In recent years, acrylic nails and other nail design trends have skyrocketed in popularity, giving rise to an easier alternative than the expensive nail salon: learning to do it at home. Teenagers all over have begun to teach themselves how to do professional-looking nails in the comfort of their own home.
M’Kaela Riley, ‘26, was interested in doing nails from a young age. She did her mother and grandmother’s nails, eventually taking a liking to it and figuring out that she could take it even further. She is now a reliable technician for both Masters boarders and day students.
In her junior year, Riley was torn between whether she should pursue braiding hair or doing nails. In regard to doing hair, she said, “That’s probably going to be way more expensive and way more time-consuming, and I was like, I think that nails are way more efficient.” With this realization, she began her nail journey, which she became most committed to in her senior year.
Her mother and brother agreed to invest an initial $50 into her business. She said, “I do charge for it only because if I just keep using all of my materials, I’m not making back any money to pay back my mom and my brother. But I do give a lot of discounts, and I don’t think I’ve gone over $25 or $30.”
Ariella Crane, ‘28, also taught herself to do nails. She said, “I wanted to learn around December last year, because I was really tired of going to salons and paying so much.”
She shared that she has noticed an increase in the popularity of at-home nail trends in recent years, saying, “On social media, a lot of young girls are starting to do it, and I think it’s becoming a big thing across the world and the internet.”
Frankie Navin ‘28 is a consistent client of Crane’s. In regards to preferring getting her nails done by a friend, she said, “I find it to be a better experience because I’m more comfortable with her so I can tell her what I like” She then said she finds the trend to be increasingly well-liked. “On social media I see a lot of people posting about how they buy their own kits and do it at home and they’ve started to do it for their friends and family too”
