Brittney Boyce - Los Angeles, CA

Creative Medium: Nail Artist

What are some of the jobs you had before your career took off?

I've been in the nail space for 10 years now, but prior to nails I wanted to work on Harley Davidsons. The school I wanted to go to for bikes was really far so I instead went to cosmetology school (random I know). I didn't love doing hair or makeup, but I really liked doing nails. I first started doing nails at high-end salons in LA. Then I consulted with brands on product development, brand education, content creation, and digital marketing.

Do you think creativity is innate or learned? 

Creativity is both innate and learned. While you can be innately creative, you have to constantly nourish it by constantly learning. Study art, architecture, fashion, music, history--anything that gives you new points of references and inspirations. You never know what can push your creativity. Sometimes it's a painting that sparks new nail designs, while other times it's a cool jacket that inspires me to put spikes on nails.

Who would you most like to sit next to on a 10 hour flight and why?

The first person that comes to mind is Snoop Dogg. I think he's really chill and funny, and it'll be just calming to sit next to him for 10 hours on a flight. If there was turbulence and everyone was freaking out, he'd likely say something to make everyone laugh to take their mind off of the turbulence.

What should they teach in school, but don’t?

In school they never really teach kids to explore careers beyond being a doctor, accountant, lawyer, engineer, or anything in that "professional" setting. Like if a kid was good at art or music, they weren't encouraged to pursue it as anything more than a hobby. Kids really aren't exposed to the fact that their creativity along with hard work can help them find really cool careers that align with their innate talents. 

Creator free form - share anything:

Always pay it forward. I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today without people mentoring me. In return, I pay it forward by helping new nail techs who really want to learn and have a similar work ethic by either troubleshooting technical questions or bringing them on set as assistants. It's a small community where we can all help each other.