In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHS senior Tia Cocciolone channeled her boredom into something new: learning the ins and outs of nail design.
Cocciolone was intrigued by the intricate designs that nail art offered. She never felt drawn to making big art pieces but she found that the smaller scale art sparked a new creative niche.
“I didn’t have the patience for big, complex art that you would paint on a canvas or something like that,” Cocciolone said. “I just liked the little tiny things, so I would make them tiny on my nails.”
Cocciolone found this new pastime to be not only an important outlet for creative self-expression, but also an interesting hobby that she could show off to others. By practicing basic techniques on her handmade press-on sets, Cocciolone slowly built up her confidence as a nail artist. As she advanced to more complex skills such as chrome, french tips and 3D art, her eye-catching work began to draw in potential clients.
“In my freshman year, I would do my nails, and I would be so excited,” Cocciolone said. “And then my friends would be like, ‘Oh my gosh, Homecoming is coming up. I like your nails, could you do mine?’ And I’d be like, ‘Dude, let’s have a nail party.’”
Eventually, handing out so many sets for free began to dent her pockets, and Cocciolone decided to set some standard prices.
“I charge $15 to $35 per set,” Cocciolone said. “$35 is the max, but tips are very welcome.”
Then, with the help of a client, Coccciolone undertook yet another pivotal development for her business: a nail-focused social media account.
“I was thinking about starting an Instagram for a while,” Cocciolone said. “Just to be able to communicate through something other than word of mouth.”
Beyond communication, this account serves as a home base where Cocciolone can post her work and prices. It opens a window for those outside of the artist’s close circle to discover her and get in touch.
Professionally, Cocciolone recognizes that other career goals may pull her away from nails in the future. She is content with keeping it a casual hobby, simply enjoying its lighthearted nature. She embraces the relaxed feel of her establishment, a quality that has earned her frequent enthusiastic reviews.
“When I do people’s nails, they often say that they prefer to come to me over the salon because I ask questions throughout the process so that they can get exactly what they want,” Cocciolone said. “They can speak their mind if they don’t like it, if they want to change something, or if they notice something that I missed.”
While Cocciolone has no current intentions to expand into a big business, that doesn’t dismiss the important life experience that nails have given her. Exploring her business and building a clientele has cultivated critical skills such as patience and attention to detail, which Cocciolone intends to carry into future professional endeavors. Still, she stays true to her core values and remembers why she began this journey in the first place.
“I just do it for fun, because I love it, and I love seeing people happy,” Cocciolone said. “So come my way, give me a DM @nailsbytia734.”
