Meet the Farsley engineer who has made her childhood passion for nails into a booming business
“It’s not just about getting your nails done, it’s about the experience.”
Chloe Oliver Rice knew from her school days that she wanted a career far away from the classroom environment.
“I hated being stuck at a desk,” Chloe confessed.
That’s why the now 19-year-old embarked on an electrical mechanical engineering apprenticeship as soon as she could, and is now thriving in this field.
However, alongside working as an engineer, Chloe balances a very different kind of hands-on job. That’s right, she’s also a fully-qualified nail technician.
Two months ago, Chloe founded Bloom Studio in Farsley, a nail studio offering luxury manicures and pedicures, nail art, BIAB, and more.
The business is inspired by Chloe’s lifelong passion for art.
Chloe said: “When I was younger, I always used to do nails with my grandma. We did more than nails - we did crochet and drawing too. I think (my interest) sprung from the drawing.
“I’d do my nails and show people what I was doing. They loved it - they could never believe that I’d drawn them myself.”
Chloe began her business journey as a mobile tech, driving to appointments across Leeds.
She then went on to open her own private nail studio in March this year and now while working as a full-time engineer, the teenager also now has a fully-booked nail business.
They may seem like polar opposite worlds; however, Chloe believes her engineering background makes her a better nail tech.
“(Engineering) helps because you’ve got to be level-headed for anything that comes at you,” Chloe said.
“Obviously, when people come in with crazy designs, you’ve got to get your head down and get it done.”
Though in its early days, Bloom Studio is already proving successful and Chloe is a finalist for Nail Technician of the Year at the UK Hair and Beauty Awards and the UK Nail Excellence Awards amongst other nominations.
For Chloe, this achievement so early in her career feels “mind-blowing”.
Bloom Studio is usually open for appointments from 3:15pm in the afternoon throughout the week after Chloe finishes her eight and a half hour shifts as an engineer, and the salon is also open on weekends.
Chloe finds the best part of her job is the interaction she has with her customers.
She said: “Every one of my clients isn’t really a client anymore, they’re more like a friend.”
“Every time they come in, we just laugh and joke about everything. It’s like a therapy session.”
In the future, Chloe plans to grow the business further and support other budding nail techs find their start in the industry.
For now however, Chloe’s focus is to show just how fantastic getting your nails done can be.
“It’s not just about getting your nails done, it’s about the experience,” Chloe said.
“It makes you feel like yourself again. You feel happier and it gives you that boost of confidence.”