A smaller part of someone’s look has recently become a fashion statement within itself: nail art.
Pinterest is filled with seemingly endless articles on nail art tutorials, tips and tricks and seasonal favorites.
Now, especially with football and formal seasons upon us, everyone is on the search to have the most original nails.
Going into the field on a whim but now boasting more than 12,000 followers on Instagram, Morgan Dixon of M.A.D. Nails knows how to provide creative art right to the customer’s fingertips.
“I had always gotten my nails done, but that never made me want to be a cosmetologist,” Dixon said. “I just saw other individuals in the nail industry doing a lot of really rad nail art, and I’ve always been pretty good with my hands, so I just thought it would be a good thing to do while in college.”
Though enrolled at the University of North Florida, Dixon moved to New Orleans in December and currently is taking a break from school in an effort to expand her business.
Dixon had visited the city a few times prior to moving, but said she was never sure whether she wanted to take the plunge.
On an impulse she decided to move to the city for a more creative outlet.
“I was already inspired by coming through, so I thought it’d be a great place to just get some more inspiration from for work,” Dixon said.
Her first real experience in the field came from when she worked at Vanity Projects NYC, a high-end nail art studio that also features video art installations.
Since then, Dixon has been doing freelance nail art for the past four and a half years, testing her creativity and growing her social media following.
She said she uses varying camera angles, good lighting, regular posts and use of popular hashtags to draw followers in.
“I knew no matter how good I was at nail art, if no one knew about me then there’s no point,” Dixon said.
Even her company name, M.A.D. Nails, is an extension of herself. M.A.D. is her initials, as she wanted something simple while still being able to brand herself authentically.
Because of the vastness of the nail community, finding inspiration to feed off of isn’t difficult.
For Dixon though, the main drive behind her designs stems from her clients’ wishes, though she also relies on her own artistic insight and other popular nail artisans on social media.
“I’m inspired by concepts and ideas because that kind of gives me free range to be more of an individual and show off my own work,” Dixon said. “I never really liked copying other people’s work, so I’ll see someone else’s design and put my own spin on it.”
Since starting this business, Dixon has traveled throughout several states and has received offers to work in larger cities in Texas and California, as well as international cities.
Her future plans include setting up her own nail art studio, which she currently is in the process of, as well as eventually moving on to other cities.
“I consider myself as a gypsy nail artist,” Dixon said. “The list is still growing.”
Dixon’s services include mobile appointments, parties and pop-up shops. M.A.D. Nails currently is located at 306 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70119.
M.A.D Nails brings art to customer’s fingertips
September 9, 2015
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