To “mod” something is to modify it for a different audience or use. In the world of nail design, nail artists often have to restrain their extravagant creations to suit an enthusiastic, but conservative, client. The result may be simplified, but the “wow” factor doesn’t have to be! We asked some of our NAILS Next Top Nail Artists past and present to show how they transform their competition nail designs into very wearable nail art.

Bejeweled

Danielle Costantino, Cranston, R.I.  |  @nailsbydanielle

To create a salon-friendly version of her nails featured on the October 2015 cover of NAILS, Danielle Costantino used a few time-saving techniques. “I used Akzéntz Pro-Formance gel to fill the client’s nails.  When they were ready to polish I used Luxio Gel in Almondine, Darling, Noir, and Engagement.  Chunky Glitter makes a great quick replacement for a full crystal nail. I used a stamping plate and black stamping polish to quickly replicate the intricate line work I did for the cover. I used round rose gold glitter sequins to substitute the rose gold Swarovski crystals I used in the original. With these shortcuts I brought the design time from 90 minutes down to 30 minutes."

Pure Diva

Celina Ryden  |  @celinaryden

Celina Ryden’s tribute to Lady Gaga in last year’s NTNA challenge titled “Pure Diva” garnered her first place that week. She decided to keep the individual look but made it more wearable by trimming both length and 3-D aspects. Her famous “bubble nail” (right middle finger) turned into a more demure but stunning creation using small glass balls and a few rounded pearl studs. The bold stroke of lightning (left middle finger) came down a dimensional notch, too. On the latex-looking thumb, studs were topped with two coats of white gel.

Once Upon a Dream

Ryoko Garcia, Navarre, Fla.  |  @nailsbyryoko

Ryoko Garcia was the winner of the first-ever NAILS Next Top Nail Artist in 2013. Her final challenge, “Once upon a Dream” fantasy nails stole the show. “I wanted to go dramatic so I made a mostly 3-D design and used a lot of colors,” she recalls. For clients they have to be wearable, so Garcia went with a flat design. She applied gel-polish for the base and the French design. Then she hand-painted characters using black acrylic paint. The nails are finished with a matte top coat; Garcia made sure to use different colors to make them pop.

The Next Picasso

Sarah Elmaz , Melbourne, Australia  |  @getbuffednails 

Sarah Elmaz did an amazing thing in last year’s NTNA — for the challenge honoring Picasso’s birthday she combined a favorite rendering of Mickey Mouse (by artist Tim Rogerson) with Picasso’s bold, abstract style. The results brought her in second place that week and she ended up being 2nd runner-up for the entire competition. Elmaz’ modified set kept the playful cartoonlike aspect as well as the bold colors and lines. Now, though, the palette is restrained and artful negative space contributes to the set’s wearability. Some highlights: Index finger has shapes painted and colored in with gel-polish, followed by a matte top coat. The ring finger is a negative space heart, surrounded by outlines made with gel-polish and a matte top coat. 

Steampunk’d

Danielle Costantino, Cranston, R.I.  |  @nailsbydanielle

Costantino had so many clients request a version of her steampunk nails from NTNA S. 2 that she came up with a few different ways to recreate them. “I filled the nails with Akzentz Pro-Formance gel and polished them with Luxio Almondine. I used glitter to fill in some nails with something pretty, but easy and fast. I used acrylic to create a vintage 3-D rosette. This particular rose is very easy and quick for me to make in the salon. I used a decal to recreate the clock I painted in my original design. I also used decals to imitate the newspaper aspect of the design. I finished it off with a few crystals and watch gears. It was a cute and simple way to add some bling. It took me 30 minutes extra to do the art in this set, when the original version took me two days."