Rising Stars: Meet Ariel Roberts

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Roberts.  

Hi Ariel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started doing nails when I got tired of not being able to get the design I wanted at the nail salon, I figured it wasn’t that hard to learn but I was wrong. I ended up enrolling in a nail school and starting practicing until I graduated and then decided to open up my own nail salon rather than working in a nail salon with multiple people. I have been in business for two years and I am proud to be where I am at today. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road starting out was not smooth, I thought I would have support from people I considered friends and family. I ended up practicing on myself and my practice hand and kept constantly promoting myself and then the support came in from people I didn’t know. Being an African American nail tech is hard due to the fact of the stereotype that of nail techs being of one ethnicity only. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Nail Artist, and I call myself that due to I have an ability most don’t and that is drawing on nails. I do not use stencils and everything is hand-painted and comes from the heart. I am mostly proud of the ability to take a craft I enjoyed and turn it into a business. The thing that sets me apart from others is my love for nails. I love everything that nails have to offer, I have a true passion for it. 

Any big plans?
I eventually want to open a Nail School, where everything will be taught that will help the students succeed in the nail business. Marketing, hands-on work, accounting you name it. The things that I was not taught, and I had to learn on my own 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.styleseat.com/arielroberts
• Instagram: n_ailzbyari_
• Facebook: NailzbyAri