We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rushelle Peterkin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rushelle below.

Hi Rushelle, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

I worked at a salon last year and I made the tough decision to leave and start over at a salon closer to home (at the time). Upon walking in on my last day at the salon, I was greeted with a personalized cake, card, and a 100$ Uber gift card to help with my transition! i truly was surprised and the support is something i’ll forever be grateful for because I don’t get a lot of support; let alone support that is immediately useful/gratifying!

Rushelle, 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 am a professional Visual/Fine Artist of 15 years and a Licensed Nail Technician of 3 years. After embarking on an indefinite hiatus from Visual/Fine Arts in the mid 2010’s, I became enamored with the trade and art of doing nails. I always loved getting my nails done but wasn’t satisfied with the service nor customer service that was being provided at salons; so in October of 2020 I decided to use my stimulus check to start nail school and pursue my business [Crushed Designs]and]. I provide manicures, pedicures, and extensions of a wide variety and in an array of inlaid and hand-painted designs. I enjoy being a safe haven/comfort zone for all my clients despite their race, class, creed, gender or sex, especially those who are the most marginalized. I’m most proud of my abilities to: facilitate and maintain a warm, open, and accepting environment, provide beautifully and skillfully crafted nail services, and build relationships of mutual respect and trust with my clients.

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 had to unlearn taking constructive and direct criticism to the heart and not to the head. When I first started experimenting with nails (2 years before nail school) I had a good deal of friends/supporters give me their time and sacrifice their nails so I could have the practice and encouragement to continue to pursue my goals, and boy did my feelings get hurt when my nails lifted or popped off the next day, or when clients nails were super thick or unbalanced, and/or when I couldn’t execute a certain design! As I entered salons as a licensed tech I had to also accept criticism from a business/employer-employee P.O.V. as i was a part of a body/team vs a freelance tech. Salon is a different ball game compared to being a freelance Nail Tech and I learned that over the span of 3 salons. I remember at the last 2 salons I worked at my critics were for my performance speed, execution, and specifically at the last salon; my need to fine-tune my personality to achieve and maintain the balance of personality and professionalism. I nearly died on the inside each of those times because I unrealistically wanted everything to go my way and in a positive exponential fashion.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Customer service alongside a deep, ever-growing understanding of people (aka soft skills) are the most helpful tools necessary for success in any service industry especially those under the umbrella of Health/Wellness & Beauty.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @crushed_designs_

Image Credits
image credit non applicable (I took all the photos and got permission from my clients/friends)