After a long and tiring work week, there is no better way to celebrate the weekend than with a nail salon treat–after the bills have been paid, of course! Many Under the Dryer (UTD ) readers have already booked their appointments for the salon this week and some have already mentally selected their designs. A fashion staple for years, many consider mani-pedis beauty necessities.

In these times, creativity and ingenuity have skyrocketed everywhere – the cosmetology industry being no exception. Gone are the days when the typical nail requests were limited to French tips, refills, nail extensions or acrylics. Thirty-two-year -old Marsha-Gay Edwards, a cosmetologist who is professionally known as Artistic Nails by Marsha, tells UTD just how much the nail fraternity has evolved.

“A lot of new products, techniques and tools have been introduced to us; therefore, we are able to not only maximise our earnings but also reduce the time a customer spends in the nail salon while still creating beautiful and inventive designs,” she told UTD .

Operating from shop number 119, Princeville Plaza on Constant Spring Road, Edwards’s specialities include: sculptured nails, gel enhancements, tips and acrylics, pedicures, manicures, gel polish and nail artistry. Her 13-year journey in cosmetology began in 2004, when she did her own nails for her graduation ball. Clearly blessed with skilled hands, Edwards has since catered to a plethora of customers, with very different requests — from a simple design to the most technical of three-dimensional sculptures. “My customers are those individuals who appreciate quality and creativity at its best,” she informed UTD.

What has set Edwards apart is not only her excellent customer service but her almost-lifelike creations, sculptures and drawings. Whether it be a caramel-themed design or a Halloween-appropriate sculpture, Edwards delivers. The 2016 Jamaica National Small Business Loans (JNSBL) beauty and barber competion title, and an Ambassador for Ugly Duckling Nails brand in Canada are testaments of her ability to do so.

She says the most rewarding thing about her chosen profession is that it allows her to express her creativity and her passion. She also shares with UTD that the delight she feels when a customer is pleased with her work never gets old.

Marsha-Gay’s Guide to Healthy Nail Care:

• Refrain from biting nails or removing cuticles.

• Keep nails clean and dry.

• Practise to cut nails straight across.

• Keep cuticles moisturised.

Artistic Nails by Marsha

Shop #119 Princeville Plaza

Constant Spring Road

Tele: (876) 469-6335