In celebration of Mother’s Day, we asked nail techs to create a single tip with nail art in honor of their moms.

Crystal L. Jones, The Salon: Hair, Nails, and Fitness Studio, Danville, Ky.

From as far back as I can remember my Moma has been very fashion-forward but thrifty at the same time. She was shopping at rummage sales before it was the cool thing to do! After being asked to submit something for this story I posted a question on Facebook. “What’s one word you would use to describe my Moma?” The majority, which helped me figure out which direction to go for the art on the nail tip, said: fashionista, stylish, dressed nice, and nicely polished nails. So I went with rhinestones, of course. A high heel, a purse, and a bow all hand-painted by me, all on top of her favorite color — red! This of course is just one very small part of the beautiful person that my Moma is. I feel extremely blessed to have her in my life.

Kimberly Martin, Studio C Salon & Spa, Auburn, Maine

I chose a tea party theme for my nail design. For as long as I can remember, my mom has always collected tea cups and tea pots. One of my daughter’s favorite things to do is have a fancy tea party with her “Mammy.”

Maggie Franklin, Art of Nailz, Visalia, Calif.

When I got the assignment for the Mother’s Day nail art project, I immediately envisioned a nail with a custom decal of a photo of Mom holding me as a baby. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be any. As a matter of fact, there seem to be very few photos of Mom around at all. This photo is the one that Mom has carried in her wallet for at least 42 years (all of my life) that she likes of herself. She calls it her “skinny” picture. I scanned it and printed it out as a decal and then added the little pearls and 3-D roses in pinks and mauves.
For one thing, it’s just a very elegant Mother’s Day look. But, on a more “inside joke” level, when I began my career as a nail tech in 1992, my mother was my only regular client (and practice dummy). I did her nails weekly for several months and I would always let her choose her polish color and nail art. Week after week, her nails were a pale mauve with little flowers.  One day I told her she didn’t get to choose anymore and I painted her nails bright blue with little fish and mermaids on all 10 of them. And suddenly my phone started ringing. It’s a story that Mom is fond of telling.

Next page: More mom inspired nail art

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Amanda Lenher, Posare Salon, Las Vegas

This nail makes me think of my mom because she is a business woman — very serious and classy but she has that sassy and flashy side of her. I used gold foil and silver glitter for the nail art because it reminds me of her jewelry. She only wears gold and silver jewelry and it is like her signature look — never a day without her David Yurman. I love my mom and wish I could see her every day. This is just a small expression of my love for my mom. Words can’t ever express how much I love her and miss living near her.

Natasha Harton, Shabby Chic Nail Studio, Victoria, B.C., Canada

When I was younger, my mom and I would go shopping every Saturday morning together. I’d be carrying one of her purses, filled with my favorite lipgloss of hers and wallet with one of her cards inside to make me feel like I was all grown up. The first stop we’d make when we got to our destination? The purse department! This is one of my favorite memories of my mom and me, so I knew I had to put a fabulous 3-D leopard-print purse on this tip. The 3-D charm bracelet at the smile line represents the charm bracelets that both my mom and I wear — she and my Nanny gave me mine for my high school graduation present and it has such sentimental value to me! And then of course the fabulous pink inlays, sparkles, and bow represent both of our girly-girl sides!

Anne Creager, Shreveport, La.

The nail design represents my mom because she has always loved flowers and I remember planting them around the house with her when I was little. The flower design and yellow background color was taken from a barrette that my daughter has. I wanted to incorporate the breast cancer ribbon to honor my mother’s ongoing fight with breast cancer, and the “MOM” for Mother’s Day. I was adopted when I was three months old from Athens, Greece, and my mom has always been there for me.

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Mother's Day Nail Art Designs

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