We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniela Barraza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Since I was a little girl, I have always been very creative and authentic. I used to tell my parents, “I don’t know what I’ll become when I grow up or what I’ll do for a living, but I’m sure you’ll be proud of me, and my name will be out there.”

Most of my life, I lived in Mexico. When I was about 10 years old, I remember painting my classmates’ nails with colorful polishes—it was all just fun back then. One day, my sister Karla encouraged me to take a course to learn more about manicures and nail art. I was 17 years old when I began exploring this field. At 18, I got my first job as a manicurist at a salon in Chihuahua, Mexico. I worked there for a couple of years, learning from others, but eventually, I left the nail art world behind.

In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, I moved to the United States. The situation in Mexico had become very difficult. For three years, I worked in the restaurant industry. Although I learned a lot from it but I never felt completely fulfilled. One day, I asked myself, “What else can I do with my life in a country where I barely speak the language and am still finding my way?”

That’s when I realized I could make the most of my creativity and aim high—after all, I was in the land of opportunities.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My profession is creating art in small spaces. I’m extremely proud because, after so much time and effort, my project DB NAILROOM celebrated its first anniversary in January 2025. It’s a space and a profession that I started from scratch—with no clients, no materials, and no experience as a business owner. Little by little, I’ve been achieving my goals by doing what I love most. DB NAILROOM is a small brand with big dreams of expanding to offer the best in nail art, making every client feel truly special.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have to be honest—I still don’t know Houston very well. I moved to the city four years ago, and I’m still discovering many places. However, one area that has so much to offer is Downtown. I fell in love with this Mexican restaurant called Cuchara—you know how hard it is to find good Mexican food in the U.S. (lol). A walk through Buffalo Bayou Park while enjoying the city views would be wonderful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband who has been supporting me since the day one on my project and believe in me.
My sister who influenced me to follow my passion.
Family who support my decisions

Website: https://dbnailroom.glossgenius.com/

Instagram: db.nailroom

Facebook: DB NailRoom

Image Credits
Credits: @_riveras.photography

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