The striking scent of acetone lingers around the room as the taking off of an old set of nails begins in preparation to bring in a new set. Flurries of powder descend onto her nightstand as senior Maritza Tomlinson uses her own tools to do the nails of her friends and any local clients who want custom nails done.
Tomlinson runs a DIY nail salon where she does all types of nail designs from her own home, making a profit out of her passion of doing nails.
“[Doing nails] was a super long process to get good at and have longer retention, but it was 100% worth it,” Tomlinson said. “It became super fun and is a way for me to give myself self-care and let some creativity out.”
Tomlinson’s Instagram account, Polished by Maritza, started up in January last year as a way for her and her friend to learn to save money and start a new hobby. After having been doing her own nails for some time, she decided to join the at-home nails trend, including the usage of a new type of gel called gel-x meant to support nail growth.
“I’m actually friends with [Maritza], so she just talked to me about it, and she showed me her socials page,” junior Olivia Jacob said. “Then, I got interested in her nails, so I went to her house to get them done.”
Tomlinson uses the desk in her bedroom as the nail table, using a propped lamp for direct lighting and good visibility. This, with a chair for herself and a chair for her client, is where all of her work happens.
“[I prefer to get my nails done by Maritza because] she’s so easy to talk to,” senior Taylor Pieterse said. “I prefer going somewhere less strict and more comfortable.”
According to Tomlinson, Pinterest is her “holy grail” when it comes to finding nail designs and styles for each of her customers. Having multiple pins saved, she collects designs she would like to creatively try and challenge herself with by trying them on herself and her clients.
“I usually come [to her] with a design,” senior Daphne Van Erp said, “but, if there’s something that we are unable to work with, I let her do what she thinks is the cutest, to which I agree with.”
For her pricing, costs ultimately come down to the design and the type of work done. According to Tomlinson, all of the equipment she uses cost approximately $350-$400 total. Yet, she has made at least double of what she’s spent in starting the business, making $450 alone during Prom season last year.
“She’s a lot cheaper than other salons,” Jacob said. “I think [doing nails at home] is such a great way to build the community and stimulate the economy of the school and people around you, instead of going to businesses near you.”
During her busy season, Tomlinson would have at least one client per week for multiple weeks in a row. Now with her senior year coming towards an end, she has been focusing on college applications and her last year in the Wind Ensemble, limiting the amount of clients she can receive.
“I try to stay consistent on my Instagram,” Tomlinson said. “Recently, I have been so busy with school and band that I haven’t had time to promote my business, so it’s pretty slow right now.”
While some prefer to go to a regular salon, other high school students are creating their own small businesses parallel to Polished by Maritza. With DIY nails on the rise, most of Tomlinson’s friends, as well as the friends of others in similar small businesses, choose to go to support their peers in going to them rather than going to a traditional salon.
“I think [DIY nails] are definitely taking over,” Pieterse said. “I always see girls with their nails done, more than 75%, I’m sure, and I think it’s a great way to express yourself.”
After she graduates, Tomlinson plans to continue her small business in college. With the goal of continuing to ease the life of girls who don’t want to spend a lot on a simple French tip, she hopes to keep her business growing, earning some extra money and meeting new people along the way.
“I would say going to a salon is definitely faster but a lot more expensive and as a client, you have less control over what the artist does on your nails,” Tomlinson said. “Getting them done by me, while it does take longer and is less professional, lets you have more control and hopefully gets you exactly what you want for a cheaper price point.”
