We were lucky to catch up with Ariana Coleman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ariana, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Growing up I have always been one to take risks. Back then that seemed so small, insignificant and a given. Being an entrepreneur is a risk in itself that I was scared to take. I always had a passion for art and beauty. When I was 17 I decided I would take the risk in doing both as my career. At that age, I had gone through a lot. In turn, I was struggling to do well in school. I had little to no self esteem, and I was deathly afraid of my future because of how insignificant it felt. I didn’t want to go to college just yet, and I really wanted to do something that was both art and beauty related. I remember sitting in my parents living room, talking to my family. Then my boyfriend asked me why don’t I take the route to becoming a cosmetologist. I had previously thought about doing so but because of the stigma around it, I shot it down even though it was something I kept coming back to. It wasn’t until I played with the idea of becoming one that it felt obtainable. It became something I could see myself building. Creating something that was my own, and being able to have the creative freedom I wanted in a career. After coming to that realization, I decided that being a nail tech was what I wanted to do. It was as if a lightbulb went off, like I finally found one of my purposes. I remember feeling so happy but so afraid at the same time. Entrepreneurship is a big commitment- especially at such a young age. Combining that with being in the beauty industry, I understood then how challenging that could become. Ultimately it was a choice of chasing a dream or staying complacent and settling for a career that would not bring me any happiness. Everyday there are struggles with taking this risk, but no risk comes without obstacles. I thought this would be impossible- but now I am a licensed professional that owns her own nail business at 20 years old! Even though it’s hard, you have to make the conscious choice of seeking more for yourself every day. You can’t always take the easy way forward. You still have to keep trying even when you feel like giving up. The best results don’t always come easy and I’m dedicated to doing the work to get them for myself.

Ariana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Ariana Coleman! I’m 20 years old and I do nails for a living! I have been into beauty since I was very little, but was always restricted from venturing into it. I decided I was going to do nails towards the end of highschool, and have been working towards that dream ever since. I have studied hard, gone through lots of trials and tribulations and felt like I wasn’t going to make it many times. I am still in the growing stages of my business, but even though I am I still show up for myself and my clients as much as possible. All dreams start in small rooms, and I have dedicated my life and artistic vision to this industry! I try my best to make the impossible possible for all my client’s, as well as prioritizing health and comfortablility. I’ve recreated art pieces, tv shows, albums and even themes on sets of nails, ranging from natural manicures to nail extensions. I will always put my best foot forward, as well as using my creative gifts to make visions come to life on a tiny canvas.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that failing is something you can’t do. I had to teach myself that it’s ok to fail and make mistakes. I think that as a black girl, growing up there is a certain stigma with learning and making mistakes. A lot of young black women are taught that making mistakes- even the smallest one- isn’t something you can afford to do. You always have to be calculated, “on point”, and at times when you do fail and make mistakes you aren’t really given grace. Being a young entrepreneur, there are times when I have made multiple mistakes or even failed, and beat myself up so much over something that is a human requirement. As I grow, I have to continue to rewire my brain and tell myself that it’s ok to mess up. The mistake or failure isn’t the biggest concern. The biggest concern is how you react or come back from said failure or mistake. The way you move after you fail is what counts. That doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to feel disappointed or upset, it just means giving yourself space to do so, then getting back up and trying again.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In all honesty, the moment I decided to take the steps to being a business owner was the moment I had to pivot everything. I truly believe that becoming a nail tech changed my life. I remember at times I doubted myself and my potential. Feeling so small, and thinking that certain lifestyles or experiences were unattainable. It wasn’t until I went to cosmetology school that I had realized my thought process on a lot had to change. I remember my first nail client was a lady who lived in Lansing. It was her birthday, and she came to my school to get her first set of acrylics. I was so afraid, and I remember telling her it was my first time so I knew the set was going to be horrible. She told me to give it a try, and not to sell myself short. I did the best that I could, and criticized every little detail. I felt defeated, and it wasn’t until I put the top coat on that she smiled. In my head, Im like “why is she smiling these are horrible”. She told me this was the best set she’d ever received because I gave it my all, and even though I am just beginning, I have a gift of doing it even if I am afraid, and that’s needed in a business. This situation taught me that I will always be learning something new with a job like this. That even though I’m unsure of the outcome, you have to at least try, because not trying will keep you stuck. How will I ever obtain anything doing nothing at all? You can’t. That experience showed me I have to start changing my thought process and attitude towards life, because if I could think about life and my experiences differently, I could think about nails and my business differently.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bunnie-beauty-co.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bunniebeauty.c0?igsh=Y2NoaHpobDQzYmc3&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bunni3beauty?si=RWcgGrgH4PRnPz_0