Nail Artist Leads Well-Rounded Life
http://www.pcwomensjournal.com/articles/7325/1/Nail-Artist-Leads-Well-Rounded-Life-/Page1.html
Andrea Bowser
Andrea Bowser is a communication student at East Carolina University. By Andrea Bowser
Published on 12/5/2011
Leaning back in the chair behind her nail station, nail file in hand, Jasmine Foreman patiently prepares to be interviewed. She looks relaxed after a long day of filing, painting, sculpting and engaging in other forms of artwork.
Foreman is wearing a red and white blouse, blue jeans, red peep toe pumps, silver jewelry and a face of artfully applied makeup that shows she is not one to rush away from the mirror in the mornings. Her hair is a short, “pixie” length, black but spiked red on the top and tapered to her neck in the back. She smiles pleasantly.
“Whew! It’s been a busy day,” says Foreman, who had completed nearly 10 projects. “But it was worth it. The money looked even better when it was all over.”
The 27-year-old, 5’ 11” New York native is a nail technician who specializes in sculpting nails. She is elated about her career choice.
“I wanted to do something different, but fun. I really enjoy creating new styles for women,” says Foreman. “It’s funny because, when I was young, I never was really into the whole glamour scene. It was mostly my older sister. I, on the other hand, wore the baggy jeans and hung with the boys. Eventually, with my sister’s help, I began to experiment with makeup and nails, and grew to love it.”
When she is not occupied with tailoring unique sets of nails for each person who walks into the shop, raising a daughter or fulfilling spiritual needs, Foreman is an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. She does facials in her spare time, mostly with the same clients she does nails for and also close friends.
Most of time, nail technicians use glue and nail tips to apply a full set of nails on the fingers. If a person has short nails that are nearly hidden within the skin, or thin, brittle “eggshell” nails, it may be hard to apply the acrylic because there may not be enough of the nail to use. However, Foreman has a different approach to difficult nail situations.
“What is different about my line of work from the rest is that I sculpt nails...emphasis on sculpt...meaning that a person can come into the shop with the shortest, thinnest or longest hand of nails,” she explains, “and I can create exactly what they’re looking for without applying any nail tips or glue.”
Even her daughter Jaida, her only child, enjoys the different designs her mom is able to do for her.
“I like it when my mom does my nails,” says the 5-year-old. “I like to have a different color almost every week when I go to school.”
Crossing her legs and shifting in her chair, Foreman talks about Jazz It Up Nails, the business she started in July 2006. After her lease was up in July 2008, she decided to go back to working for a salon instead of having to deal with the overall financial responsibilities.
“Although I enjoyed being my own boss,” Foreman relates, “I must say that the amount of headaches decreased tremendously once I went back to working for someone else. This also allowed me to draw closer to my God, Jehovah, and pursue spiritual interests that I know will take me a lot further than the salary I was making when spiritual things didn’t seem to be in the forefront of my life.”
When she was only 20 years old, Foreman lost her mother, which took a major toll on her.
“Losing my mom was the most devastating thing I’d ever experienced,” she says.
Foreman strives to be the best role model she can possibly be for her own daughter, deep-rooting a spiritual love and knowledge within her at an early age.
“I want Jaida to learn the things that I had no clue about when I was her age and, hopefully, it will prevent her from experiencing some of the hardships I experienced growing up,” says Foreman.
“I love my mom,” says Jaida. “She takes good care of me and I know she loves me because she gives me a big kiss every night before bed.”
A busy person such as Foreman has no other choice but to “sculpt” and tailor her own life. She plays many roles that affect many people.
“Nails and make-up are my livelihood,” she says. “They’re what get the bills paid. But when business is over for the day, I leave it here at the shop and make time for more important things in life.”
Foreman is now a full-time pioneer in disciple-making work, which she enjoys along with the nail sculpting that defines and beautifies each individual who comes into the salon, sits in her chair and prepares to be amazed.
“It doesn’t get any better than this!” she says.
Student journalist Andrea Bowser chats with Jasmine Foreman, a nail technician who specializes in sculpting nails, about life, motherhood and what she loves about her career.
Leaning back in the chair behind her nail station, nail file in hand, Jasmine Foreman patiently prepares to be interviewed. She looks relaxed after a long day of filing, painting, sculpting and engaging in other forms of artwork. Foreman is wearing a red and white blouse, blue jeans, red peep toe pumps, silver jewelry and a face of artfully applied makeup that shows she is not one to rush away from the mirror in the mornings. Her hair is a short, “pixie” length, black but spiked red on the top and tapered to her neck in the back. She smiles pleasantly.
“Whew! It’s been a busy day,” says Foreman, who had completed nearly 10 projects. “But it was worth it. The money looked even better when it was all over.”
The 27-year-old, 5’ 11” New York native is a nail technician who specializes in sculpting nails. She is elated about her career choice.
“I wanted to do something different, but fun. I really enjoy creating new styles for women,” says Foreman. “It’s funny because, when I was young, I never was really into the whole glamour scene. It was mostly my older sister. I, on the other hand, wore the baggy jeans and hung with the boys. Eventually, with my sister’s help, I began to experiment with makeup and nails, and grew to love it.”
When she is not occupied with tailoring unique sets of nails for each person who walks into the shop, raising a daughter or fulfilling spiritual needs, Foreman is an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. She does facials in her spare time, mostly with the same clients she does nails for and also close friends.
Most of time, nail technicians use glue and nail tips to apply a full set of nails on the fingers. If a person has short nails that are nearly hidden within the skin, or thin, brittle “eggshell” nails, it may be hard to apply the acrylic because there may not be enough of the nail to use. However, Foreman has a different approach to difficult nail situations.
“What is different about my line of work from the rest is that I sculpt nails...emphasis on sculpt...meaning that a person can come into the shop with the shortest, thinnest or longest hand of nails,” she explains, “and I can create exactly what they’re looking for without applying any nail tips or glue.”
Even her daughter Jaida, her only child, enjoys the different designs her mom is able to do for her.
“I like it when my mom does my nails,” says the 5-year-old. “I like to have a different color almost every week when I go to school.”
Crossing her legs and shifting in her chair, Foreman talks about Jazz It Up Nails, the business she started in July 2006. After her lease was up in July 2008, she decided to go back to working for a salon instead of having to deal with the overall financial responsibilities.
“Although I enjoyed being my own boss,” Foreman relates, “I must say that the amount of headaches decreased tremendously once I went back to working for someone else. This also allowed me to draw closer to my God, Jehovah, and pursue spiritual interests that I know will take me a lot further than the salary I was making when spiritual things didn’t seem to be in the forefront of my life.”
When she was only 20 years old, Foreman lost her mother, which took a major toll on her.
“Losing my mom was the most devastating thing I’d ever experienced,” she says.
Foreman strives to be the best role model she can possibly be for her own daughter, deep-rooting a spiritual love and knowledge within her at an early age.
“I want Jaida to learn the things that I had no clue about when I was her age and, hopefully, it will prevent her from experiencing some of the hardships I experienced growing up,” says Foreman.
“I love my mom,” says Jaida. “She takes good care of me and I know she loves me because she gives me a big kiss every night before bed.”
A busy person such as Foreman has no other choice but to “sculpt” and tailor her own life. She plays many roles that affect many people.
“Nails and make-up are my livelihood,” she says. “They’re what get the bills paid. But when business is over for the day, I leave it here at the shop and make time for more important things in life.”
Foreman is now a full-time pioneer in disciple-making work, which she enjoys along with the nail sculpting that defines and beautifies each individual who comes into the salon, sits in her chair and prepares to be amazed.
“It doesn’t get any better than this!” she says.