Look how my nails reflect my soul.
Nails are the icing on the cake, the cherry on the top, the feather in the cap, the chance for colour, the opportunity for risk. So, we’ve gone all out in our rainbow leopard print nail video by nail artist Michelle Humphrey. Into art, Michelle does the whole design freehand – steady on! Here she tells i-D online about the design, her nail history and why listening to hard house is good for concentration.
How did you get into nail artistry? I’ve always appreciated art and studied it throughout school. My love of nails started when I was 15, I used to go to the local nail bar and get acrylics put on. I was completely mesmerised watching them, so I ended up buying a kit off the Internet and taught myself. I eventually went on to study further and qualified in Nail Technology. Tell us about this look? The look is a two-toned leopard print design. I was inspired by the Dior AW12 collection which is bringing back the all-time classic, leopard print. How do you achieve precision in the leopard print pattern? I find it best to use a polish that has gone ever so slightly thick, you have more control as to what goes onto the nail. I use the nail polish brush to create various ‘C’s and broken up ‘O’ shapes. I fill the gaps with random dashes and dots. Number one nail tip? Make sure that you use a base and top coat. It makes so much difference. What music do you listen to when working? At the moment I’m loving Julio Bashmore, The Cure and Tensnake.
Text: Sarah Raphael
Manicurist: Michelle Humphrey @ LMC Worldwide using Dior A/W12
Videographer: Canister Studios
Producer: Luke Miley
