Nail Design Businesses Serve as a Side Hustle, Right Out of Students’ Dorms

Rose Wells '28 displays her favorite nail set she's designed on August 28. Photo courtesy of Rose Wells '28

College is costly and demanding, but Marist University students Lola Vallez ‘29 and Rose Wells ‘28 balance responsibilities with side hustles that turned their dorms into makeshift nail salons.

Vallez, a fashion design major, designs press-on nails with nail polishes and other materials. She fulfills orders right out of her room in Midrise. She started the process of designing press-on nails in middle school with her older sister, who inspired her to start selling them. 

Wells, a fashion merchandising major, offers nail services that include Gel X with builder gel right out of her Upper West Townhouse. Wells started this gig when she was in high school after deciding that $100 for a basic French tip manicure was too much money to spend at the nail salon.

“There was a certain TikToker who showed me that it was possible to do nails on my own,” said Wells. Through learning, she discovered a sense of determination that she never knew she had, as it took her a full year of learning to perfect her craft. 

“It’s helped my style evolve and definitely gotten me out of my comfort zone,” Wells noted. 

Vallez sends her press-on nails out to her customers along with nail glue and a file. She also included application instructions on her Instagram account to help customers who are using press-on nails for the first time. 

It's no coincidence that both girls are fashion majors, as they both said that doing nails has brought them closer to fashion. 

“[I was] definitely by my sister but also my fashion design major because I love to match my nails with my outfits,” said Vallez.  

Wells said, “[My favorite part is] being creative because as a fashion major, I love art in general and I get to make designs and play around with art.”

As Vallez navigates the beginning of her freshman year, she has faced a lot of challenges. Some challenges are balancing orders with homework and storing all of her materials in her small freshman dorm. 

Wells emphasized that it is a challenge to balance doing nails with being a full-time student, especially because she is paying for school on her own. 

“I prioritize doing nails a little more than I should because it makes me money, but I also don’t want to disappoint the people that want to get their nails done,” said Wells.

Both girls showed no hesitation when asked about their favorite nail sets. They immediately pulled up pictures, showcasing their talent. Vallez’s favorite design was inspired by Joe Keery and Gracie Abrams. She used colored pencils, which she says is her favorite way to add texture to nail designs.

The rates for both nail artists are lower than those at nail salons, making them affordable for college students on a budget.