By Christine Garcia
In a world of entrepreneurship, one high school student proves age has no limits through her “polished perfections.” The pungent smell of nail polish hangs in the air and the person behind it all is sophomore Catherine Do, working passionately on each set of press-on nails. Do’s natural talent for creation and attention to detail enchants many of her customers.
Do’s journey to specializing in her craft began in sixth grade, after her mother inspired her to experiment with nail polish. As her talent grew, Do’s older sister encouraged her to get into the nail business based on her past designs for family and friends.
“My advice is to stick to [a hobby] because I’ve had many hobbies in the past, but making nails has been like one that I stuck with,” Do said.
Discovering her new-found talent, Do looked to YouTube to elevate her nail art. Little did she know that her love for nail art became more than just a hobby. Do started her brand, Ccat’s Nails, advertising on Instagram during her sophomore year of high school to showcase her versatility. Naturally, her creations spread throughout social media, and Do’s business began to flourish.
But success did not come without challenges. Do found herself questioning her abilities due to seeing other teenage nail artists’ work on social media.
“Seeing that [other businesses] can be a little degrading because maybe I’m not like the best,” Do said.
Yet, with perseverance, Do pushed through obstacles by practicing and honing her craft. She typically spends two to three hours per day working on 1-2 sets, while balancing school and social life.
Today, Do is proud that her developing business is a hub of creativity, where she can satisfy clients with her fun and trendy nail sets. Her customer’s commission designs range from ‘Coquette’ to ‘Y2K’, and her skills have no bounds.
“[Starting a business] helped me learn how to communicate with my audience with my customers,” Do said. “[It] helped me learn how to like build as a business, whether it be marketing and managing money.”
As she looks into the future, Do has ambitions of expanding her dreams in entrepreneurship, diving into a world of marketing and business. Although the future is uncertain, Do will continue to nail each task, one press-on nail at a time.
