<p>Image from the series <em>Hard Candy</em></p>
<p>Nail art by Glynuss Alexander.&nbsp;</p>

Image from the series Hard Candy

Nail art by Glynuss Alexander. 

<p>Inlay with orange orchids, el melon and nameplate ring, 2015</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>26 x 40&rdquo;</p>
<p>Nail art by Tiff EB.&nbsp;</p>

Inlay with orange orchids, el melon and nameplate ring, 2015

Archival pigment print

26 x 40”

Nail art by Tiff EB. 

<p>Stilettos with fruit salad inlay on yellow swirls, 2013</p>
<p>Archival pigment print&nbsp;</p>
<p>50 x 44"</p>
<p>Nail art by Glynuss Alexander.</p>

Stilettos with fruit salad inlay on yellow swirls, 2013

Archival pigment print 

50 x 44"

Nail art by Glynuss Alexander.

<p>Gold, 2016</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>26 x 30"</p>
<p>Nail art by Glynus Alexander.</p>

Gold, 2016

Archival pigment print

26 x 30"

Nail art by Glynus Alexander.

<p>Untitled #2, 2014</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>20 x 29"</p>
<p>Nail art by Yara Fernandez.</p>

Untitled #2, 2014

Archival pigment print

20 x 29"

Nail art by Yara Fernandez.

<p>Gina, 2013</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>30 x 36"</p>
<p>Nail art by Gina Gonzalez (pictured.)</p>

Gina, 2013

Archival pigment print

30 x 36"

Nail art by Gina Gonzalez (pictured.)

1/6
 
View all
<p>Image from the series <em>Hard Candy</em></p>
<p>Nail art by Glynuss Alexander.&nbsp;</p>
1/6
 
Slider

Image from the series Hard Candy

Nail art by Glynuss Alexander. 

<p>Inlay with orange orchids, el melon and nameplate ring, 2015</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>26 x 40&rdquo;</p>
<p>Nail art by Tiff EB.&nbsp;</p>
2/6
 
Slider

Inlay with orange orchids, el melon and nameplate ring, 2015

Archival pigment print

26 x 40”

Nail art by Tiff EB. 

<p>Stilettos with fruit salad inlay on yellow swirls, 2013</p>
<p>Archival pigment print&nbsp;</p>
<p>50 x 44"</p>
<p>Nail art by Glynuss Alexander.</p>
3/6
 
Slider

Stilettos with fruit salad inlay on yellow swirls, 2013

Archival pigment print 

50 x 44"

Nail art by Glynuss Alexander.

<p>Gold, 2016</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>26 x 30"</p>
<p>Nail art by Glynus Alexander.</p>
4/6
 
Slider

Gold, 2016

Archival pigment print

26 x 30"

Nail art by Glynus Alexander.

<p>Untitled #2, 2014</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>20 x 29"</p>
<p>Nail art by Yara Fernandez.</p>
5/6
 
Slider

Untitled #2, 2014

Archival pigment print

20 x 29"

Nail art by Yara Fernandez.

<p>Gina, 2013</p>
<p>Archival pigment print</p>
<p>30 x 36"</p>
<p>Nail art by Gina Gonzalez (pictured.)</p>
6/6
 
Slider

Gina, 2013

Archival pigment print

30 x 36"

Nail art by Gina Gonzalez (pictured.)

Helen Maurene Cooper is a photographer whose book, Paint & Polish: Cultural Economy and Visual Culture from the West Side, will debut on February 23. A celebration of nail art and culture within Chicago, Maurene spent eight years creating her photos for the book, as well as building relationships with nail techs, salon owners and clients.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.

Read more about