TECHTALK

BEHIND THE GRAM

Get to know social media nail stars as they offer an insight into their lives & share content creation tips

Saskia Ivy – Hackney, London @suki_nailz 20.7K followers

My nail journey

I have always loved art and studied Fine Art: Painting at Camberwell College of Arts, however I didn’t fully engage with the course. I took a step back in 2019 to restore my motivation, then the first Covid lockdown hit in 2020. I wasn’t working, so sought a creative outlet. My friend and I had been sending nail art videos to each other on Instagram, and she said: ‘why don’t you try it?’. I haven’t stopped since!

What makes me happy

Spending quality time with my boyfriend, friends and family. Doing nails takes up a lot of mental space, so I really enjoy relaxing with my closest people.

My inspirations

I switch between two types of work. I enjoy experimenting with gothic art styles, dark colours and chromes – aiming to create a certain emotion through my work. I am inspired by mystical and ethereal energies, and have always loved when art feels dreamlike. On the flip side, I have recently pulled back on hand-painted designs and combined block gel polish shades, jelly textures and chrome in carefully curated colour palettes.

I try not to take inspiration from other nail artists, because I want to be authentic to myself. As soon as I started following that rule, I found my own style.

Signature style

My signature nail look is is a mix of ethereal, gothic, divine feminine and bold aesthetics. For my own nails, I tend to be more minimalist, often opting for a gothic design with a pop of colour and chrome.

A day in my life

Before work, I try to do some exercise and always have a coffee or matcha drink. I head to my nail studio for 10am and can see clients until 8pm.

Career highlights

My biggest achievement is having a nail career. I never imagined I would run my own business and be able to create art for people every day!

Social media tips

I noticed a lot of interest in my social media when I started offering mood board and freestyle design options. This allowed me to refine my style, and people liked what I was creating. One of my biggest moments was when I started seeing my work on Pinterest. Nail artists also began recreating my looks, which made me proud.

My top tips are:

1. Go against the grain. Don’t just do things because everyone else is; be unique!

2. Create work that you enjoy. The right people, who resonate with what you’re doing, will find you.

3. Engage with your audience and build a community around your work.

TREND TALK

I predict that chrome magenta nail looks will be huge this autumn/winter, as they offer a striking finish that’s a level up from burgundy nails.