<p>Sako ran in circles with her blacks and whites.</p>

Sako ran in circles with her blacks and whites.

<p>Dykes went for flower power.</p>

Dykes went for flower power.

<p>Felines took center stage for Schuetz.</p>

Felines took center stage for Schuetz.

<p>Kim kept with long lines while creating a cut-up star.</p>

Kim kept with long lines while creating a cut-up star.

<p>Black and white converged through dots on Lovett's tips.</p>

Black and white converged through dots on Lovett's tips.

<p>Sako went mad with plaid.</p>

Sako went mad with plaid.

<p>Dots were the dominant image on Dykes' tips.</p>

Dots were the dominant image on Dykes' tips.

<p>Schuetz liked lines.</p>

Schuetz liked lines.

<p>A scalloped design showed off the shiny golds and silvers Kim chose.</p>

A scalloped design showed off the shiny golds and silvers Kim chose.

<p>The white background dominates the starburst effect Lovett created.</p>

The white background dominates the starburst effect Lovett created.

<p>Sako swirled the polishes for a mesmerizing effect.</p>

Sako swirled the polishes for a mesmerizing effect.

<p>Dykes' tip graduated in gradient in a sponge-like effect.</p>

Dykes' tip graduated in gradient in a sponge-like effect.

<p>Schuetz's creation elicits thoughts of fire, tongues, and branches.</p>

Schuetz's creation elicits thoughts of fire, tongues, and branches.

<p>Kim's kissable tips shine with glitter-painted lips.</p>

Kim's kissable tips shine with glitter-painted lips.

<p>Lovette used red-on-red dots for her tips.</p>

Lovette used red-on-red dots for her tips.

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<p>Sako ran in circles with her blacks and whites.</p>
1/15
 
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Sako ran in circles with her blacks and whites.

<p>Dykes went for flower power.</p>
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Dykes went for flower power.

<p>Felines took center stage for Schuetz.</p>
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Felines took center stage for Schuetz.

<p>Kim kept with long lines while creating a cut-up star.</p>
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Kim kept with long lines while creating a cut-up star.

<p>Black and white converged through dots on Lovett's tips.</p>
5/15
 
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Black and white converged through dots on Lovett's tips.

<p>Sako went mad with plaid.</p>
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Sako went mad with plaid.

<p>Dots were the dominant image on Dykes' tips.</p>
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Dots were the dominant image on Dykes' tips.

<p>Schuetz liked lines.</p>
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Schuetz liked lines.

<p>A scalloped design showed off the shiny golds and silvers Kim chose.</p>
9/15
 
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A scalloped design showed off the shiny golds and silvers Kim chose.

<p>The white background dominates the starburst effect Lovett created.</p>
10/15
 
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The white background dominates the starburst effect Lovett created.

<p>Sako swirled the polishes for a mesmerizing effect.</p>
11/15
 
Slider

Sako swirled the polishes for a mesmerizing effect.

<p>Dykes' tip graduated in gradient in a sponge-like effect.</p>
12/15
 
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Dykes' tip graduated in gradient in a sponge-like effect.

<p>Schuetz's creation elicits thoughts of fire, tongues, and branches.</p>
13/15
 
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Schuetz's creation elicits thoughts of fire, tongues, and branches.

<p>Kim's kissable tips shine with glitter-painted lips.</p>
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Kim's kissable tips shine with glitter-painted lips.

<p>Lovette used red-on-red dots for her tips.</p>
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Lovette used red-on-red dots for her tips.

While providing only minimal directions and options, the editors at NAILS commissioned five nails agents to create individual works of art on three separate missions. The first group had to use black and white polishes to create nail tips, the second use any and all shades of red polish to create nail tips, and the third group use white, silver, and gold polishes to create nail tips. The "agents" we enlisted for this special project were Sayaka Sako of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Yoko Dykes of Marysville, Wash.; Elsbeth Schuetz of Orange, Calif.; Mia Kim of New York, N.Y.; and Christie Lovett of Ocean View, Hawaii

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