Originally published in print in February 2026. View print issues here.

For senior Aldina Metovic, doing nails at home was more than a TikTok trend. What started as a small hobby during her freshman year has grown into a creative outlet that she uses to express herself and connect with her friends outside of school.

Metovic began doing her own nails when she discovered on social media that it offered an artistic solution to her nail biting.

“I always liked painting my nails and getting dressed up,” Metovic said. “I have always had a problem [with] biting my nails, so I became super insecure about them.”

Metovic began researching nails and creating designs herself. Through TikTok, she discovered a new technique called Gel-X, which involves gluing a nail tip made of solid gel onto the natural nail before painting. “It was a lot easier than acrylic,” Metovic said. “I got really creative with it, and it became an outlet for me.”

Eventually, people began to notice the unique designs on Metovic’s nails. After explaining that she designed them herself, her friends began to request appointments with her. Through practice, patience and time, she improved her skills and eventually gained enough confidence to start doing her friends’ nails for free. Over time, her hobby has grown into a fun social activity rather than a business.

Even though she does nails almost every day after school, she still manages to balance it with school and her job. On average, a set of nails for one person takes around an hour, depending on length, shape and design.

“I always find time,” Metovic said. “It’s become a daily thing, whether it’s looking online for new sets or actually doing someone’s nails.”

Nail art trends change quickly, and Metovic keeps up by watching short videos on TikTok and searching for inspiration on Pinterest. Instead of copying designs, she prefers experimenting on her own and finding techniques that work best for her.

While Metovic has thought about going into cosmetology to get her nail technician license, she views it more as a lifelong hobby. Currently, she hopes to pursue a career working with children but doesn’t plan on completely stopping doing nails. By doing nails at home, Metovic is able to save money and help not only herself, but also her friends, feel more confident.

“I love being able to do nails for my friends,” Metovic said. “I don’t think it’s ever something that I could give up.”

Photos courtesy of Aldina Metovic