Meet Nail Artist Shakira – Where Creativity Flourishes, One Unique Design at a Time

I chose this work because I love helping people feel good about themselves. In my job, I help others see that being different is a good thing. I want everyone to feel proud of who they are. I also like being the person people come to when they need to talk. I listen, understand, and give the best advice I can. This job lets me do what I truly care about.

I make content that shows who I really am. I let my followers and clients see my journey as a leader, just the way it is, real and honest. They get to learn about running a business and the ups and downs of life through my story.

I’m 25 years old and a proud mom. I’ve been doing nails for 6 years. I love making my clients happy by giving them fun, creative nail designs. I also help fix feet that have had problems like injuries or nail issues. People call me the “freestyle queen” because I make nail art that matches each person’s style and personality. No two sets are ever the same!

I grew up in a good, loving home, but later on, I ended up facing hard times and became homeless. While living in a shelter, I worked two jobs, one at UPS and the other at a Black-owned nail salon. Before I opened my own salon in July 2020, I worked in three different Black-owned salons to learn how to run a business and take care of clients.

During COVID-19, I didn’t stop working when everything was shut down. I travelled to people’s homes in places like Connecticut, Atlanta, and Pennsylvania to do nails. Some of those trips were scary. once, I was almost robbed by a client.

In November 2020, one of my clients hurt me, and I ended up with a sprained ankle. But I didn’t give up. I kept going and kept working. I found out I was having my daughter in 2021, and I got married the following year.

When the government shut down, nail supply stores weren’t letting people go inside to shop. We had to know exactly what we wanted and order from the door.

So, I made a bold choice. I flew to Atlanta to buy supplies because their stores were still open, unlike New York. That moment taught me something big: never let small problems stop you. Get up, keep going, and don’t quit. Be strong and finish your race, no matter what.

I was doing nails at home with my family around, and some clients didn’t feel comfortable because I wasn’t working in a real salon space yet.

That’s when I learned something important, not every client is meant for you, and not all money is good money. I started young and couldn’t afford to rent a booth or a salon suite, so I worked with what I had. Even though it was hard, I never gave up. The people who stuck with me really cared and believed in me.

Only do things that make you feel happy and excited. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t force it. And always keep learning in this kind of work. There’s always something new to learn because the world keeps changing and new trends come out every day.

I love doing stiletto nails and detailed French designs because they let me show off my art. I’ve spent months practicing to get them just right, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

My favourite nail polish brand changes depending on the colour I need. For black and white, I like the ones where just one coat gives a clean, smooth look, perfect for French tips. I like using DND when I’m doing nail art because it goes on evenly and works great for drawing designs.

I love all the nail tools I use because each one matters. Without one, I wouldn’t be able to get the clean shape, smooth cuticles, perfect nails, and a shiny top coat to finish the job just right.

Many people think that African men and women can’t do nails or feet. That’s because growing up, we mostly saw nail work being done by Chinese workers, so that’s what people got used to seeing.

I’m based in both Brooklyn and Queens. I work between the two, so I can take clients in either area depending on the day.

You can email me at [email protected] or follow me on Instagram at @kirasstyling.

Love what you do, even if no one else believes in you.

Your passion matters more than their opinion.