GRIND PRETTY × NAILCON

The names, stories and signature sets shaping nail culture.

Grind Pretty and NAILCON come together for The Set List, a celebration of the artists, educators and entrepreneurs proving that nail culture is both creative expression and serious business. Created in collaboration with NAILCON University, this feature moves beyond the finished manicure to meet the people behind the sets: professionals who have turned talent into education, ownership, influence and lasting opportunity.

Their styles range from clean, high-gloss minimalism to chrome, gems and unapologetic length. Their paths are just as distinct. Some built careers behind the chair before expanding into classrooms and salons. Others found their purpose through an unexpected pivot, a bold relocation or the decision to bet on themselves. What connects them is persistence, vision and the confidence to keep evolving.

Jazmin Celine Gresham

Founder & Managing Director, NAILCON  •  @nailcon  •  @jazminceline

At the center of this collaboration is Jazmin Celine Gresham, the founder and managing director of NAILCON. Her own career pivot began with a door that did not open: she was not accepted into graduate school. Instead of treating the moment as a dead end, she began asking what she truly wanted to build. That search led her deeper into nail culture and ultimately to NAILCON, a platform that brings the artistry, business and community of nails into the same room. Through NAILCON University, Gresham is creating space for beauty professionals to learn, connect and see bigger possibilities for their work.

For Gresham, Grinding Pretty is simple: moving with taste, style and grace. Her nail personality says the rest. She prefers XXL stiletto or square “junk nails,” with varied designs and enough embellishment to make every finger part of the story.

The Celebrity Set: Beyond the Red Carpet

Two veteran artists on longevity, freedom and the power of the pivot.

Terrance Terry

Celebrity Nail Stylist & Educator  •  @terranceterry

Detroit-born and Atlanta-based, Terrance Terry has spent more than two decades building a career across celebrity beauty, television, education and custom nail experiences. His work has appeared on The Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show and Good Day Atlanta, and he served as a judge on Oxygen’s nail competition series Nailed It! Terry used Atlanta’s growing entertainment industry to introduce his signature nail services to trendsetters and everyday clients alike. Today, his work extends beyond artistry through education and a tailored approach designed around each client.

Terry describes his grind as “true” because it is rooted in passion. When COVID-19 changed the public-facing beauty business, he used the disruption to sharpen his skills, focus more deeply on education and refine the custom experience he offers. His nail personality resists one lane: classic nude, bold color, intricate art or statement length can all belong, depending on the person in his chair.

Tashina “Poochie” Green Robinson

Celebrity Nail Artist, Instructor, Educator & Founder, Poochiez Nails Salon  •  @poochieznails

With more than 30 years in the nail industry, Poochie has built her career on creativity, consistency, education and longevity. She began as a teenager and made an early decision that changed everything: after recognizing that her talent could support a life on her own terms, she left her regular job that same day and chose entrepreneurship. That decision grew into a salon, a product brand, national media opportunities and a platform for helping other nail professionals move forward.

Poochie’s present-day style is calm, classic and clean. She still appreciates nail art, but after three decades she knows impact does not require excess. Her definition of Grinding Pretty is equally grounded: showing up on difficult days, treating people well and remembering that “pretty” begins on the inside.

The Business Set: Built to Grow

Three educators turning experience into ownership, instruction and impact.

Nita Howard

Celebrity Manicurist, Educator & Founder, ImNails Noir and Noir Nail Care  •  @imnails

Nita Howard is a beauty entrepreneur and veteran nail artist whose work spans celebrity beauty, education and brand ownership. Her defining leap came at 25, when she moved from Virginia to Atlanta with her two children. The relocation changed the direction of her life and gave her room to build a career around artistry, experience and ambition. Her grind is “unstoppable,” a word that captures her determination to keep moving even when the path demands reinvention.

Her nail personality is whimsical: she may wear a short nude today, but her heart belongs to an XL set with bling on all ten. For Howard, Grinding Pretty means building the life you dream about while moving with intention and holding onto your femininity, even when you do not feel like it.

Tiffani Byrum

Founder & Lead Nail Instructor, Polished Prep Academy  •  @polishedprepacademy

Tiffani Byrum became licensed while still in high school, then spent nearly a decade building businesses in corporate retail. In 2019, she returned to the nail industry to create something of her own and gain more time with her son. She later earned her nail instructor license and opened Polished Prep Academy after recognizing gaps in traditional cosmetology education. Byrum describes her grind as “relentless”: she is willing to begin again, learn something new and take the longer road to build work she is proud of.

Tahjanae Workman

Licensed Nail Instructor & Founder, The Nail Club  •  @nailedbytahb

Tahjanae Workman’s career began with teaching herself in her garage. Seven years later, her work reaches far beyond the nail table through education, content and community. The growth of her YouTube channel became a defining moment: hearing from nail technicians who learned through her videos showed her that her impact could travel farther than any single client appointment. Through The Nail Club, online education and hands-on workshops, she helps nail professionals strengthen their skills, confidence and careers.

The Expansion Set: The Next Move

Why the strongest beauty careers keep expanding.

Iyanla Clark

Owner & Founder, IFMN Nail Salon ATL  •  Certified Master Pedicurist  •  @iyanlafixmynails

Known for detailed toe transformations and elevated foot care, Iyanla Clark has grown from building a loyal clientele behind the chair to creating a salon brand rooted in education, wellness and higher standards of nail care. Opening IFMN Nail Salon ATL was the bet that pushed her to think beyond her role as a nail professional and step fully into leadership and brand building. Now she is expanding deeper into advanced pedicure education while showing other beauty professionals that talent can become a scalable business.

Clark calls her grind “relentless.” Even after reaching a goal she once prayed for, she is already considering how to elevate it, learn more and build something larger. Her signature aesthetic is clean luxury with a statement, especially on the toes: a crisp French finish, intentional detail and a result that looks expensive without trying too hard.

Prosper. Polish. Build What’s Next.

Meet the people behind the sets in person. Jazmin Celine Gresham, Terrance Terry, Poochie, Nita Howard, Tiffani Byrum, Tahjanae Workman and Iyanla Clark are all on the lineup at NAILCON University: Prosper & Polish, three days of business, wellness, education and connection for beauty professionals, powered by The GelBottle Inc.

November 7–9, 2026 • The Creamery, Atlanta
Grind Pretty founder Mimi Johnson closes the main stage on Monday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. with The Politics of Beauty Access, joined by a surprise guest.

The Set List also runs in the Fall 2026 issue of Grind Pretty Magazine. Get your copy →