Today we’d like to introduce you to Omayra Santinelli.
Omayra, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I use to work as a medical assistant in an HIV center in oak cliff before I decided to change my career path into a nail artist. I decided to change because I became inspired by a few friends who owned their own business and wanted to work for my self and have a bit of creative freedom. I wanted to learn beauty but didn’t want to do full cosmetology so I looked for a school of nail art/or manicurist school but at the time there was no school for just manicurist. only available schools were in the Vietnamese language, I looked and found a school in Juarez chihuahua Mexico, the border town of El Paso TX and took a week course on basic acrylic nail application. I came back to Dallas after a few months of practicing in El Paso and taking only tips to keep buying nail supplies. I worked from home until I built enough clientele to where I could afford to live on my own and fortunately three years later I found a school of nail art in garland. I went to school and continued to work from home until I finished school and became a licensed nail technician. after I became licensed I rented booth spots in a few salons in Dallas, met a lot of people, always continued education and tried to keep learning new nail art to stay updated. I now have a private suite in grapevine and I couldn’t be happier.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I started in 2012 nail art was starting to become just a bit more popular on social media and the power of Instagram made it a bit easier to gain recognition and gain clientele. it wasn’t easy, I quit a secure paycheck job in the medical field to start a nail art fantasy dream job. I wasn’t sure what i was going to make it and wast sure I could pay my bills with nail art. but I didn’t give up. I sacrificed going out and socializing with friends and family because all I would do was practice. I gave so many free nails sets just to get a picture or proof that I could do nails and my nails seven years ago weren’t that great looking! haha! I worked for free and worked for tips just to practice on a live hand and not a plastic one. when I first started there were not many nail artists like there are today where I could learn from, you just had to figure it all out! a lot of the nail supplies I bought were mainly trial and error supplies but you just made it work! In time I found out there were more people who were doing nails or wanted to learn and you just connect to gain knowledge on upcoming nail classes and stay connected for growth. nothing is easy everything is hard work but the pay off is great, you get to see how much you grow.
Please tell us about your business.
I am a nail artist and I customize acrylic nails. I specialize in mainly acrylic nails. I’m known for making short nails be functional and look fun, cute, pretty, glam or festive. I do short, medium, or long shapes and sizes not just short but I tend to work on people who need to be functional in their daily activities or jobs. I have varieties of colors, glitters, rhinestones, nail decals, gel polishes, colored acrylics, etc. many of my clients show me pictures of nails they want and most of them are long sets, my job is to create similar nail art on a smaller version w=of what they show me. I try and get my clients out of the box! they show me a picture and I can make it look similar to what they want or they bring me the outfit they want me to be inspired by and I come up with art to customize their nails. first time clients say they want basic nails and they come into my room and I show them what I can accent their basic color nails with, they fall in love and do not go basic again! it is about what you feel. I tell them there are no rules to nail art, no age limit, no such thing as too much or not enough… no rules, hence the name unruly girl nails!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I want to branch out and try other forms of nail art and nail enhancements. step out of only acrylic nails and also use poly gels, nail wraps, etc. there is so much to learn and I will learn as much as I can. I would love to own a salon with people who want to express their creativity comfortably and make a good living out of it as well. there is enough business for all of us and it takes a team! only time will tell.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1217 W State Hwy 114 #124, Grapevine, TX 76051
- Website: nailsomayra.booksy.com
- Phone: 469-684-4612
- Email: unruly.girl.nails@gmail.com
- Instagram: @unruly.girl.nails
Image Credit:
Cassandra Baker
Omayra Santinelli
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