Owner at Pearl Nailed It in West Kelowna, Pearl Pratley is pictured in this undated photo.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Virginia Nymeyer Photography
March 25, 2025 - 7:00 AM
Artificial intelligence is quickly creeping into all facets of society and having an effect on small businesses, including a designer nail studio in the Okanagan.
Pearl Pratley is a nail technician operating from her home studio in West Kelowna, struggling to keep up as AI pushes the speed and expectations of design trends.
“Customers bring in AI generated photos of nail designs that aren’t real or realistic,” she said. “It has been a struggle for me in the sense of trying to educate my clients that the images they’re showing me aren’t real, and finding alternatives.”
While AI generated photos are also impacting Pratley's industry in good ways and looking at the newest design trend is an ongoing aspect of the job, the effects of AI was something Pratley wasn’t expecting when she started her business four years ago.
“I think the effects of that on nail techs has been hard,” she said. “For the most part, you’re looking at these perfectly generated images where the colour is just flawless right to the cuticle and the shape is impeccable. Constantly comparing yourself against these perfect images can be damaging to your self-esteem as an artist.”
This is an image of AI generated designer nails.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ freepik.com
In recent months, Pratley made a post on her business socials of AI generated images.
“I asked my clients which set of nails they thought were AI generated, because they’re getting pretty good and its harder and harder to tell what’s real,” she said. “The trick was they were all AI generated and nobody got it right.”
Pratley said her clients started bringing the images and expectations in two years ago and it has sparked ongoing learning.
“They’re usually shocked that what they’re showing me isn’t real so I’m able to point out some indicators,” she said. “There’ll be an extra finger or an area of skin that’s too smooth to be real. Now they come in aware it’s a fake image, but it prompts creative ideas.”
Pratley said AI is a “Catch-22” in the nail tech industry, with the pressure of perfect images advancing it forward faster. While it is a challenge to keep up with the pace of swiftly evolving designs, she is interested to see what it next for nail art.
“It’s innovating in the sense where the things that aren’t possible are starting to become more possible as humans put their brains together," she said. "I just saw a nail tech who is designing actual crystal nails. She’s found a way to carve these crystals out in a nail shape. Before that was just a thought, an image of AI showing a gem cut nail.”
Part of Pratley’s job is to keep up on the nail trends and she spends hours flipping through social media every week. The most outrageous AI generated nail design she has come across is of a three-dimensional Eiffel tower rising from every nail.
“It’s impossible not to see what’s out there, even if you’re trying to work on your own little corner of the world,” she said. “You pull up Instagram and you’re bombarded with the next twenty trends.
“It’s really fun and expensive too. Getting new colours, new tools and taking new courses to learn trends. It’s a rapidly evolving industry.”
Some AI generated nail designs are obviously fake like this one.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ ImagineArt
An art lover who always painted and designed her own nails, Pratley started Pearl Nailed It in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. She got her training, built up a regular clientele, and joined an online nail tech community that shares valuable resources and information.
“It was a lot all at once, I had to learn how to run a business in the middle of lockdowns and when every was worried about hygiene,” she said. “It was a strange time to start a luxury business. It has been amazing. I’ve learned about myself and my community.”
Giving her clients a great experience is paramount. She designed her studio with a light and airy atmosphere and colourful artwork on the walls.
“I wanted to create a space where people want to spend a couple of hours every month,” she said. “We have tea or listen to a podcast or talk. Maybe a client doesn’t want to talk at all. Whatever this time needs to be for them, I’ll make it happen. It’s a self-care thing for clients, and I want to be able to infuse some healing into my art.”
Go to Pearl Nailed It to see Pratley’s work or make an appointment.
This image of nail art is AI generated.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ weheartnails.com
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