Winter Wonder

A candy cane, crystals & cosy vibes combine in this month’s Scratch cover, courtesy of Swedish nail artist, Emelie Westin. Here, she shares details of the creative process

Ordering candy canes and painting snowflakes in the summer felt somewhat strange to Emelie Westin, but the self-confessed Christmas fanatic had a vision – and was determined to showcase it on the front cover of Scratch’s December edition.

The Stockholm-based nail stylist contacted me in May, sharing photos of her stunning nail work and creation for US magazine, NailPro, which opened its November/December 2023 issue. She honed an idea for a festive photo shoot with pink candy canes, and sought the opportunity to make it a reality. So, I reserved this month’s Scratch cover position, and Emelie started work.

“I created the nails in June, working with pink and white shades, before adding finer details and sparkle,” Emelie explains. “I knew the design I wanted to create: a mix of some of my favourite nail styles from the past few years on a matte base. While the nails showcase different art, it was important for the finished look to be cohesive, so I used a single pink shade. I added milky white where required, to paint details and add depth.”

With a clear plan for each nail in place, it took Emelie just a few days to craft seven looks, spending a few hours on the nails each day. But while the nail work was seamless, sourcing props for the shoot proved more challenging. “Trying to find a pink candy cane during summer was the most difficult part of this cover creation,” Emelie shares. “I called what seemed like every sweet shop in Sweden, but the only colour they had was red. I then spoke to Helena, who located a store in Italy that sold pink candy canes, and she got a box shipped to Sweden. However, most of them arrived broken.” Ever creative, Emelie used nail products for repair purposes, and the pink prop was able to be used for the shoot.

Alma Edbom

As the owner of three successful artistic businesses, Emelie can dictate her work schedule, so booked a studio when she and her friend, Alma Edbom – the cover model – were available. Emelie reveals: “Alma is a dancer and has great body control. When I asked her to move one finger slightly or change her expression, she did so without moving anything else, which made my job as photographer easy. Alma arrived on set with her make-up done, and we just added lipgloss and I adhered the nails. The entire shoot took 45 minutes, and I was worried that I had forgotten something as it had run so seamlessly, but the finished shot is how I imagined. I had a lot of fun on set and believe Christmas is the best time of year, so this cover is very special to me.”

Emelie’s goal was to create a feel-good cover with a cosy feel, explaining: “I hope everyone who sees the photo wants to join Alma with a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy its warmth on cold hands, with cheeks that are flushed pink from playing in the snow.”

“Nail designs are a form of personal expression, and a great manicure has the power to uplift a person’s mood, boost their confidence and showcase their personality. Beautiful nails give clients a sense of joy, and it’s fun to experiment with looks, since nothing is permanent.”

The nail designs featured on this month’s front cover are taught in the Winter Wonderland and Christmas Magic online classes, available via Nail Art Queens Academy. To sign up, visit www.nailartqueens.se

Emelie Westin

About Emelie Westin

A manicure for her graduation celebrations ignited Emelie Westin’s nail career. While she had enjoyed painting her nails as a child, it was at this appointment where she met Sophie, a nail pro who had started promoting beginners’ nail training. Emelie signed up and began the course four weeks later.

The tech works from her nail studio in Stockholm, Sweden, creating designs and teaching classes online. She describes her style as ‘clean and cute’ and enjoys adding glitter and sparkle to her creations. Alongside her nail art business, Beautiful in Light, she runs interior accessories brand, Design in Light, and teamed up with fellow nail stylist, Malin Schlott, to launch webshop, www.nailartqueens.se. The duo sells nail art products and run classes, and has developed the Nail Art Queen Crystals brand, offerings crystal embellishments.