On November 23, 2020, three young nail-obsessed Black women from Atlanta and D.C. launched an Instagram page.
Despite having only one introduction post at the time, the account gained 1,000 followers almost overnight.
Today, BlkGirlNailfies has nearly doubled its follower count and there are hundreds of posts under its unique hashtag.
@Blkgirlnailfies/Instagram
The account was born out of a passion and deep reverence for nail art from three friends.
Yet, its conception came by chance.
FoundersHana Javelle,Imani Aldridge, andTyra A. Sealsare not influencers or content creators.
This content can also be viewed on the site itoriginatesfrom.
“I was doing what I do before every nail appointment,” Javelle tellsAllure.
I just literally blurted [that] out on my Instagram story.
And then Imani hit me up."
The three women conferred on what this vessel for inspiration could look like.
Black hands were their starting point.
“[The three of us] save designs for our nails on Instagram,” shares Seals.
“And for the most part, they’re always on white or Asian hands.”
Their shared visions landed on a venture that was community-oriented and rooted in representation.
Over time, Black women have played crucial roles in the popularization and cultural evolution of nail extensions.
They wanted to have fun.
“But things don’t always have to be so heavy.
In my mind, my priority was: I want this to be fun.”
The BlkGirlNailfies feed is vibrant and modern, inspirational and intimate.
“We deserve to have platforms that are exclusively designated for us,” says Seals.
And so far, I think it’s been really well received."
