Avery Lampen, exploratory studies freshman and nail tech, paints Makenna Hartley, communicative science and disorders freshman, nails in North Hubbard Hall on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
For some students, getting their nails done does not mean making an appointment at a salon. Instead, it can mean walking down the hall of their residence hall and sitting at another student’s desk.
Student nail techs across campus are turning a hobby into a source of income, using social media to find clients while balancing classes, homework and their social lives.
For freshman exploratory student Avery Lampen, doing nails started when she was a sophomore in high school. She had never gotten her own nails done at a salon, but she had always enjoyed being creative and wanted another way to make money.
“I’ve always been very crafty and artsy,” Lampen said. “I've been working since I was 14. But I wanted another source of income that I found enjoyable, and so I started my sophomore year and I started off pretty good.”
Lampen taught herself how to do nails by watching videos on TikTok and practicing. She said it took months to a year to become comfortable with the process, from nail preparation to creating designs.
She now offers Gel X, soft gel and hard gel services, usually charging between $35 and $45. She said the money helps her pay for tuition, invest in her business and cover expenses in her dorm, including food and cleaning supplies. Running the business has also become a lesson in time management.
Lampen typically schedules two appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with additional appointments depending on her weekend schedule. Each appointment can take anywhere from about 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the design.
“I have enough time for everything,” Lampen said. “I can have enough time to study, go to my classes, and manage my social life.”
Her clients find her through TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. She posts pictures and videos of her work and advertises that she is available for students living in places near East Campus.
The demand can sometimes be difficult to manage; Lampen said she has received so many messages from potential clients that scheduling appointments has become one of the hardest parts of running her business. She typically handles appointments on a first-come, first-served basis.
For her, though, the business is about more than making money. Lampen said she enjoys seeing clients around campus after doing their nails and hearing that the experience made them feel more confident.
“I really like giving girls the opportunity to have some self-care,” Lampen said.
Communicative sciences and disorders freshman Makenna Hartley became a client after the two met through Instagram. Hartley said she had only gotten her nails done at a salon a few times before becoming a client of Lampen’s. She usually prefers simple designs like chrome or French tips, but Lampen recently gave her a Michigan State-themed set with polka dots and stars.
Hartley said one thing that stands out about Lampen’s work is the attention she gives to the condition of the client’s nails.
“She really makes sure your nails are healthy,” Hartley said.
Hartley also said having a student nail tech creates a relaxed environment where clients can talk and get to know other students.
“I think it’s a very good side gig,” Hartley said. “You get to meet a lot of people, and then you have just another skill on your side.”
Communications freshman Zion Robinson also turned her interest in nails into a business. Robinson said she started doing her own nails as a child, eventually beginning to do other people’s nails when they noticed her work. Her business began more seriously during her junior year of high school when a friend asked her to make a set of nails for homecoming.
After Robinson made the set, other students began asking for their own. Her aunt eventually encouraged her to start charging for her work instead of doing it for free. Robinson now sells her press-on and Gel X nails for around $35. She taught herself how to create designs and said she can often recreate a design after seeing a picture.
Her favorite designs include three-dimensional art, although she said many customers request more common styles such as French tips, polka dots and tortoiseshell designs.
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Robinson said running the business has taught her how quickly money can come and go and how much work it takes to earn it back. She also sees her business as a way to experience independence while in college.
“I can make money off of something that I just do for fun too,” Robinson said.
For Robinson, that flexibility is one reason student businesses can be appealing in college. Instead of working a traditional job with a fixed schedule, students can build a business around something they already enjoy. Robinson said she does not schedule appointments if school becomes too busy, ensuring that classes always come first.
“It’s something that I can do that I enjoy, that I enjoy doing, and that I know people need at the same time,” Robinson said.
As more students use social media to advertise their services, nail businesses can become a way to meet other students, express creativity and earn money without leaving campus.
For Lampen, the best part is still the people she meets along the way.
“It definitely gives me a way to express myself and my art,” Lampen said.
