We recently connected with Quetel Deveaux and have shared our conversation below.

Quetel , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

So, I wouldn’t say that I always wanted to be a nail artist. I honestly didn’t have a choice because I didn’t finish high school and at the at of 17 I was pregnant with my second child. Now just a bit of a back story, from I was a child I’ve always been good with my hands. Growing up in the neighborhood where I was born and raised in Hawksbill, Grand Bahama in The Bahamas, I was always that friend who would do my friends and their moms or siblings hair and nails. From the youngest to the oldest I was the one who everyone would call to fix them up.
Even though I was good with hair as well I leaned more towards the nails because of the creativity.
My mother was use to me going by friends to do their nails and there were times when I would even ditch school to buy nails supplies to do my friends at school. I would do my sisters hair and then I had a few persons that would pick me up to do their nails.
So this was clearly the way I would go as far as a career was concern but I didn’t think about it. Truth be told I can’t tell you what I was thinking because in school I wasn’t as focus as I should’ve been. I had thoughts of being a nurse but that faded after a while.

But it was my mother that got me started in the beauty industry. I was in school at the time trying to finish up my last few years after having my first daughter, but again focused on what was important I ended up getting pregnant again with my second daughter. My mother was devastated to say the least as there was a lot going on in our family at the time.
I remember her saying Quetel your gonna have to work. You need a job. And sure enough my mother went to a local salon and asked if they needed a nail tech. That was 1999 and from there to now, here I am. Still going and I can’t believe it.

Quetel , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born and raised on one of the beautiful islands of The Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island. I’m the third child out of five siblings. I’ve always been a lover at heart. I love wisdom and truth and I also enjoy keeping company with older folks. ( I mentioned getting in the industry in the question before this one). I’m married and we have 4 amazing children and 1 beautiful grand daughter. As far as my craft is concern being committed and disciplined was something that just came so natural.

However, it wasn’t until the emergence of Instagram back in 2012 that I was exposed to the international stage.
Having the access to the industry like never before was a game changer.
I was able to see how far behind I was when it came to innovation and creativity.
What stood out to me the most was the creativity. That was everything for me!

I attend my first international class in Atlanta with a Nail Artist name Tashina Green aka “Poochie” I remember her saying these few words that stuck with me to this day “Just stick with it”.
That was it for me. I translated that in my mind as clients don’t know when you mess up on your art unless you say something. It sounds simple, but those few words and my interpretation of it has sustained me and allowed me to see some places, meet some people and have opportunities that I could’ve never dreamed about.

From that one class I was able to attend more trainings all over America to further enhance my skills in Acrylic application, product knowledge, gel art and so much more.

In 2014 I had the opportunity to attend a 5 day training with one of the leading Nail enhancement companies in the world Young Nails Company in Orange County, California. Such a great experience that added great value to my brand. (A brand I didn’t know that I was establishing at that time)

Then in 2017 I had another huge opportunity to attend a 5 day tearing with another heavy hitter in the nail industry, Ugly Duckling in Victoria, British Colombia. It was a life changer. At the end of this training I was asked to be a Brand Ambassador for the company. Shocked to say the least, but so grateful and overwhelmed to represent a company that has been making such great strides in the industry at that time.

Since 2017 I’ve been representing Ugly Duckling as a brand Ambassador as well as having the opportunity to teach and be a hostess at their 5k week of training in Victoria, BC.

I’ve been in the industry for 24 years now and to be honest I thought that I would’ve already been at a place where I’m in the shadows but that clearly not the plan that The Lord has for me. If anything I can say I feel like I’m just getting started.

I’ve traveled all over the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados including the Islands of my home country The Bahamas, to teach as well through out the United States of America.
I’ve hosted international nail classes in Orlando and Dallas.
In 2018 and 2019 I had the opportunity to host the largest Nail Workshop on my island. Bring over international Nail Artist to train and teach my fellow Nail Techs.

For the last 10 years there has been a growth that I cannot explain. Grateful and humbled by it all.

I think the one thing that sets me apart is my perspective and how I view my self as a nail artist. I don’t just focus one the beauty and the money but rather my main focus is experience over all for my clients. I have been able to build long lasting relationships with all of my clients. Never crossing boundaries but maintaining a level of respect for each other behind the table as well as away from it. My personality and love for people is the focal point for all of my clients. I just recently relocated from the Capital of our country a few months ago and I’m hearing the same thing constantly from my clients “Quetel it’s not the same” and I know that it’s not the work, but rather the experience and the person that they are referring to. I experienced the same thing when I moved from my Island to the Capitol. So I understood just what they were saying.

I don’t know if to say I have a proud moment specifically, I’m always shocked and amazed of what God is doing in my life. But you know what to be honest as I sit and process this interview, I got a call today that brought me to tears, but I can’t disclose anything about it at this time. This one though would be at the very top of my list as it pertains to a “proud moment”.

My brand, my work and who I am as a person is summed up to my motto “Redefining the Inevitable”. That’s all I want people to see and experience when they encounter Quetel Deveaux.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding for me has been the relationships that were forged over a simple nail appointment. Manners and respect can take you any where was what I grew up hearing but form what I’ve experienced, the relationships established during the time that manners and respect was employed is the real driving force to open doors, opportunities and rewards.

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

I’m on a path of earning my PhD in “People perception and words about you is not your reality”. Lol. Honestly for me the worlds view of what a person who desires to be successful and make an impact should look like damaged my understanding of who God created me to be. I struggle with accepting that I am that woman who the people that truly love me say that I am, truth be told even my enemies know the greatness the Lies on the inside of me.
But me and the world has done such a number on my mind until it was hard for me to embrace and accept.
But you know what there comes a time in life when the Lord does so much good in and through your life that you can no longer ignore it, simply because it’s now speaking for you with out you saying a word.

So again even I process this interview, once again God is revealing the love and grace that is upon my life. In other words he’s just telling the self reject me and the world that we are liars.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: Queteldeveaux_
• Facebook: Quetel Deveaux
• Linkedin: Quetel Deveaux
• Other: TikTok: Quetel Deveaux

Image Credits
Headshots by Scharad Lightbourne