As a full time nail technician, Chernika “Nika” Squires-Lionel is one of the many, but also one of the best. An only child originating from the community of Gros-Islet, Chernika attended Corinth Secondary and then the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Between being a wife and a mother to her eight year old daughter, she dazzles and beautifies for hours on end. Chernika sat with us to discuss what drove her to become a nail technician and how she manages to make everything work; her time, her business, and her personal life.
Dazzle: How did you get into nails?
Chernika: I’m a very creative and artsy person. I wasn’t entirely sure that this is what I would end up doing as a career but I suspected that it would be something creative at least.
I’m an only child so I used my mother and my aunt as my test subjects. Every Saturday when my aunt came over I’d have them sit and I would practice on them. My aunt was unforgiving; she’d point out whatever I was doing wrong and it helped me to be better the next time.
Anyone who knows me, could attest to the fact that I started at Sir Arthur Lewis. I had one bag with nail polish and another one with my books and I would do my friends’ nails every free period that we had.
I suppose that’s where NailedbyNika was born and my dad, being the super supportive person that he is, built me somewhere I could do my work full time.
Dazzle: Did you do any formal training or classes?
Chernika: I got better off of practice, and doing tutorials online. At first I taught myself, but I traveled to Barbados and I did a course to get certification in 2018.
Dazzle: What did you want to be when you were younger?
Chernika: My mother was a teacher so I wanted to be that for a while. But at Corinth, I used to comb my friends at school and people assumed I’d take it up as a career. But I found my passion for nails and I’m glad I stuck to it.
Dazzle: What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
Chernika: Getting people to respect what I do is always a challenge. There are people who like to see more things but they don’t want to pay what it’s valued at. They don’t take into consideration the money you have to put out to get the supplies needed to achieve the look and style they want.
Time is also something I struggle with. Getting people to respect your time, especially when they deduce that you work for yourself or you’re your own boss, you’re flexible when it comes to making appointments and keeping the time you promised.
During Covid, I took precautions but it didn’t hinder me as much as I thought it would. I’m grateful for having been able to work during that time.
Dazzle: How do you balance your personal and business time?
Chernika: That one is hard. I give most of my time to the shop. I would leave work and come home only to be on my phone answering messages and calls. It’s hard to balance the two and without my family, I wouldn’t be able to juggle being a mother to my eight year old daughter and running my business.
Dazzle: Is your family your support system?
Chernika: My family is my everything. They believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself and they push me to keep going. My parents, and my husband are my biggest supporters and I’m truly grateful to have some amazing clients as well. I’m thankful for the not- so-good ones too because they motivate me to do better and to have patience.
Dazzle: Do you have any future plans for NailedbyNika?
Chernika: I’m thinking of expanding some time in the future. I want to offer more services and clients are now requesting pedicures and other services so I want to be able to implement that. Opening another branch might be on the list as well.
Dazzle: What advice would you give to up and coming entrepreneurs?
Chernika: Whatever you think you might be interested in, whether it’s just a hobby now or you like to do it for fun, you should go for it. Don’t doubt yourself, much like I did because I wasn’t even sure I would get this far with my business.
We wish Chernika and NailedbyNika good luck in their future!
