Nail Technology Student Success Story: Shyradynne Cortez

About Shyradynne

Some people figure out what they love early. Shyradynne Cortez figured it out twice.

Nail Art by Shy

The first time was as a pre-teen in Hawaii, long before she had professional tools. She had her mom’s small collection of nail polish, a toothpick, and YouTube tutorials playing on repeat. Shy would sit down and turn her own nails into tiny canvases, carefully creating whatever designs she could dream up with the tools she had. It was meticulous, and Shy loved every second of it. Shy just didn’t know yet that those little nail art experiments were an early glimpse into the kind of work that would make her happiest.

In 2014, Shy moved to the mainland to attend Washington State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business with a focus in Marketing in 2018 and stepped into the corporate world. Over the next several years, she built an impressive career, including a role at Amazon. During that time, her creative interests took a back seat as she focused on building her career and navigating the demands of corporate life.

Then in 2024, she picked up nail art again. She started making press-on nails, and the creative feeling came rushing back. As Shy puts it, making press-ons “sparked my joy of creating again.” This was the thing she had been missing. The joy of creating, the focus it takes, the satisfaction of a finished set. She loved every bit of it, and the feeling of looking at something she had made entirely herself.

After getting married and deciding the time was finally right, Shy made a major change. She stepped away from Amazon and decided to give that creative side a real chance. The little girl in Hawaii who once used a toothpick to create nail art as a kid is finally ready to reach her dreams. Now, she is ready to see where those early instincts could take her.

The Evergreen Experience

Shy is not the kind of person who makes a big decision without doing her homework first. Before choosing a school, she spent months comparing nail technology programs throughout the Greater Seattle area, looking at everything from the training itself to how each program would fit into her life. EBC ultimately came out on top. She felt it offered the most well-rounded nail technology program in the region, and the hybrid structure made the decision even easier. Evergreen Beauty College gave Shy the flexibility to manage the rest of her life while still completing 600 hours of training in just a few months.

Shy and her classmates

Ask Shy what has shaped her most at EBC and the answer is immediate: time on the school salon floor in Phase 2. Working with real clients, in a real setting, with all different personalities and requests pushed her to grow in ways no classroom alone could. “I feel like I’ve learned so much and gained a lot of confidence in myself as a future nail technician because of my time on the school salon floor,” she says. Every appointment brought out a new challenge and pushed Shy to take what she had learned into practice.

Shy also showed up for her community in a big way. She was part of EBC’s Back to School Event, the school’s biggest community event of the year, where students offer free beauty services to K-12 kids in the area. Shy jumped in with free mini-manicures, bringing a little care and intention to kids who came through that day. Beyond that, her time at EBC has come with a full collection of recognition: the Culture Award, the 100% Attendance Award, the Successful Start Award, the Commitment and Excellence Award, and the Digital Marketing Award. With Shy’s work ethic, it was no surprise that Shy won all those awards.

When you book with Shy, you are getting someone who takes health and sanitation seriously. No shortcuts, no skipping steps, no “close enough.” But more than that, you are getting someone who genuinely cares. “I love to connect with you all and genuinely care about everyone who sits in my chair,” she says. She is also the nail tech who will say yes to the design you are not sure anyone can pull off, and then figure it out on the spot. Bring her your wildest idea. She will find a way.

The Next Step

Nail Art by Shy

Shy is already doing the research for what comes next. She is looking into suites and booth rentals, scoping out her options, and getting serious about ownership. The vision is clear: a cozy, welcoming space where clients come in for manicures and pedicures and leave feeling like they just spent an hour with someone who actually cared.

Shy came into EBC with a business degree, eight years of corporate experience, and the creative instincts she has carried with her since she was a kid in Hawaii making nail art with a toothpick. Now, she gets to bring all three together. She is using everything she has learned along the way to build something that is entirely her own.

Her advice for anyone thinking about taking that first step: map out your short-term and long-term goals. When you are making decisions, ask yourself if each one moves you closer to those goals. Let that be your guide. From someone who spent eight years building someone else’s dream before deciding to build her own, that advice is earned.

Shyradynne Cortez is expected to graduate from EBC’s Everett campus in September 2026. Follow her work on Instagram and TikTok at @thenaileditbyshy. We cannot wait to see the space she creates.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the beauty industry, check out our Nail Technology program or Schedule a Virtual Tour at one of our campuses: Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, North Seattle, Renton, Olympia, and Yakima.