Today we’d like to introduce you to Joelle Rodriguez.
Hi Joelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As children, we get asked: “what do you want to do when you’re older?”. I had the generic answers; A therapist, an interior designer, a business owner, a lawyer, or just the old-reliable ‘I don’t know’. I didn’t resonate with any of them.
I’ve always been exposed to nails. My parents owned a tattoo shop right next to a nail salon and the overwhelming scent of acrylic was intoxicating and beautiful compared to the day-to-day of the family business. I’d walk through the nail salon before closing looking at the artwork on the black emery boards and plastic nail tips. I never considered it to be a viable option for a career- little did I know.
As you can probably already figure, I, of course, had to have my nails done. There was something nurturing and beautiful about getting my once-a-month mani. I didn’t know it at the time but, going out and intentionally getting pretty was something that fostered a deep connection within myself, with myself. I loved the community that being in a salon surrounded me with. Men and women doing something for themselves that gave them that extra boost of confidence when going out into the world.
I found my salon at around 13, that place that made me feel invited every time I came in. Unfortunately, they were on the verge of closing being that the owner at the time wanted out. My mom- being the entrepreneur that she is and having the same fascination with treating herself and getting done up bought the business. Just like that- the family business expanded from tattoos to tattoos and nails.
Jeez was I attached to that place. How could I not be? Over the years, While watching the nail artist work their magic and hanging out in the salon I inevitably wanted to try my hand at the craft.
I picked up my first cuticle pusher at 14 and began practicing on friends and family, starting out with manicures and pedicures. I’d watch Youtube videos, attend seminars, and even pay for a few classes until I was confident in my skills. By 16, I restarted my practice but this time with Acrylic. Practicing bead ratio, hand-filing, and light design work. Then, that pesky question came up again. “what do you want to do?”. I mean, it made sense. Graduation was just around the corner but, nothing interested me. Countless hobbies picked up and put down, job fairs and school trips leaving my young mind dissatisfied.
What would you have done?
At 17, I began researching nail technology schools and the requirements to get a license in New York. I never told my parents I wouldn’t go to college. I mean, I’ve been talking about getting ‘the college experience’ since middle school but as graduation approached and college admissions deadlines came and went it was sort of kismet that I didn’t choose a college at all. My parent knew. And they were supportive as I marched down to a highly rated Nail Technology school and put myself of the Fall semester class list.
I graduated on March 14, 2020.
I went to work in August 2021.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s easy to read my story and think my getting into the nail world was ordained, in a way, it was.
But, nail artistry was more than just a way to make money to me, this path I’m undergoing is more than just a technical skill I’ve learned. I’m an artist- that often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of work.
I am a storyteller, the sum of all the details of the experience is what makes it worthwhile to me
To me, what I do is more than just replicating someone else’s work on a client. The salon life was always a way for me to connect with others but, somewhere along the way, that got lost. I became a service. Don’t get me wrong, I love contributing to even a sliver of someone’s confidence boost but, I wanted that for myself also and after a while, the day-to-day salon life wasn’t as fulfilling as it once was.
I didn’t want to just take clients. I wanted to foster a community. I wanted to spread that feeling of beauty and authenticity without robbing myself of it.
I had to make a choice: work or passion.
I want to use my art as a means of expression. To build a community around connecting with yourself on a deeper level and I felt the daily salon life wasn’t allowing me to connect the way I saw I could. So, I left.
It was hard and It still is. I’m navigating through the world but, the vision I have is worth the uncertainties 10x over.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my years of doing nails and figuring myself out as a person in the process, I’ve realized how much I cherished my love for my life- mostly through others. Seeing how deeply my clients enjoyed getting dolled up and seeing them step into their true self made me want to explore that more.
I yearn to foster a wellness-based community with others, and within myself, that guides and encourages you to nurture your soul. I want anyone and everyone to know that feeling like a million bucks is not some far-off dream. There’s an avenue to healing and self-love through all things: Music, food, and expression.
Appearance is definitely what pulled me in but, nurturing the inner child in me is what I feel helps me glow. I want to share that with the world.
What were you like growing up?
Whew. Honestly, I don’t feel like I had a good grip on who I was growing up. I had so many emotions bouncing around my little body- more than I knew what to do with. I had so many passions and interests; I was discovering the world and my place in it all. I was into Greek mythology, fashion design, working with animals, and practically every other thing 9-year-olds are interested in.
From memory, I think most people could say I talked a lot but, I like to think I was just eager to connect with others. I used to think about how everyone was living an entirely different life. They knew people I didn’t, had passions beyond my wildest dreams, and did grown-up things I probably couldn’t wrap my head around.
Just knowing how big the world was made me want to explore it more. I had plans to leave the states the second I knew what a plane was (and got over my flying anxiety).
I can say I was an appreciator of the arts. Movies, music, plays, paintings- I saw the beauty in it all. I wanted to try it all so you can already figure that I had way too many unused sketchbooks and Prismacolor marker sets. It fascinated me to see the ways someone could express themselves or execute an idea.
I don’t think I could truly say who I was as a child but, as I rediscover myself I feel like I’m most like who I was at 9- right down to the pile of sketchbooks (they’re in good use now).
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crownjewelnails/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/crownjewelnails/
Image Credits
IG @By.pedestal for the blue photos of me IG @neriahmc for the flower nail shot
