Many WHS students choose to express themselves through their nail art. With options like acrylic, gel, dip powder, press ons, or just plain polish, it’s easy for someone to find something that suits them and allows them to feel confident and happy about their nails. Some people might prefer a professional nail artist at a salon, while others find it easier just doing their own nails at home.
However, increasing nail salon prices have sparked a new trend of student nail entrepreneurs, offering services to their peers and encouraging affordability and convenience. Their salon might be their bedroom desk, but the quality of service is high–and the income is real.
Evaline Rush, a sophomore at Waterford High School, is a prime example of this; she has taken her hobby of nail painting and incorporated her talents into a functioning nail business in her own bedroom. She charges around $30 for a set, providing an affordable option for people who want their nails done but aren’t willing to pay around $80 at a salon.
This shift towards student run businesses isn’t just a financial choice. For some, it’s about the environment it encourages and the social aspect of it. For some people, the transactional feel of most professional salons focuses on speed and turnover, which might feel off-putting. Instead, students like Rush prioritize the relationship with their clients. She explains, “I love when clients come because it’s an opportunity to get to know them… I feel like you don’t get that experience at average nail salons.” This comfortable and friendly atmosphere is exactly what is driving more students towards small businesses, which offer a level of intimacy that larger corporations often lack.
Convenience isn’t the only reason that some students prefer sticking to small nail techs, such as their peers. Some people feel that it’s important just to support peers, rather than an established salon, so they can grow and improve. For sophomore Kylie Racicot, she believes that, “supporting small nail techs can help each of them learn to be better by practicing more… so they can become something bigger in the future.”
The benefits of student entrepreneurship like a nail business goes both ways, leaving a positive impact on both the client and business owner. Establishing a business as a high school student can be difficult, as it requires balancing school, work, clubs, sports, and home life. Managing these responsibilities can lead to building beneficial life long personal, social, and professional skills.
Ms. Woznicki, a business teacher at WHS, agrees with the benefits and future impact of student entrepreneurship from a business standpoint. She says, “They will learn life lessons at an early age that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”
Ultimately, the rise of student nail technicians at Waterford High School is about more than a cheap set of nails. It shows a shift toward a more personal, community-focused environment where students and peers can empower one another through support and skill-sharing.
