Local Nail Artists Takeover
Amid the new wave of creative entrepreneurs and flourishing small businesses that society has witnessed over the last few years, the rise of self-taught nail technicians has revolutionized the way people get their nails done. With these growing businesses, the process of getting one’s nails done is no longer limited to a mere act of service but has developed into a more personal form of artistic expression for both the nail tech and the client. Ranging from classic acrylics, to gel-x or a simple manicure, these artists can often do it all. Sometimes when people first think of a self-taught nail tech who works from the comfort of their own space, questions can arise, but there’s no doubt that the wave of upcoming artists has elevated the nail game from what it once was.
Photo courtesy of Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram.
As artistic freedom and guaranteed satisfaction is often hindered within the traditional walk-in nail salon, this caused many to stray away from getting their nails done there. Then when many businesses began closing due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nail salons were one of many to join the hiatus. In a way, this added to the decline of business that these salons were receiving, thus leading to the beginning of an upgraded era of nail art. Once the pandemic put a halt to society, and those who take pride in having their nails done began to panic, many turned to alternatives such as flimsy press-on nails. “I messed around with KISS press-ons when the salons shut down,” recalled third-year communications student, Elise Brownlee. She would get her nails done at her local salon about once a month prior to the pandemic, but when it closed she was one of the many nail enthusiasts who sought out other options. “Even though there were other worries the pandemic brought me, I was also upset that I couldn’t get my nails done anymore,” Brownlee said. “Having my nails done is pretty much part of my identity,” she said, glancing down at her almond-shaped, chrome-pink acrylics.
Photo courtesy of Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram.
While Brownlee was one of many who were struggling with satisfying their nail needs, other individuals were also on their own nail journeys. Long Beach nail artist Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram, was fed up with never being happy with the nail sets she’d receive at her local nail salons, so she decided to learn how to do them herself when she was about 16 years old. “I purchased a cheap KISS acrylic nail kit and did my first set on myself,” Arevalo said. “I posted my nails on Instagram with no intentions of becoming a nail artist or doing nails on others, but my nails began to grab the attention of strangers on social media.” People began reaching out to her on Instagram, asking if she could do their nails. Taking a leap of faith, she took her first client when she was 17. After the pandemic though, Arevalo decided to take her artistry more seriously and began working as a nail tech full-time. “I learned my niche in nails…from there I knew it was more than just a side hustle,” she said.
Courtesy of Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram.
Like most of the other growing nail businesses whose work gained leverage through social media, Arevalo started taking clients in the comfort of her own home– starting out with only a desk and a couple of chairs. As her business began to grow, and the clientele became more consistent, she moved into a private studio in an office building on Long Beach Boulevard. When describing her upgraded setup she says, “I’d like to say it’s welcoming and comfortable. I have snacks for my clients and they’re welcome to pick any shows or movies they’d like to watch while I do their nails.”
Photo courtesy of Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram.
11.8K followers and various imaginative nail designs later, Arevalo has become one of Long Beach’s notable nail techs. Drawing inspiration from her favorite hobbies, like music, as well as other nail artists she sees on Instagram, her work attracted a growing clientele of locals who chose to switch from standard nail salons to small businesses run by creative, self-taught technicians like herself. “My clients are open to fun, loud designs and let me be creative and expressive with their nails,” she said. With wondrously artistic designs embellished by eye-catching colors, gems and jewels, her nail sets bring a sense of joy and fascination not just to her clients, but to anyone viewing the nails– whether it be on social media or through her clients.
Photo courtesy of Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram.
While choosing to go to a local nail artist comes with many of the benefits of supporting a small business, the benefit that’s often cherished the most is the personal relationships that one can form with their nail tech. Arevalo even says that her favorite part of having her own business is the relationships she builds with her clients. Sharing that they are the reason why she stays dedicated to her nail art she says, “I love listening to their stories and am excited to see them every time they come in. They have molded me to be the nail artist and woman I am today. I can’t thank them enough.”
Photo courtesy of Heaven Arevalo, or @thenailkingpin on Instagram.
Arevalo is just one of many who have taken the leap of starting their own nail businesses from scratch, as the numbers of self-taught nail artists continue to grow. By simply typing “nailsby” into the search bar of Instagram, there will likely be various accounts of nail techs just like Arevalo who have also put their passions into play. As more people begin to support the growing trend of going to a local, self-taught nail artist, this encourages more artistic individuals to start their own businesses. “If I could give a piece of advice for an aspiring nail tech, it would be to stay consistent and love what you do,” Arevalo said, emphasizing how important it is to stay ambitious and not get discouraged by the inevitable bad days. “There's ups and downs of owning your own business, and you only have yourself to fall back on. But if you stay consistent through it all, your hard work will come back tenfold.”