A trained nail tech and self-taught artist currently based in NYC, J is most noted for her work as former Lead Nail Stylist for TNT’s critically-acclaimed television series CLAWS, which premiered back in 2018. But naturally, her relationship with both nails and art began much earlier. In fact, according to J, she’s been doing her nails since the age of 13.

“My mom is a very flashy person; she always had her nails done,” she recalled in an interview with Coveteur. “If we’re going to a simple BBQ, she’ll wear a gypsy skirt and shirt with chains—she’s the flashy Haitian mom.

“I also went to school in Haiti for a little while when I was younger, and they would line you up and check your hygiene, including your nails. They would send you home if it wasn’t up to par.”

According to J, she would also do her sister’s and my mom’s nails. “I wanted to do anyone and everyone’s nails,” she admits. “Now nails with smiley faces are trending, but I did that when I was a teen. And did a pretty bomb job.”

These early experiences also taught J the benefits of carving her own path for herself. According to J, she decided to pursue a path of entrepreneurship because she doesn’t like to be boxed in and wanted to be creative and successful on her own terms.

And as for inspiration? She tends to find plenty of it. “I derive inspiration from other places, from all kinds of artists, like jewelry designers,” she notes. “But sometimes I just have an idea that pops in my head.”

The post Big on Nails? You Have to Follow Gracie J appeared first on TettyBetty.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein)

If you’re looking for nail art inspo this spring, we recommend following Betina Goldstein. A full-time editorial and campaign nail artist, Goldstein is known for her eye for detail, her manicures ranging from the minimal to the lavish, including rhinestone-embellished nails and negative space manis.

“I focus on designs that are more contemporary and they have intricate detail and dimension, but don’t necessarily overwhelm your nails,” she explained her aesthetic in an interview with Elle.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein)

“It’s all about the placement of the nail art. It’s really minimal. At the same time, some of my nail designs are really out there: I’ll do chains on the nails—but with a sheer base.”

Having recently relocated from New York to Los Angeles, Goldstein has worked with celebrities as big as Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, and Billie Eilish. Her inspiration comes from the fashion scene, but also from arts and crafts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein)

“I’m always going into craft stores and finding like random things around my house to put on my nails,” she admits. “One time I had this Chanel ribbon, and it was too beautiful to throw away so I just cut out each letter and then place them on my nails. I don’t know what the inspiration, I just see that object and I’m like, oh I could do something with this. That’s it!”

Not one to shy away from a good challenge, Goldstein actually strives for it. “I love designs that challenge me and really require a lot of tiny details and a lot of patience,” she notes. And while working on her nails doesn’t take long, recreating her art on other clients takes more time and patience.

Scroll down to get your spring manicure inspo!

The post Betina Goldstein Will Inspire You to Freshen Up Your Manicure appeared first on TettyBetty.

“I see a huge relationship formally between my paintings and my nails and they definitely inspire/inform one another,” he added. “I see colors and textures and put them together to create something. I see both my nail sculptures and my paintings as ornaments of sorts: one exists to decorate the hand and the other for space.”

His creations, bizarre, misshapen, and more often than not grotesque, might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s exactly what makes them stand out as works of art rather than tidy manicures. “I can’t help but be attracted to shapes that look juicy,” admitted Alvear. “I can’t say there’s one place I look to for color inspiration but I know it when I see it.”

And judging by his celebrity clientele, which includes A-listers like Rihanna and Erykah Badu, Alvear is in it for the long run. Prepare to be taken aback.

The post Juan Alvear’s Nail Art Doesn’t Skimp On Shock Factor appeared first on TettyBetty.

Originally from Tokyo and currently based in New York, Matsunaga admits it was his sister who inspired him to treat nail painting as an art form. “She was working at a nail salon when I graduated from high school and I used to help her prepare nail art samples for the salon at her apartment,” he recalled. “Through this, I discovered that nails were my calling, and I enrolled in a nail art school soon after that.”

His designs aren’t contained to the nail surface alone. Rather, the whole hand serves as a canvas on which he incorporates custom made pieces, either translucent or made of metal. The finished result has a futuristic appeal to it, transforming his clients into fantastical beings, half robots, half human.

“My nails usually verge on the futuristic but I am still very interested in traditional methods and want to incorporate them,” says Matsunaga. In the meantime, his original designs can be seen sported on celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Mandy Moore, Lorde, and Mindy Kaling. You’ll want to take note.

The post The Future Begins at Your Fingertips: Eichi Matsunaga’s Unique Nail Art appeared first on TettyBetty.

“I’ve really only just come to terms with the idea that I am an artist,” she told Dazed and Confused. “Growing up, I would draw a lot but didn’t consider myself an artist. Now that I have come to terms with it, each step of the process feels very emotional.”

As a child, she remembers being drawn to the concept of getting your nails done. “My dad took me to get my first manicure when I was seven years old,” she recalled. “I was really obsessed with nail polish and long nails after that, even though I was a nail biter.”

