Clawed, polished, painted and decorated. These are all ways a person could describe their nails getting done and ways teenagers advertise their nail companies across social media platforms. 

Emma Colombo, junior, utilizes social media to attract customers to her nail salon business. Her Instagram is @clawed_by_em. Colombo specializes in Gel X nails and press ons. 

“I got into nail art during 2020 when everyone was trying ways to cure pure boredom at home,” Colombo said. “It was really hard, the more I did research on what was good and what was bad, how to do things, it started to turn into a business.” 

Colombo runs her business by herself despite having a part-time job, participating in several different clubs and being class president. 

“I really struggle sometimes, but all the customers have been really nice and really flexible with booking appointments, so it’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Colombo said. 

Petra Gereau, sophomore, also runs her own nail business and considers it a job. Her Instagram is @polished.by.petra. Gereau specializes in French tips and blooming gel. 

“I’ve liked drawing and painting since I was very young,” Gereau said. “When it came time to start thinking of a job, my mom suggested doing nails for my friends.”

Gereau uses several forms of marketing to let her company reach public sight. 

“I post all of the nails that I do if the clients say I can. I do reels and also have an account on Instagram,” Gereau said. 

She said social media is a useful tool when it comes to student-run businesses, making them more accessible and engaging. She also said social media influences nail artists. 

“I follow a lot of nail influencers or college-aged people who do nails, and I see a lot of it on Instagram and Pinterest, so that definitely influences my nails and what I do for others,” Gereau said. 

Crystal Strate, business teacher, has noticed the surge in social media as a marketing resource, as it usually comes with little to no cost.

“Sometimes, those more specified advertising avenues come with a little bit more cost with them, and as somebody who is a high school student trying to start and launch a business, it might be more difficult,” Strate said.

Strate also has noticed there are challenges whenever a student runs a business strictly off of social media and phones.

“Some of the struggle right now would be not being able to use them during school, even during down time in classes or a Study Hall, they couldn’t use that social media during that time,” Strate said. 

Jordan Farmer, junior, has been working with nails since the 5th grade. Her Instagram is @jordandoesyournails. She specializes in acrylic and gel nails, and does all nail art.

“It was something I had a passion about,” Farmer said. “And I decided I wanted to do that, and I practiced and decided I wanted to do that.” 

Farmer said the importance of nail art comes from its inventiveness for her clients. 

“It’s a way to be creative without necessarily having to do it themselves, a lot of people come to me with a set they made,” Farmer said. “It’s a super good way to do that.”