BY STEPHANIE SALTZMAN
Nail art isn’t for the impatient (nor the shaky-handed). Few have mastered the craft of painstaking detailing, flawlessly embellishing, and molding head-tilting conceptual pieces on just the teeny tiny surface areas of our nail beds. We’ve managed to find ten accounts on Instagram (11, if you count our editor-in-chief Michelle Lee), of people who have done just that.
Madeline Poole
Nail artist and Sally Hansen Global Color Ambassador
Her abstract designs are tiny works of modern art that can be seen a mile away due to their extra vibrant colors and graphic patterns. Think Stella McCartney Resort prints and Karl Lagerfeld’s face reimagined in nail-art form. Her Sally Hansen color collection is one way to nab her fashion-meets-beauty style.
Vanity Projects
Art gallery of NYC nail salons
The salon’s carefully curated rotation of nail artists from around the world makes for an inspired mix of intricate masterpieces. Think jewels, holographic nail wraps, meticulously painted prints — and at least one instance of miniature Mondrian color blocking.
Jin Soon Choi
Nail artist and founder of Jin Soon Hand and Foot Spas and Jin Soon nail polishes
Graphic color blocks and chunky glitters — Jin Soon Choi’s clean yet elegant manicures are nail goals. You’ll also get behind-the-scenes glimpses at the nails Jin Soon does for photo shoots and runway shows, plus a peek at a day in the life of one of the most (if not the most) in-demand nail artists.
Miho Kawajiri
Japan-to-NYC transplant
Here you’ll find lots of trippy, amazing, cool-girl nails for her cool-girl clientele (Hannah Bronfman is a loyal example). On Kawajiri’s page, you’ll find 3D nails (never forget her viral “boob manicure”), bejeweled masterpieces, and perfectly painted street style-inspired manicures.
Miss Pop
Creative Ambassador for CND, and mastermind behind the manicures for celebrities (Tina Fey, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato, to name a few), editorial shoots, and many, many fashion week shows.
Miss’s Pop’s specialty includes colorful designs that incorporate intricate detailing, creative color blocking, and negative space. Her designs go from delightful 3D floral arrangement to empowering feminist clawswith just a few (very patiently made) strokes of her brush.
Eun Kyung Park
Nail artist based in Korea
Shattered glass nails, wire nails — those mani trends were spurred by Park. She took the nail art by storm with her use of (dainty) hardware, holographic film, and painstakingly-placed jewels.
Sundays Studio
Nail studio based in New York City
For the minimalist, these manicures are created with the salon’s own cruelty-free and 10-free nail polishes. Think: cleanly drawn fine lines and tiny shapes.
Chillhouse
Nail studio and coffee bar based in New York City
Whimsical and often conceptual shapes and scribbles that are never excessive are the signature style here. You can get anything from animal prints to cherries hand-drawn onto your fingertips while enjoying a refreshing matcha latte on the side.
Paintbox
Nail studio based in New York City
You can expect creative color blocking and negative space that feels ultra modern (thanks to the salon’s use of vibrant shades metallic foils, gold buttons, and glitter).
Eda Levenson
Nail artist who goes by Lady Fancynails whose work has been featured in magazines and brand ads.
Bold prints, highly reflective glitters, and expressive (sometimes even hypnotic) shapes and squiggles — Lady Fancynails really delivers on creative nails with an editorial edge.
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