When thinking of a name for their Tumblr account, sisters Donne and Ginny Geer agreed that “Hey, nice nails!” was the best compliment a woman could get. The blog got so popular that these sisters decided to open a salon together after finding they couldn’t both be hired to do nails at the same location. While completing their first book, Nail Candy, the Geers transformed a 1920’s building into a hip nail salon in downtown Long Beach’s arts district. Hey, Nice Nails is now more than just a compliment, it’s a haven for nail art junkies around the world.
It’s not uncommon for nail technicians to have a family member who also shares the same trade. For several of these nail techs, they remember a part of their childhood spent in salons. Whether they initially planned on another profession or knew right away they would follow in their mother’s footsteps, these women share how their mothers played a specific role in finding their way into the nail industry.
Stripes are always nice, but they don’t have to be color blocked to create an effect. Leave negative space or create a peek-a-boo panel to break up nail art.
Nail art is raking in big bucks at a lot of salons. If you’re good at applying polish, but aren’t necessarily a Picasso, here are some easy designs you may want to try. Once you master a few basic strokes and shapes, you can combine them to form more intricate designs.
