During these cold winter months, everyone is in need of a little personal ‘pick me up.’ The best way to combat these dreary winter blues is to take some time for some much needed self care. While outside wellness activities are no longer, some indoor pampering is just what Lancer Nation needs. 

Pinterest boards are buzzing. If you haven’t yet seen the rave on social media or tried for yourself, having your nails done is an immediate mood booster. Leaving oneself feeling pampered and pretty. Experimenting with nail art can be a great and peaceful way to take the time to do something for yourself. Leaving you feeling put together, accomplished and with a new hobby! Who could beat that?

If you don’t happen to be the crafty type, don’t you worry. Lancer Nation happens to have a few ‘Nail Techs’ of our very own. These ladies have already found a passion for doing nails and would like to share with you all. Let’s get to know them.

Having a love for nails should be shared. Sophomore Andrijana Susa would like to do just that, with the start of her own nail business. 

“What inspired me to start my own page was that I wanted to help girls have cute nails for a fraction of the price,” Susa said. 

A fondness for nails starting from a young age urged Susa to continue as she got older.

“Getting my nails done when I was  younger fascinated me,” Susa said. “As I got older I started wanting to do them more and more because I enjoyed the time I put into myself.”

Susa wanted to share the same joy she had with other girls, displaying her talents through her nail business.

“I really enjoy just making them happy and seeing their faces light up when I’m done,” Susa said. “The process of doing nails just makes me really excited.”

You can see more of Susa’s work on her own Instagram page, where she posts the nails she does along with pricing for nail services. Check her out to get your nails done to!

Freshman Livia Ficara has also taken her interest in nail art to the next level.

I first saw it on social media and thought it was interesting to try,” Ficara said. “I bought the materials to do it, finding it to be so much fun and also learned that I was good at it.”

Ficara urges that doing your nails done at home is far better than taking the time to go to a nail salon.

“I do it right from my home, It’s an affordable way to look nice with fake nails,” Ficara said.

She began to do the same for her friends.

“I have a nail salon area and everything, trying to make friends comfortable,” Ficara said.

Ficara’s success with nails encouraged her to start her own nail Instagram account for her small business.

“My goal is to get certified as a nail technician to gain more experience,” Ficara said.

Go help Livia Ficara reach that goal by checking out her Instagram page!

Junior Kenzie Daneau got inspiration from her peers to start her nail journey.

“I saw a lot of girls my age start getting into doing hair and nails,” Daneau said. “I thought it would be fun to tryout.” 

Daneau finds that doing her nails from home gives her full creativity.

“I always want my nails to look exactly how I want them to and at a nail salon you can’t be that picky,” Daneau said. “So I give myself the freedom of being able to fix anything that I want.”

She is able to get the exact looks she wants for a fraction of the price.

“When I want to add a ton of designs and gems onto my nails it’s not a ton of extra money,” Daneau said. 

Daneau began to share the comfort of doing her nails at home, through the start of her nail page.

“I wanted people to be able to follow along with my journey of doing nails,” Daneau said. “Also, possibly interest some of my friends to get their nails done so that I could continue to learn on other people.” 

Reach out and follow Kenzie Daneau to help her nail progress grow!

If this convinced you to start nails as a hobby of your own, Susa, Ficara and Daneau have a few tips and tricks of things they’ve learned along the way.

“For nail ideas or inspiration, I use the app Lemon 8,” Ficara said. “It’s helpful for inspiration and it’s similar to Pinterest and helps me learn how to make hard designs.”

Daneau shares that social media can be very useful for nail ideas

“I save so many videos from Tiktok, and I have a huge Pinterest board of just nails,” Daneau said.

Some of the top products can by found right on Amazon.

“The best products that I own are Beetles, Modelones and Luminary,” Susa said. 

Buying your own products is an investment at first, but it all lasts.

“It is definitely worth it in the end,” Susa said. 

The further you experiment with products, the more you can find the best that work for you. Daneau has found her nail must-haves.

“My favorite products in general would probably be acetone because it always helps me clean up any mess around my nail,” Daneau said. “Another one of my favorites would be builder gel because it adds extra thickness to the nail making it sturdier.” 

Take a look at these girls Instagram accounts and reach out if you are interested in having fashionable and cost affective nails. They are very talented.