Marble Lightning | Nail Art Tutorial
Luminary is my number one desert island product in my studio. Often immitated, never duplicated. I was beyond stoked when Kelly Van Dahl, the owner and creator of Luminary, reached out to me to try the newest addition to the Colors by Van Dahl collection: a gorgeous warm dove gray called “Essence”.I’m not going tp lie it was also a bit of a Sally Field “you like me, you really like me” moment, because, well, I’m an artist and a woman and imposter syndrome is REAL. The TL;DR of the matter is, it’s nice when a brand you love, loves you back.
Press-On Prep | Studio Skills
2020 was the year of the pivot, and for many nail professionals that meant diving headfirst into the world of press-ons. In this Studio Skills post, I'm sharing the prep process, products, and techniques I used to create salon-quality custom press-on nails.
Taking a Gel Break | Industry Musings
Contrary to popular belief, your nails don't need a break from gel. But life happens. Whether you're taking time off intentionally or by circumstance, here's how to care for your nails while you do.
Velvet Nails | Nail Art Tutorial
Not to get all Miranda Priestly on you, but velvet nails for fall never get old. Learn how magnetic gel creates that rich, dimensional velvet effect and pick up a few tips for creating your own.
Moody Marble | Nail Art Tutorial
Remember the cool aunt from Eighties Paradise? Meet her moodier counterpart. This black, charcoal, and gold marble design channels all the drama of a 1980s Wall Street skyscraper lobby.
Celestial Opal | Nail Art Tutorial
Like many of my favorite designs, Celestial Opal builds its depth through layers. Beautiful as a full set across all ten nails or as an accent nail mixed into another manicure, it's versatile, dimensional, and flattering on just about everybody.
Always Amethyst | Nail Art Tutorial
Learn how to create an amethyst-inspired nail art design using layered jelly gels, mica flakes, and delicate hand-painted veining. This versatile stone technique can be adapted to create everything from rose quartz to jade and marble effects.
Toasted Ceramic | Nail Art Tutorial
Inspired by rustic turquoise pottery and finished with touches of gold foil, this ceramic-inspired nail art design combines earthy texture, desert color palettes, and a little artistic flair.
Amber Tortoise | Watch Me Work
Did you ever wonder how tortoise shell nails come together? Follow the process behind this multi-dimensional amber tortoise design and see how intentional layering creates depth, warmth, and dimension.
Blonde Tortoise | Nail Art Tutorial
After nearly a year of experimenting, I finally cracked the code on blonde tortoise shell nails. A closer look at the technique, the products I used, and the surprisingly simple detail that brought the whole design together.
From Day Dream to Day Job | Industry Musings
One year after leaving my corporate beauty career to become a nail technician, I reflected on the winding path that brought me here. Sometimes the hardest part isn't climbing the ladder, it's realizing you're on the wrong one.
EIGHTIES PARADISE | NAIL ART TUTORIAL
Inspired by the stylish women, mauve furniture, big hair, and unapologetic excess of the 1980s, Eighties Paradise combines iridescent mylar, gold foil, and soft pink tones for a colorful nail art design with a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Lime Green Ombré Nails | Nail Art Tutorial
Gel ombré can be intimidating, but they're one of the most versatile nail art techniques to have in your toolkit. Learn how I created this sparkly lime green ombré design and the simple mindset shift that helped me stop overthinking the process.