Courtesy Overtime Media/Photo; Jermaine Cruickshank
XVibes has teamed up with ExclusiveClaws to bring you ladies all the hottest beauty and cosmetology tips, trends and looks this Carnival season. Nicky is the self-taught nail technician and the brains behind Exclusive Claws, who began her entrepreneurship journey two years ago – driven by her love for nail art and a desire to infuse an unparalleled level of convenience into the beauty world.
Treading on the cusp of beauty innovation, Nicky stepped up to create a unique and trailblazing product – the FastFrench GelX PressOns. A true testament to her skill and creativity, these exquisite nails encapsulate style, quality and convenience like never before, providing a nail solution that’s within everyone’s reach. New to the Carnival scene, she brings a fresh female pair of eyes and interests to scan the hottest events for the freshest outfits and styles. Get familiar with her and hope she looks upon your kit favorably:
Q: How and why did you get into cosmetology and nail care?
A: It was the frustration of having my birthday appointment cancelled by the most popular nail tech in the country (and one of the few that did gel) at the time, that made me really look into doing my own nails. Shortly after, I found myself going through a nasty divorce, while trying to cope with the stress of being branded an “essential worker” in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s safe to say I needed a creative outlet and a place to focus my energy and since being outside was not an option then, I found something constructive and cool to do inside.
Q: What are some of the benefits and the negatives associated with this type of work?
A: The benefits are the quick, steady moneyyyyyyy cause the beauty industry doesn’t work on credit; having a creative outlet; the flexibility of time; the ability to connect with new people; the sweet pleasure of building your client’s confidence in themselves and of course, for me being a part of a forever-growing industry means there’s always something new to learn.
Cons : It’s hard to get good quality products at an affordable price locally (also the reason I started my own product line). Society doesn’t respect nail techs as professionals really and it’s a job that’s very taxing on your body as long hours are guaranteed.
Q: How much money can be made on a daily basis?
A: The costs and profits are both heavily dependent on how good you want to be and what services you choose to offer.
Starting price for nails as a beginner can be $150-$200 a day if you only see 1 client. So when just starting out as a beginner, it’s safe to estimate an income of around $650 a day. As a fully booked experienced and professional tech’s your average daily income can be around $1500-$2000.
On a bad day just $1000.
Q: Tell us, how does the Carnival season affect your business?
A: January can be quiet, but it’s usually followed by the mad dash for Valentine’s, Carnival and Mother’s Day dress ups. With all the parties/ events, the girlies have to have their nails in order. We love this season, but it’s definitely a marathon not a sprint.
Q: How do you keep track of the latest trends, products and styles in your industry and how do you evolve them to suit our climate and culture here?
A: To keep abreast and stay ahead of the trends, I follow all the big international and celebrity nail techs. If Beyoncé does her nails, I want to know about it. I also look at what’s trending in a lot of the rap/ pop music videos in terms of colors, styles, patterns, everything…
Styles/Products = using social media for good. TikTok, Pinterest & YouTube are great places to find information. This is a billion dollar industry and the Caribbean/Trinidad always follows what we see abroad. Traveling a lot also helps me see how things are done and learn new techniques either by having the services done or attending the classes. Usually you have 2 types of clients maximalist and minimalist, so I try to accommodate both.
Follow @exclusiveclaws and @xvibesent on IG and TikTok for more info and exclusive tips, reviews and giveaways this Carnival 2025