Her obsession turned into a career choice after meeting nail guru Bernadette Thompson. “After badgering her on set for hours, I went home to research her,” she says. “It hadn’t dawned on me how much influence she had in the things I loved growing up, not to mention how much money I could actually make doing nails.”

Fast forward to 2013, and she was working as a stylist assistant when she met Bernadette Thompson. “After badgering her on set for hours, I went home to research her,” she says. “It hadn’t dawned on me how much influence she had in the things I loved growing up, not to mention how much money I could actually make doing nails.” According to Woodley, “it was a wrap after that.”

The post Bold, Graphic, and All-Around Wonderful: Leanne Woodley’s Nail Art appeared first on TettyBetty.

Originally from Kyoto, Japan, Kawajiri has been doing nails for more than 15 years. According to her, the biggest difference between Japanese and American nail art is that Japanese designs are “more abstract,” whereas her American clients “love to have a theme.” “Even 10 years ago, [Japan was] doing what we are doing in New York: big stones, crazy charms,” she told WWD. “Young girls save money for their nails instead of eating a lot of food. They wanna be skinny and they wanna have cool nail art.”

Not known for her minimalist approach, Kawajiri’s nail art is all about the drama. “I love drama,” she stressed. And while the nail community is overflowing with ideas at the moment, she admits she tries to keep to herself, when it comes to her inspiration. “As long as I don’t copy or I don’t watch other people’s Instagram, I’m good,” she said. “I don’t watch nail Instagrams at all. If you see [something] one time, you have the idea already on the inside of your head. I don’t wanna be like that. I wanna be always original and new.”

Take note.

The post Mei Kawajiri’s Nail Art is Unappolagitcally Extravagant appeared first on TettyBetty.

“I love drawing, and I draw on any blank space I can find,” said Kitagishi in an interview with Flow Magazine. “So one day, I decided my nails were just a good a canvas as any. When I started, I soon realized that it’s just like drawing on paper. I haven’t studied anything specific about nail art; I simply learn a little more each day through trial and error, and the details get better all the time.”

Based in Tokyo, she studied graphic design at Nihon Designer Gakuin Kyushu College and worked at a design studio in Fukuoka, before moving on to illustration. But it took her some time and practice to fully embrace her artistic style.

“I often draw characters like cats, owls, rabbits, girls with bobbed hair and men with mustaches,” she said. A self-taught illustrator, Kitagishi made an illustration every day for a whole year, sharing her progress on Instagram. She hasn’t looked back since.

Here are some highlights from her page:

The post This Artist Paints On Both Canvas and Nails appeared first on TettyBetty.

A trained nail tech and self-taught artist currently based in NYC, J is most noted for her work as former Lead Nail Stylist for TNT’s critically-acclaimed television series CLAWS, which premiered back in 2018. But naturally, her relationship with both nails and art began much earlier. In fact, according to J, she’s been doing her nails since the age of 13.

“My mom is a very flashy person; she always had her nails done,” she recalled in an interview with Coveteur. “If we’re going to a simple BBQ, she’ll wear a gypsy skirt and shirt with chains—she’s the flashy Haitian mom.

“I also went to school in Haiti for a little while when I was younger, and they would line you up and check your hygiene, including your nails. They would send you home if it wasn’t up to par.”

According to J, she would also do her sister’s and my mom’s nails. “I wanted to do anyone and everyone’s nails,” she admits. “Now nails with smiley faces are trending, but I did that when I was a teen. And did a pretty bomb job.”

These early experiences also taught J the benefits of carving her own path for herself. According to J, she decided to pursue a path of entrepreneurship because she doesn’t like to be boxed in and wanted to be creative and successful on her own terms.

And as for inspiration? She tends to find plenty of it. “I derive inspiration from other places, from all kinds of artists, like jewelry designers,” she notes. “But sometimes I just have an idea that pops in my head.”

The post Big on Nails? You Have to Follow Gracie J appeared first on TettyBetty.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein)

If you’re looking for nail art inspo this spring, we recommend following Betina Goldstein. A full-time editorial and campaign nail artist, Goldstein is known for her eye for detail, her manicures ranging from the minimal to the lavish, including rhinestone-embellished nails and negative space manis.

“I focus on designs that are more contemporary and they have intricate detail and dimension, but don’t necessarily overwhelm your nails,” she explained her aesthetic in an interview with Elle.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein)

“It’s all about the placement of the nail art. It’s really minimal. At the same time, some of my nail designs are really out there: I’ll do chains on the nails—but with a sheer base.”

Having recently relocated from New York to Los Angeles, Goldstein has worked with celebrities as big as Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, and Billie Eilish. Her inspiration comes from the fashion scene, but also from arts and crafts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Betina R. Goldstein (@betina_goldstein)

“I’m always going into craft stores and finding like random things around my house to put on my nails,” she admits. “One time I had this Chanel ribbon, and it was too beautiful to throw away so I just cut out each letter and then place them on my nails. I don’t know what the inspiration, I just see that object and I’m like, oh I could do something with this. That’s it!”

