Meet Tahra Clarke of TahraNailsATL in Midtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tahra Clarke.

Tahra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
At the age of 11, nails had been apart of my life simply as hobby. Being a visual learner, I was always motivated to reinvent the common line art designs that were provided by your neighborhood nail salon. Anytime, we went anywhere I would travel with 3-5 striping brushes, and put designs on the big toes of close family members and friends. It quickly grew as the years progressed and I taught myself how to give a full pedicure, polishing, cutting, filing and nipping, but it all started with a love for designs and feet.

To date, I now own a salon and travel to share my art and love for nails. Atlanta became apart of my life approximately two years after graduating from college in 2012 with a bachelors in International Relations and Political Science. It was a plan to migrate to a city evolving, hoping to do some evolving myself. After several failed attempts to finding a 9-5 job after the end of my college career I ventured to Atlanta hoping that a new place would give me new opportunity, and that was how Tahra Nails ATL was created.

Has it been a smooth road?
WHEW! A smooth road has never been apart of my journey or my story. Venturing to Atlanta, chasing a dream left me homeless, and broke, but the vision for a new life was bigger than what I had expected. When moving to Atlanta I still envisioned myself working a 9-5 position utilizing my degree. While I searched for a job, I began to build my nail brand in hopes to support myself, but it was my first time attempting to make a living doing nails. I actually thought it was impossible. The first month was beyond challenging, I was bringing in about $200 per week while building my clientele from 0. Did I mention when moving to Atlanta, I had no family or friends to support me? I literally packed my car with two bags and a tote to follow my dreams, leaving everything I knew and loved in my rearview back in Delaware.

Building a clientele from 0 makes the word hustle seem small. Instagram, wasn’t such a big deal then as it is now, there was no such thing as “influencers” and if you had 10k+ you were pretty much popping. I can recall following a few business owners in the area and I would literally call/text those I followed and request to meet with them and offer them my services. I didn’t believe in giving free services, so I would offer them my designs for free if they paid the service price and that’s how I built my brand in ATL. It took approximately seven months to develop a “regular” clientele, and the struggles in between and to come would be too much to put into words.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
TahraNailsATL is a brand that creates and supports Dope Nails! Specializing in creative nail art and natural nail care. Throughout the years, I have been able to create and grow a long list of dedicated clientele, and I am so proud of that. I have been able to set myself from others with long-lasting foundation, healthy nail care, and dope nail art.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta is an amazing place for creatives to grow and build their businesses. The challenge is understanding your strengths within your own brand when starting a business in Atlanta. The truth is in a city like Atlanta, comparison is truly the thief of joy, and anyone coming to Atlanta to build a brand and business should understand that. Be confident in your business and brand and focus on what sets you apart, not someone else’s story or journey.

Pricing:

• $80 Minimum Spending Limit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tocthebrand.com
• Phone: 404-494-0108
• Email: tahranailsatl@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tahranailsatl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrumpynailtech/

Image Credit:
Mel Belder Jr., Tahra Clarke

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