Vega - Designer nails: create art at your fingertips

PERIGEE

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

DESIGNER NAILS

Copyright 2015 by Ami Vega and Gabe Vega

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ISBN: 978-0-698-18851-8

Page xi and 134: nail polishes combomambo/iStock

Pages xvii, 133, and 137: nail polish spills Foonia/iStock

This book has been registered with the Library of Congress.

First edition: August 2015

Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.

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This book is dedicated to my greatest work of art and constant source of inspiration: my daughter, Kennedy.
Te amo mi negra.

A rt has always been a part of my life, and so have manicures. I was in junior high school when I first did my own nailsI distinctly remember the metallic red polish I used. Soon I was heading to the drugstore to buy press-on nails, which I cut, filed, and shaped the way I liked. As time went on, my nail designs became more elaborate and I began to treat manicures as another form of artistic expression long before it became a trend.

I have been training as an artist from middle school through college, but a few years ago I began following the work of other professional nail artists and was inspired to seek out a new direction. With my business partner Gabe Vega, I set up a blog, elsalonsito.com, and started posting my work. Through Gabes effortsand those of his creative management agency, EL Managementmy following grew, and I began working with companies like Revlon, Maybelline, and Essie. Soon, Marie Claire magazine featured me as one of their favorite bloggers.

Nails are like tiny canvases to me. I love decorating them with all kinds of intricate designs and detailssomething I dont do when creating art on a larger scale. I hope this book inspires and encourages your inner artist, too. The designs and techniques featured here will show you how easy it is to create something personal and specialwhether its an intricate design for your wedding day or an homage to someone loved and lost. Think of your nail art as another form of self-expression: its body art that can be as intricate as a tattoo but infinitely more changeable.

I love geometric patterns and textile design. The artist Keith Harings use of smooth, repetitive lines has been a huge influence on my work, as has the fashion design of Alexander McQueenin fact, one of my most popular nail designs (Spray Paint, described on page 126) was inspired by the McQueen exhibit Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Another source of ideas is the public library. I often go there to read books on art and fashion, sketching out my ideas in notebooks and then executing them on false nails that fill my portfolio.

Knowing how your nails work and how to care for them is like preparing a canvas for paintingyou want the best surface on which to create your amazing art. So before you turn to the nail art tutorials, be sure to study the basic manicure section of this book first. Most of my clients prefer gel manicures, so that their designs will last for weeks on end. But even if youre a beginner, once you understand the art behind the polishing of a nail and learn proper nail care, your manicures can last more than a week, too.

Great nail art starts with a good manicure, but its also the result of practicebefore I was able to create the designs you see on these pages, I went through a lot of trial and error, and you will, too. But your efforts will result in beautiful designsI promise!

Start with the basic designs and practice, practice, practice. Then move to the more intricate patterns without fear; after all, theres no right or wrong when it comes to nail art. Consider these designs an open platform for your own self-expressionI encourage you to change the colors, combine different elements, and take them even further to express your own style.

Manicure Tools

Large paper towel or small hand towel to cover your work surface

Nail polish remover

Cotton pads

Nail clippers

100180 grit nail file for filing and shaping

240 grit buffer