Jahnia Cherenfant (pictured above) is a political science major and sociology minor who has established her own business as a nail tech. She is incredibly talented and especially loves forming connections with clientele (Picture courtesy of Jahnia Cherenfant).
By their junior year, most students have established some level of a presence on campus—maybe they have come into their studies, found some folks that they are comfortable with or discovered a hobby or topic that they are passionate about.
While it is a little rarer for a junior to have established themselves with a successful, self-owned and operated small business, it is not unheard of—Jahnia Cherenfant, a political science major minoring in sociology, has done just that.
Cherenfant has worked to cultivate her business, Jah Finessed My Set, as a nail tech. Cherenfant began practicing nail art in November 2020 and established her business this past February. Since then, she has gained a significant clientele, with over 500 followers and 34 posts on her Instagram page, @jah.finessed.my.set.
Cherenfant began her business as a culmination of early life experiences inspiring her and affirming her love of nail art.
"I'm from Brooklyn, New York," Cherenfant said via a Zoom interview. "So, I always love[d] nails. That's a part of my culture—long flashy, artistic materials. And I always really adored it growing up."
As her love and understanding of nail art progressed, Cherenfant found comfort in a privatized nail experience that she hopes to replicate in her own business model.
"I got to college and I started investing in going to private nail techs. I realized I loved the experience much more than going to a nail salon because I got to have a more personalized appointment," Cherenfant said. "I just wanted more personalized, versatile people—similar to me—young, especially young women of color … [Going to a private tech] honestly felt like going to a girlfriend and getting your nails done."
Cherenfant hopes that the private, intimate nature of her business will allow for deeper connection between herself and her clientele. Since the business began, she has found that the relationships she has cultivated with clients have expanded her understanding of life at Geneseo, and her ability to share her perspective as well.
"I feel like on campus as a Black woman … my experience has really been in a bubble, per se," Cherenfant said. "Doing nails allows me to create a bond with the community that I'm in."
Beyond expanding her horizons on a cultural and social level, Cherenfant has found that creating nail art for Geneseo's students has exposed her to more styles of nails than she had previously had experience working with—while her adoration for long, flashy nails has kept her more focused on these types of designs, she finds herself working with nails of different lengths, shapes and styles more than ever before.
However, Cherenfant continues to demonstrate enthusiasm for the fancy, complex designs that she has always felt drawn to. In this Zoom interview, Cherenfant was sporting long French tips with a marble pink design on three fingers, with a solid vibrant pink on her pinky finger and thumb.
She also spoke to her favorite project, a request from a friend in which she had a great deal of freedom in choosing the length and intricacy of design.
"It took like six hours, but ... it was amazing. Like I went to bed at like 5:00 a.m. and I didn't care because that's how much fun I had."
On average, Cherenfant has worked her design time down from four hours on average to about two and a half to three hours. This level of commitment is especially impressive considering her additional workload of two jobs and the responsibilities of being a resident assistant.
Nevertheless, Cherenfant continues to demonstrate significant devotion toward her clientele and business and hopes to expand it in the coming years.
"I do want to get licensed," Cherenfant said. "I'm in the process of looking up nail school—I just have to figure out where I'm moving to after college."
Cherenfant's dedication and success in her business can be attributed to a love of art and a long-time aspiration to be a business owner. She additionally recognizes the talents and value of other businesses run by students of color on campus and hopes that they can receive well-deserved recognition and support as well.