We are spotlighting the winners of Nailpro’s 30 Under 30 competition for 2023, featuring 30 nail artists under 30 years of age.
Get to know Lorenia Obregon (@cutienco). She is a 28-year-old nail tech at Cutie & Co in Reno, NV.
Q&A:
Nailpro (NP): What is a fun fact about you?
Lorenia Obregon (LO): I am obsessed with the Scream franchise!
NP: How did you get your start as a nail tech?
LO: I was a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno when I met another student who was attending beauty school and working on her bachelor’s. I told myself if she can do it, so can I. Despite all the negative feedback I got from my peers, friends and some family members about this trade, I dropped out of college to pursue a career I was fully passionate and invested in. I am proud to say I am 6 years into my career as a small salon business owner. To this day, I have not regretted my career choice. I am proud of the brand I have created and grateful for those who have been a part of my journey.
NP: What do you love about your job?
LO: I love connecting with my clients on a personal level, I love making them feel like the best versions of themselves walking out of the salon door. The thing I love the most is the freedom I have to make an income off something I am passionate about while aiming to accomplish the lifestyle I envision for myself, my family and our future.
NP: Where do you find inspiration?
LO: I am inspired by a few things, and social media is one of them. Social media platforms have had a major impact on nail inspo. Usually my clients know what design they want and oftentimes, I have the luxury of freestyle. When I do freestyle nail art, it usually comes from a current trend, and I add my own twist to it. Another thing that inspires me are my clients themselves. I connect with them on a deeper level, and, when given the chance, I will use color therapy to create a nail set for them. Color energy is impactful. Recently, the red nail theory was trending. The color red is an emotionally intense color that demands attention like no other on the spectrum; therefore, it’s the best color for an interview, presentation or a major event in your life because it motivates us to take action. However, there are also other colors as powerful as red. I’ll use blue for calming and healing, and orange is a great color for energy and creativity. These are a couple examples of color therapy. I’ll use specific colors to match my clients energy at the time of their service.
NP: What is a piece of advice you would give other nail technicians who are just getting started?
LO: My advice for aspiring nail technicians is to be fearless, to challenge your limits and go for it. I advise you to learn from failure, gain that experience and don’t quit until you achieve what you want. Find a mentor to guide you and help you along your journey. A mentor can be someone you look up to on social media, a podcast, YouTube Channel or any media or tool you can use to learn, grow and apply. Be consistent in your personal development because it’ll change your lifestyle, influence the clients and the energy you attract around you.
NP: What is your favorite nail trend right now?
LO: I am obsessed with the classic French tip topped with pearl chrome!
NP: What is your favorite service to offer?
LO: Unpopular opinion, but my favorite service is a luxury gel mani. I love helping my cuties start a healthy nail journey.
NP: What is one of your proudest achievements as a nail tech?
LO: My proudest achievement thus far has been the moment I branched out on my own and created what is now Cutie&Co LLC. I love everything Cutie&Co: It's me and the environment I created for my cutie crew. After opening my own salon suite, I have been presented with opportunities I never saw opening for myself. This constant growth motivates me to aim higher and be better. The moment I held the printed copy of my LLC in my hands I cried out in happiness. All the sleepless nights, the hard work and no days off felt like it was finally being paid off. After I reminisced on those moments that led to this big accomplishment, I wiped my tears away and felt more driven than ever to plan and execute my next goal.
NP: What do you love about the nail community/industry?
LO: I love how strong the nail community is – all independent artists that are so supportive of one another, local small businesses supporting other small businesses. I love the network that’s created within our community and how much you can learn from others.
NP: What are your top goals as a nail tech?
LO: My biggest goal as a nail tech is to inspire, motivate and mentor upcoming entrepreneurs in the nail industry. My goal on social media is to create content that’s both fun and educational to my following. Most importantly, as a single mom in her 20s, I aim to show and teach my daughter how resilient and powerful we can be.
