BULLETIN.
Handcrafted in IV: The Art and Hustle of Local Manicurists
Isla Vista has a large and varied community of independent nail techs. Here’s a look at their creativity-turned-commerce in a town defined by student life, seasonal flow, and self-expression.
.jpg)
Nail set by Michelle Brataatmadja. Photo courtesy.
by Elizabeth Crooks
RED-EYE Magazine once said that nail art allows individuals to “wear their personalities, moods, and even cultural identities on their fingertips.” For Gen-Z especially, nail art has become a powerful and important part of self-expression.
UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) college town of Isla Vista is a crowded hub of vintage clothing markets, DIY artistry, and constant reinvention, and nails—intricate, bold, detailed, hyper-personal—have become a defining feature of IV style.
“The fashion scene in Isla Vista is very expressive and timeless,” said Michelle Brataatmadja, a UCSB student and a self-taught nail artist under the business Claws By Chellee. “It’s amazing how the community gets together to host pop-ups, fashion shows, and express the arts in so many ways.”
This scene has provided special groundwork for young nail artists and entrepreneurs to provide high-quality nail art to students, and business is booming.
Annie Lin, owner of IV Beauty Lounge, opened her studio after a home-based business during COVID outgrew her living room. “I was getting so busy in my house… this space opened up because the previous owner shut down during the pandemic,” she said. “I thought, okay, maybe it's time.”
However, like many store owners in the area will share, business in Isla Vista isn’t always easy. “It's up and down,” Lin said. “Students are only here for seven months out of the year, and sometimes it's hard to manage with all the last-minute appointments. But, I like it—it's fun.”
Brataatmadja, who is also a fourth year Financial Mathematics and Statistics major with an Education minor, started @clawsbychellee in quarantine after learning nails via YouTube and TikTok.
“At first, I was shy to launch my account… I had less than 100 followers and half were my friends,” she laughs. “But I kept going. What started as a quarantine hobby became a passion that I can share with my community—and support myself financially.”
Other nail artists in the area include Little Bird Nail Company, a student home-based nail tech who features whimsical and playful designs, and Free Edge, a nail tech who works primarily through word of mouth and draws on his travel experience for designs. All these techs offer something unique, and all add to the limitless possibilities for student expression.
Nail art in Isla Vista isn’t just about looks, though. It’s also about conversation, connection, and creativity.
“My nail sessions are a safe space to share stories,” Brataatmadja explained. “I love hearing what my clients have been up to. And I also love brainstorming with my clients to come up with a design we both love.”
Many clients come in with reference photos; others want to build something new. “We incorporate aspects from a previous set and create a brand-new design,” she added. “It’s collaborative.”
From airbrush gradients to 3D bubble gels and hand-painted florals, these artists create high-end, intricate work in the tiniest of living rooms and small studios.
“I like everything, really,” said Lin. She’s been doing nails for eight years, says. “French tip, chrome, simple, I enjoy it all.”
At the same time, behind the glam, running a small business in a college town means a ton of logistics. Both Lin and Brataatmadja juggle client scheduling, ordering supplies, finances, and marketing. “I love being my own boss,” Brataatmadja says. “But it does get overwhelming… Google Calendar is my best friend through this process.”
Lin notes that Isla Vista’s seasonal calendar adds pressure. “Summer is so quiet. But you just make it work—you adapt. That’s business.”
But both Brataatmadja and Lin agree, social media is a lifeline. Instagram pages serve as both online portfolios and booking platforms. Posting consistently and interacting with followers helps build personal branding and boosts business.
These nail technicians are artists, entrepreneurs, and community-builders, redefining what small business looks like in a college town, while adding to the vibrant arts and fashion scene in our beloved town-by-the-sea. “If you have even the slightest inkling to invest in yourself, do it,” Brataatmadja encourages any student who may have the urge to create. “An investment in yourself is never a waste of time.”
In Isla Vista, where trends come and go, the local nail scene is steadily carving out something lasting, one set at a time.
