creativity, discipline, and hard work it takes to master a craft while also building a business and personal brand. Nail technicians are artists, entrepreneurs, and content creators all at once, and we deserve recognition for that. The beauty industry continues to grow rapidly, and I believe it will only become more influential over time.

Because of this, I will always support young girls who want to attend cosmetology or nail school, because that is the kind of encouragement I wish I had when I was 15 years old.

It took years for me to learn how to attract clients, build a loyal audience, improve my techniques, and create a recognizable brand. Looking back, I realize how much trial and error was involved, and I want to make that process easier for others. That is why I am currently creating my online course, “Beginner 2 Booked,” where I will teach aspiring nail technicians everything I wish I had known when I first started doing nails in my parents’ basement at just 15 years old.

Seeing how far I have come makes me incredibly excited to share this course with the world and help other young creatives turn their passion into something life-changing too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a big shoutout to my mom for buying me my first nail kit and supporting my nail hobby when I was first starting, I really love you and appreciate you, thank you for always pouring in me and my craft. All those times you’d critique my work and nitpick made me really want to impress you – which is why I am such a perfectionist when it comes to nails. I still always say to myself “make sure you clean up the edges” like you would always tell me.

I would also like to shoutout Daniel Amato for pushing me to take YouTube seriously and believing in me even when I didn’t. Thank you for all those pep talks and reality checks, if you hadn’t talked me into taking that semester off in college I probably never would’ve.

Website: https://beacons.ai/nailedbydache

Instagram: @nailedbydache

Facebook: @nailedbydache

Youtube: Nailed By Dache

Other: TikTok: @nailedbydache

Image Credits
photos from @byhoodpope & @chrisflicsfr