Tsitsopoulou

Tsitsopoulou

Greek nail artist Mariantha Tsitsopoulou is transforming the way we look at nails. Her preference for 3-D nail art makes it so that designs literally pop out at you from the nail. We asked this professional nail artist and salon owner about her passion and process.

How long have you been doing nails?
More or less, half of my life. I started doing nails as a part-time allowance job at the age of 14. I graduated from nail school at the age of 21, right after my academic graduation as a kindergarten school teacher for kids with special needs. Nails have been my passion and only professional occupation for the last seven years.



What are your favorite products to work with?
I can’t get enough of acrylic and 3-D nail art. There are plenty of advantages with sculpted art: it makes my work recognizable; the durability beats anything else; it is custom built for each person. We all have seen pretty much every kind of drawings on nails, but 3-D art refines a professional’s skillset. As far as I am concerned, I see detailed sculpted artwork not only as a way of enjoying your nails, but also a great conversation starter when seen in public.

How do you come up with ideas for your designs?
My main thought is to do things that have never been done before and avoid recreating my own work as much as possible. I get inspired by pretty much everything that draws my attention or is in the field of my clients’ interests. I have a Tumblr account (thenailjob.tumblr.com) and YouTube has contributed also.


Do you have a favorite set you have done?
My heart belongs to my fried eggs on yellow shorties, even though it was not the most difficult set I have done. It was my very first try to put my own signature on something and the acceptance was way bigger than I could have ever dreamed.

Do you think nail art is here to stay or is it on its way out?
It’s here to stay. Women finally appreciate the necessity of having their nails professionally done.



I love the Chanel perfume bottles you did. The “CC”s have been on nails for a while too. Do you think fashion influences nails more or nails influence what people wear?
I wish I could say the latter, but it is the other way around. Designers leave their mark on each season’s trends, and yet nails slowly but steadily have a soul of their own as a part of the fashion industry. I do not see them influencing catwalks though, not yet.

When you’re not doing nails, you’re …
...traveling, enjoying friends, my dog, seeking further education on nails. At the moment I also attend a class for permanent make up (eyebrow, eyeliner, and lip tattoo).

See more of Tsitsopoulou's work here.

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