Nails have long been a part of sophomore Naomi Gutierrez’s life. She grew up seeing her mother with her nails always done, and Gutierrez even had a nail-themed birthday party for her seventh birthday.
Now, she runs a student business doing nails on campus. Gutierrez’ services include gel manicures, gel extensions, and regular polish manicures.
For Gutierrez, doing her nails is a form of self-care. “I’m putting me first. I’m putting something on my body first,” Gutierrez said.
She first learned to do nails through YouTube videos, starting with basic manicures before grappling with gel extensions. In order to get used to new techniques, she was her own guinea pig. “I used to do like the most ridiculously long sets on myself … the bigger the canvas, you know, the more designs you can do.”
Gutierrez started her nail business around November of her first year at UR. She credits her friends for pushing her to start charging for her services and explained that money is funneled back into improving the business. This means “giving people more colors, more options, and it makes it fun for me too,” Gutierrez said.
Another aspect of being the on-campus nail tech that Gutierrez enjoys is getting the chance to talk to people. “It’s a long process for me usually, and so […] in those hours, especially when they’re my friends or people I’m close-ish to, it’s good to talk to them and catch up. It gives us a really good space and time to just, talk and do whatever we need to do,” Gutierrez said.
Junior Brenda Rojas, a friend and client of Gutierrez, says the business has “definitely grown” since she met Gutierrez, and she gives the business an “11 out of 10 for everything.” She also noted the convenience aspect of having a nail technician on campus — she doesn’t have to pay for transport to get her nails done.
Currently about a year in, Gutierrez has built up a group of regulars that she usually expects to hear from when there are big events she sees being promoted on Instagram. “I kind of already feel like, ‘Oh, she’s about to message me,’ you know. So that’s been fun,” Gutierrez said. Gutierrez schedules appointments over direct messages through her Instagram: @naxnailz.
