Nailed It – My Top 10 Nail Art Moments Ever
Ah, the journey of a decade and then some, all encapsulated in the tiny canvases of my nails. For the past 14 years, Michael has been my go-to nail guru, transforming my fingertips into miniature works of art. It all began at Spa Nails, where I proudly held the title of his inaugural client. Witnessing Michael's evolution from nail novice to virtuoso has been nothing short of a whirlwind adventure.
Our nail sessions are more than just appointments; they're collaborative escapades into the realms of creativity. With no pre-planned designs, we start each session with excitement and anticipation, drawing inspiration from the world around us. Whether it's the outfit du jour or the whims of the weather, nothing is off-limits when it comes to sparking our artistic muses.
With each stroke of polish and flourish of glitter, my nails become miniature masterpieces, reflecting not just Michael's talent but our shared vision. Selecting my favourite designs feels like choosing between Snoop and Diddy – nearly impossible.
So, join me on a whimsical journey of nail art history as I reminisce about some of my all-time favourite designs. From the sublime to the utterly outrageous, these little pieces of art have left an indelible mark on my fingertips and my heart.
Wedding nails:
These were adorned with hundreds of Swarovski crystals, all individually applied by hand. No wonder I was 30 minutes late for the wedding. It was worth it for the sparkle. Obviously, Michael and Caitlin attended the wedding too. Never forget Michael bowling up in a leather jacket when it was 35 degrees! We recreated these nail beauties for my and Theo's 10th wedding anniversary last year. I loved them then as much as I did back in 2012.
Multi-coloured crystals:
I mean, come on, these are just a joy. Crystal rainbow nails, what’s not to love? Over the years, Mikey has created new techniques to make sure the crystals stay stuck for 2 weeks. He’s literally nailed it now. What’s his secret? Well, that would be telling (and I have zero idea, ha)!
Watercolour nails:
These were inspired by a watercolour painting I had seen in a local shop. Michael's blending technique is always second to none. We love pulling our 20-30 nail colours and then picking the ones we think will work well together. We both have such an appreciation for colour that this technique always seems to work out. And obvs, we usually add a splash of glitter.
The night sky nails:
You guys loved these. Inspired by the night sky, they really were beautiful. Michael mixed a combination of different blues, blending them with his fingers rather than a brush to create extra texture. The pops of glitter added the dimension of the stars and the galaxy. We added this at the very end. We knew something was missing. This is why I love our collaborations so much.
Cher stars:
These were my epic nails for my 40th birthday party in Greece. Gold glittery stars inspired by the incredible outfits Bob Rossi used to make for Cher.
Psychedelic swirls:
Pink and Red is also a great combo. I love to use these tones together when doing makeup, and they look just as great on nails. The steady hand of Michael really excelled itself with this design. I’ve told him so many times that I would love to see his eyeliner skill. Imagine!
Glitter frame:
These were simple yet effective. I say that but I wasn’t the one who had to carefully frame my entire nail with a perfect thin layer of glitter.
Holographic nails:
I mean, if you haven’t guessed I love glitter then you obvs haven’t been paying attention - ha! Michael is always on the hunt for new varnishes and new techniques. At the time, he was one of the first to get his hand on this holographic nail polish. I loved these so much but would of course make sure I was shining my phone torch on them for full effect every time anyone wanted to see them.
Green Marble:
Ok, these were fully inspired by my kitchen floor. Marble is such an incredible miracle of nature so why not try and at least attempt to recreate the effect on my nails? As always, Michael’s freehand and layering technique did this beautifully.
Pastel clouds:
When we're not sure what design to do we tend to just chuck loads of colours on and magic like this happens. Don’t you wish the clouds looked like this all the time?
Michael's Marbling Technique:
Okay, I had to include the images of this technique that we used to do back in 2011. We've actually been considering bringing it back because it's so cool. You basically drop loads of colours into cold water, dip your nail in, and wipe it off to reveal this wildly amazing marbling technique. The only issue? It takes hours. This is one of those sessions where we stick on the Kardashians and crack open a bottle of champs to make an evening of it.
The Extra Extrovert Days:
Just throwing in a few of these throwback images here because we were rocking nail art way before it was a thing. I mean, I had to pull these images from Facebook because Instagram didn’t even exist.
And finally, I’m leaving you with these 2011 Christmas nails of, um, happiness!? I remember how proud we were of these back in the day. Although I’ve got to say, I’m pretty sure I know how Mikey feels about them now considering I’ve asked him for polar bear and penguin nails every year since and he’s adamantly refused. I do think these show how far Michael's talent has come though.
Reflecting on the past 14 years of nail art adventures with Michael, I'm filled with gratitude for the countless moments of creativity, belly laughter, and friendship we've shared. Each session at Spa Nails has been a testament to Michael's ever-evolving talent and our boundless imagination.
As our collaborative creativity continues, I'm reminded that the beauty of nail art lies not just in the final design but in the journey of creation itself. From the spontaneous bursts of inspiration to the meticulous execution of each detail, our nail sessions have become cherished chapters in the story of our friendship.
Here's to many more years of whimsical nail art adventures.
Love,
Lisa