Sophomore Vera Maletic noticed sophomore Casey Maloney’s nails early in the school year, and soon afterward Maloney came up with a business idea.

“I saw her nail designs the first few weeks of school, and I was like, oh my gosh, you should do my nails sometime. Your work is so good.” Maletic said.

Maloney did Maletic’s nails, and soon she had more requests.

“One of my friends asked me to do her nails one time, and I obviously did them, and then other people wanted me to, so I continued to do it,” Maloney said.

Maloney then decided to start a new Instagram account to post all of the work that she does. Multiple people began reaching out, asking her when she takes clients. 

When she took her first official client, Maloney was surprised that the conversation was a little awkward at first. But she adjusted well and just kept talking about different subjects. 

“I work better when I’m talking,” Maloney said. 

Maloney’s business is called Nails By Casey. Most people use the Instagram account to contact her for appointments. Maloney posts all of the different nail sets that she does there. She does Gel-X sets and press-ons, and she does the nails at her house.

Her prices are mostly around $30, but depending on what styles and charms customers get, the price could differ.

Sophomore Emliy Caldwell said she loves the prices and the way her nails turn out. 

“She does have good prices, and her nails do turn out great,” Caldwell said. “I was surprised it 

was really, really good. It was literally perfect.”

Caldwell has been to Maloney’s house several times to get her nails done. She loves the whole experience that comes with getting her nails done there. 

“I enjoy being there, and her nails are better than a nail salon,” Caldwell said. “10/10 – you have to go there. It’s literally so fun. You don’t even know you’re getting your nails done.” 

The nails are also really durable, Caldwell said.

Sophomore Layla Miller agreed. 

“If I wouldn’t have gone to Casey, my nails would just pop off or my nails would just break,” Miller said. “But ever since I started going to Casey, my nails have lasted longer.”

The designs and styles that Maloney can pull off are wonderful, both agreed. They also emphasized how she recommended trying something different, and they both ended up loving what they got done. 

“I used to always get coffin-like nails or like square nails, but then she put me onto almond, and now it’s my favorite thing ever,” Caldwell said.

Another close friend of Maloney’s, sophomore Brooke Cichon, loves going to Maloney because of her artistic abilities and the great environment there. 

“I think the difference between her and a nail tech is that she kind of knows the vibe and the aesthetic you want. She’s very artsy,” Cichon said.

With her business growing, Maloney has expressed that she needed to change her schedule.

Maloney schedules her clients mainly on the weekends, with the exception of two appointments during the week. This way, her business doesn’t interfere with her classwork. Maloney also schedules fewer clients during the week if she gets busy with homework.

Right now Maloney is enjoying her business as a high school job, though it could potentially be a career option in the future.

“I’m using it as a way to make money in high school, but it’s always an option,” Maloney said.