Nail design in Cuba: A glimmer of hope in the crisis

Eye-catching nail designs are particularly striking in Cuba. In a country where most people have low incomes and access to materials is often difficult, such beauty practices seem extraordinary. The ongoing economic crisis has made daily life even more difficult: power outages, supply shortages, and long queues are frequent.

Extravagant nails have become an important source of income in Cuba's limited private sector. Many people who have learned their technique through online tutorials or exchanges with manicure experts from abroad earn a living this way.

Cuban manicurist Marisel Darias Valdes spent almost six hours applying acrylic nails to a customer and decorating them artistically. She runs a nail salon in her home in Havana, where she showcases expensive, imported specialty products that are difficult to find in the Cuban capital.

Another customer chose a nail design featuring the cartoon character "SpongeBob," her daughter's favorite character. The nail art designs are varied and all lovingly crafted by hand. "Before it was a half-hour service," says Marisel Darias Valdes. "Now it's all become art, it's not just fix them and you're done."

There are no official figures on the number of specialized studios, but since the coronavirus pandemic, small private salons have been experiencing an upswing — some have developed a successful business model. Despite Cuba's unstable internet connection, small businesses are increasingly using social media to present and market their services creatively.

Nail design has become an important source of income for many Cuban women and an alternative to low wages. Prices range from $10 to 40, while the average monthly wage is only about $13, reflecting the appreciation of this art despite the difficult economic situation.