Edmond North is known for preparing its students for college. However, some students who decide not to go to college wonder how to successfully navigate an alternate path.
Maya Lindstrom, who graduated from Edmond North in 2023, previously worked for a local nail salon as a nail technician apprentice. Now, 19-year-old Lindstrom has her own business as a private nail technician at The Suite Life.
Her passion for nails began at 8 years old after receiving a nail art book and polish set for Christmas. She spent hours creating small designs on her mom’s nails. Her life-long appreciation for art translated into unique and beautiful designs as a nail technician.
“Nails allow me to really get creative in the painting aspect,” reflects Lindstrom.
Lindstrom’s overall aesthetic leans more toward dark and spooky. She describes her style as “strange.” Teeth, ants, eyes and clowns are just a few designs seen throughout Lindstrom’s Instagram page year-round.
At one point, her Instagram featured a quote by Francis Bacon: “There is no exquisite beauty without some strangeness in proportion,” reflecting her individual artistic style.
Career beginnings
While attending Edmond North, Lindstrom placed her business cards around the school to advertise her press-on nails. She gained followers and clients on her Instagram account, Bluebird Nails.
Motivated by her early success, Lindstrom enrolled in part-time classes at Francis Tuttle during her junior year and has been a licensed manicurist since October 2023.
“Francis Tuttle is definitely a better option because I got to do it for free through EPS. It is also much faster to gain credentials than college, so I can start making money and building my business earlier,” she explains.
Having her own business provides Lindstrom with greater opportunity and flexibility.
“I have complete control over my business now. I can set prices and policies and run my own booking system.”
Future aspirations
Her next goal is to continue building up her clientele. Lindstrom has already built a network of customers, many of whom are students from the Edmond area.
Edmond North graduate Maci Smith is a client of Lindstrom’s.
“I have been going to Maya for a little over a year now. Compared to other salons that I have been to, Maya is very gentle and has amazing artistic skills, and she is very personable as well,” Smith explains.
Instagram fame
Starting as a habit out of boredom, Lindstrom began creating comedic Instagram reels that relate to her job and her clients. She broadened her audience to a whopping one million views, with eighty-thousand likes on one video.
One of her recurring clients, junior Anna Marshall, was in one of her famous reels featuring her salon candy bowl that is not just for Halloween, but all year around.
From her successful startup business to her Instagram popularity, Lindstrom is an example of how to create a path to success, even if that path may differ from the student next to you.
“Success is taking steps forward instead of just dreaming of what you could be,” shares Lindstrom.
