Korean nail artist Unistella gives tips on nail care and more

You are known for your unconventional ideas like glass nails, wire nails, and even pierced nails. Where do these influences come from?

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“My creations and designs are usually influenced by everything I love and see around me. I am always thinking of how I can come up with nail art designs from things or events that I encounter in my everyday life.”

What is the next big nail art trend?

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“I never think of what the next trend will be and I try not to worry too much about it as it tends to stress me out and interferes with my creative work.

Most of my works are not created in a day and often take a few years to be completed. Thus, I always take my time to upgrade the designs I want to create in order to make them better or add new ideas to the list.”

What’s your creative process like when you’re creating your designs?

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“I always remind myself to do three things when creating a new piece of nail art. Firstly, I try not to limit myself to the conventional idea of what ‘nail art’ should be. Next, I always strive for my designs to be both wearable and beautiful at the same time. Lastly, once it is completed, I try to make it even simpler to recreate.”

How do you make nail art wearable on a daily basis?

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“I always believe that the nail art I create has to be wearable on a daily basis and it has become a habit of mine to constantly think this way. I always tell myself that nail art does not have to be done on all 10 nails and it certainly does not necessarily have to be a manicure.”

You are known for your work with Blackpink. How creative do you get with them?

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“Each member of Blackpink has her own style, but we always discuss the different themes we’ll like to explore before deciding on the concept. Sometimes they would make suggestions and at times, I would also offer my input that will go well with the concept.

Some of the key themes we had explored included super long nails, Korean lettering nails, nail jewellery and the drop chandelier.”

Tell us more about your nail jewellery.

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“It has always been difficult for me to wear gel nails as my natural nails are actually very short. But I love attaching gems onto my nails knowing I’ll remove them soon. Furthermore, I prefer changing up my nail designs quite frequently and this spurred the idea of creating nail art that can be worn and removed every day like rings.

I simply turned this idea into reality and improved it over time. Initially, the nail jewellery could only be worn on short nails but after a year of research, I was able to improve on it so that it can be worn on long nails too. I’m so happy that my vision came to life.”

What are your tips for painting our nails at home?

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“For a precise application, I recommend applying a peel-off barrier around your nails and letting it dry before applying the colour. When you remove the peel-off barrier, you’ll see that the polish has been applied perfectly. However, I personally like the uneven way nail polishes are applied so I’ll recommend just applying it without anything too.”

How will the pandemic impact nail trends?

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“Personally, I believe the next big thing in nails is nail care. Taking care of your nails properly is essential to keep them clean and healthy – and this is something of much importance especially with Covid-19. The pandemic has also changed our lives totally. It has made me cherish the time I have to be able to talk to my customers.”

What are your tips for nailcare?

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“Nails tend to get dry now that everyone is applying hand sanitisers and washing their hands more frequently. I know it may be a burden, but applying hand cream and sunscreen is very important. If you’re wearing gel nails, never peel them off because that is the worst thing you can do to your nails.”

This article was first published in Female.