Not one to shy away from a good challenge, Goldstein actually strives for it. “I love designs that challenge me and really require a lot of tiny details and a lot of patience,” she notes. And while working on her nails doesn’t take long, recreating her art on other clients takes more time and patience.

Scroll down to get your spring manicure inspo!

The post Betina Goldstein Will Inspire You to Freshen Up Your Manicure appeared first on TettyBetty.

“I see a huge relationship formally between my paintings and my nails and they definitely inspire/inform one another,” he added. “I see colors and textures and put them together to create something. I see both my nail sculptures and my paintings as ornaments of sorts: one exists to decorate the hand and the other for space.”

His creations, bizarre, misshapen, and more often than not grotesque, might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s exactly what makes them stand out as works of art rather than tidy manicures. “I can’t help but be attracted to shapes that look juicy,” admitted Alvear. “I can’t say there’s one place I look to for color inspiration but I know it when I see it.”

And judging by his celebrity clientele, which includes A-listers like Rihanna and Erykah Badu, Alvear is in it for the long run. Prepare to be taken aback.

The post Juan Alvear’s Nail Art Doesn’t Skimp On Shock Factor appeared first on TettyBetty.

Originally from Tokyo and currently based in New York, Matsunaga admits it was his sister who inspired him to treat nail painting as an art form. “She was working at a nail salon when I graduated from high school and I used to help her prepare nail art samples for the salon at her apartment,” he recalled. “Through this, I discovered that nails were my calling, and I enrolled in a nail art school soon after that.”

His designs aren’t contained to the nail surface alone. Rather, the whole hand serves as a canvas on which he incorporates custom made pieces, either translucent or made of metal. The finished result has a futuristic appeal to it, transforming his clients into fantastical beings, half robots, half human.

“My nails usually verge on the futuristic but I am still very interested in traditional methods and want to incorporate them,” says Matsunaga. In the meantime, his original designs can be seen sported on celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Mandy Moore, Lorde, and Mindy Kaling. You’ll want to take note.

The post The Future Begins at Your Fingertips: Eichi Matsunaga’s Unique Nail Art appeared first on TettyBetty.

“I’ve really only just come to terms with the idea that I am an artist,” she told Dazed and Confused. “Growing up, I would draw a lot but didn’t consider myself an artist. Now that I have come to terms with it, each step of the process feels very emotional.”

As a child, she remembers being drawn to the concept of getting your nails done. “My dad took me to get my first manicure when I was seven years old,” she recalled. “I was really obsessed with nail polish and long nails after that, even though I was a nail biter.”

Her obsession turned into a career choice after meeting nail guru Bernadette Thompson. “After badgering her on set for hours, I went home to research her,” she says. “It hadn’t dawned on me how much influence she had in the things I loved growing up, not to mention how much money I could actually make doing nails.”

Fast forward to 2013, and she was working as a stylist assistant when she met Bernadette Thompson. “After badgering her on set for hours, I went home to research her,” she says. “It hadn’t dawned on me how much influence she had in the things I loved growing up, not to mention how much money I could actually make doing nails.” According to Woodley, “it was a wrap after that.”

The post Bold, Graphic, and All-Around Wonderful: Leanne Woodley’s Nail Art appeared first on TettyBetty.

Originally from Kyoto, Japan, Kawajiri has been doing nails for more than 15 years. According to her, the biggest difference between Japanese and American nail art is that Japanese designs are “more abstract,” whereas her American clients “love to have a theme.” “Even 10 years ago, [Japan was] doing what we are doing in New York: big stones, crazy charms,” she told WWD. “Young girls save money for their nails instead of eating a lot of food. They wanna be skinny and they wanna have cool nail art.”

Not known for her minimalist approach, Kawajiri’s nail art is all about the drama. “I love drama,” she stressed. And while the nail community is overflowing with ideas at the moment, she admits she tries to keep to herself, when it comes to her inspiration. “As long as I don’t copy or I don’t watch other people’s Instagram, I’m good,” she said. “I don’t watch nail Instagrams at all. If you see [something] one time, you have the idea already on the inside of your head. I don’t wanna be like that. I wanna be always original and new.”

Take note.

The post Mei Kawajiri’s Nail Art is Unappolagitcally Extravagant appeared first on TettyBetty.

“I love drawing, and I draw on any blank space I can find,” said Kitagishi in an interview with Flow Magazine. “So one day, I decided my nails were just a good a canvas as any. When I started, I soon realized that it’s just like drawing on paper. I haven’t studied anything specific about nail art; I simply learn a little more each day through trial and error, and the details get better all the time.”

Based in Tokyo, she studied graphic design at Nihon Designer Gakuin Kyushu College and worked at a design studio in Fukuoka, before moving on to illustration. But it took her some time and practice to fully embrace her artistic style.

“I often draw characters like cats, owls, rabbits, girls with bobbed hair and men with mustaches,” she said. A self-taught illustrator, Kitagishi made an illustration every day for a whole year, sharing her progress on Instagram. She hasn’t looked back since.

Here are some highlights from her page:

The post This Artist Paints On Both Canvas and Nails appeared first on TettyBetty.