At Muse of My Own, we are always drawn to women who build something with feeling behind it. Not just a product, but a world, a point of view, and a life that feels more like their own.
For this Muse Talk feature, we spoke with Christy Llewellyn, founder of Get Loste, a premium reusable press-on nail brand created to make salon-quality nails feel more accessible, more sustainable, and more beautiful at home.
From vintage clothing and styling to beauty, product development, and building a global brand, Christy’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and trusting the process even when the path is anything but linear.
Do you remember the first moment when you felt drawn to building something of your own?
I was really lucky to grow up with all four of my grandparents, and I’ve always been really close to them. They were entrepreneurs, and they had a lot of freedom and had built really amazing lives, so they have always been a big inspiration to me.
I always wanted a big life and to have a lot of freedom, and I realised quite early on that entrepreneurship was the best path for me.
Looking back at your earlier projects and business attempts, do you see them as separate chapters, or do you feel like each one taught you something that led you here?
I think they all led into each other in some way, and it’s been a really connected journey.
I have always been creative and worked in creative fields, but that has moved from fashion to beauty and tech as opportunities came along. I’ve always been a yes person, but I’ve also learnt when to step away from something that’s not serving you.
I think after every lesson, it brought me closer to what I really wanted to do.
A lot of women feel pressure to have one clear path, but your story feels more like trying, pivoting, learning, and starting again. How did you learn to trust that process?
It’s definitely been a very long journey to this point, but I also didn’t want to settle for something that didn’t feel right for me.
I’m not someone who cares much about what other people think. I just want to feel creatively fulfilled, and I want to build the life I want.
I also find so much joy in trying things, failing forward, and having the autonomy to put myself out there. I think failing is a great sign that you are trying and that you’re learning, and that’s never anything to be ashamed of.
What has been the hardest part of being a female business owner that people do not usually see from the outside?
I have a background in fashion, and I’m running a beauty brand, and I’ve always found the hardest thing is getting people to take me seriously.
I know that if I were a man with a tech start-up that hadn’t made a sale yet, I would be taken more seriously than I am as the founder of Loste, a brand with almost five years of history and global sales.
It’s still a fight for female founders, and an even bigger one if you don’t come from money or aren’t well connected.
When you are still building and the brand has not yet reached the level you dream of, what keeps you going?
I don’t think you ever reach an end stage in business, because there’s always more you could do and more you could achieve.
I think you always have to be self-motivated, and you have to keep looking for opportunities and making things happen. It’s definitely more of a journey than a destination.
What made reusable nail kits feel like the idea you wanted to fully commit to?
I knew that there was space for a premium brand in the market and that I could make a really great product that was more premium and sustainable.
In the beginning, it was really just an experiment, but then I saw real traction, repeat sales, and a huge opportunity, and that’s when I went all in.
Loste was a side hustle for a long time, but last summer I took all the customer feedback, rebranded, and brought it back as a scalable brand. I think that was the point when I really saw it in a different way, because now it is a global brand, it’s in retailers, and it’s not just a side project anymore.
What problem were you trying to solve when you created Get Loste?
I have been wearing press-on nails since I was a teenager, but I was always disappointed with the quality and the designs.
Every other beauty category had premium and reusable alternatives, but not nails, and I felt there was a space I could fill with Loste.
I wanted to create nails that looked like salon nails, could be reused, and felt premium. False nails are always in plastic packaging at the bottom of the shelf, and I wanted to reimagine them into something more desirable.
Beauty can look very polished from the outside, but building a beauty brand also means logistics, numbers, product development, customer feedback, and constant decision-making. What has surprised you most about running this kind of business?
I used to work for a fashion supplier in product buying and importing, so I already knew it wasn’t going to be as glamorous as people think, but I actually love that side of the business.
I’m a secret nerd, so the product design, data, AI, customer feedback, and building the website are really fun for me.
I would actually say the thing I found most surprising is how much content I have to produce. That’s relentless!
How would you describe Get Loste to someone discovering it for the first time?
It’s a premium, reusable press-on nail brand, and the closest to salon acrylics you can get at home, while being more affordable and sustainable.
What kind of woman do you imagine wearing your nail kits, and how do you want her to feel when she does?
A lot of my customers are older women. They’re confident, successful, and they know what they want.
I want them to love press-on nails. I think so many of my customers really do love the ritual of applying their own nails at home and taking some me-time, but I also love when people comment on how much better they are compared to what they are used to.
The other big thing for me is making affordable nails for women who can’t afford the salon. I really want them to have the opportunity to feel confident and beautiful without having to spend a lot of money.
What has been one moment with Loste so far that made you feel proud, even if it was small?
Behind the scenes, I’m really proud of not giving up and of making it to four years.
It’s been really hard to get to this stage, but this has been the most successful year, and I’m so glad I didn’t quit, as I would have missed it.
Launching into Anthropologie was also big for me, because I’ve always been a customer there.
Lastly, winning a prize at the AXA Start-Up Angels Awards this year was a proud moment, as we competed with a huge mix of other businesses, in everything from fashion to AI, and still took home a prize.
Before beauty, you had a strong connection to fashion through styling, vintage, and secondhand clothing. How would you describe your personal style today?
I have always loved fashion, and I’m always experimenting. I feel like it changes every week.
At the moment, I’m heavily inspired by the Sloane Ranger look of the 80s and 90s and British heritage brands like Pringle and Jaeger, so I sometimes look like a cross between a farmer and a lady of the manor, but I like it.
Do you think nails, clothes, jewelry, and beauty rituals are all part of the same language of self-expression?
Definitely. I think it’s so important for people to be able to look the way they want to and to express themselves through their appearance.
It’s always been something I’ve loved to experiment with, and it’s also the creative outlet with the lowest barrier to entry.
At Muse of My Own, we believe jewelry should feel personal and wearable every day, not something saved only for special occasions. Are there any jewelry pieces or accessories that make you feel especially like yourself?
Absolutely. I have so many special pieces that have been given to me by friends and family over the years.
I have one necklace that I found in a charity shop. It has green stones on a gold chain, and it’s so unusual and beautiful. I feel like it’s my lucky necklace, and it has brought me a lot of good memories.
I sold vintage from the age of 16 to 30, and I still love the feeling when you find something special.
If we were creating a moodboard inspired by your perfect summer outfit, what would the full look include?
I’m very much into gold jewellery at the moment and stacking jewellery. There’s something that feels really cool about layering loads of pieces together.
I love the Muse of My Own Bold Wave Ring, Puffy Ring, and Sculpture Ring. I think they would look great stacked up together.
Final Notes
Christy’s story is such a reminder that building something meaningful rarely looks perfectly linear from the outside. It can be experimental, messy, slow, and full of pivots, but every chapter can still be part of the same story.
For us, that feels very Muse: choosing the pieces, projects, and rituals that make you feel more like yourself, and giving yourself permission to keep becoming.
If you want to know more about Christy, follow her on Instagram or give Loste a like.