Here at West, students have created their own nail businesses as a way to make money. Students were inspired to make their own small business after visiting larger businesses with real salons. Rachel Rosa, a junior, created her own nail business beginning in August. Rosa has her own Instagram account about her nail business to highlight her clients nails. features clients with nails. Rosa does her client’s nails at her house and buys her own nail supplies.
“I really like doing people’s nails. It’s good to make extra money and I like to see the result at the end. Once I got my nails done at an actual salon, I realized I wanted to start my own business. For full sets I charge $25 and if you want a design of any of the nails it’s an extra $5 and a regular manicure is $15. Depending how complex on what they want, it’s about an hour and a half, then [for] more design on nails it takes two and a half hours,” Rosa said.
Lots of Rosa’s friends have been to her business, and enjoyed their nails. One of those friends, Bridget Raven, a junior, has been to her business three times, and received extensions and acrylics.
“She’s really good at doing nails and it’s not super expensive, she also does whatever design I want,” Raven said.
Raven was influenced to go to Rosa’s business by looking at her page on social media.
“I saw her Instagram account and my friend got hers done by her and it was really good so I asked her if she could do my nails,” Raven said.
Another student at West enjoys doing nails for fun and as an extra way to make cash on the side as well. Ali LaBonte, a junior, started doing nails in 7th grade and was interested in expanding her business to her friends and peers. She does her friend’s nails in her kitchen, and she also buys her own supplies.
“I love talking to everyone and hearing all of the drama and tea in everybody’s lives. I also just think it’s fun to make people happy and make their ideas come to life. Normally it’s like an hour and 15 and if I’m doing a more detailed set I would say probably an hour 45 or 30. My process [is] normally for gel-x I always ask them what they want and what shape their thinking and color, and then I do all my prep work like sizing out tips and then their cuticles, and then buff their nail to make everything clean and slate, and then I file it all down to shape and paint their nail,” LaBonte said.
