Destinee doing nail art on the RM team in the showroom.
Nail art is all the rage – from patterned press-ons to elaborate ombre gel designs, the trend is adorning ladies’ (and men’s!) nails across the globe. What used to be a manicure is now evolving into art, the two becoming synonymous as more and more trendsetters opt for bold over Blanc (Essie’s version of white).
Destinee Handly, a talented nail artist on the rise, travels from coast to coast designing nail art for bloggers, editorial, brands and celebrities alike. In this week’s Minkette Moment, we pick her brain on the subject, her style, inspirations and her goal to paint Adam Levine’s nails in the next five years. A girl’s gotta dream, right?
MINKETTE: How did you get your start?
DH: My best friend’s mom owned a Vietnamese nail salon when I was about 15, and I used to help out. I also used to paint my nails everywhere – in class, on the bus, at dinner.
MINKETTE: Have you always been a nail artist, or was this a change of path?
DH: I’ve always done it but never considered it a viable career option until recently. I was studying film out of high school and ended up in social media and data management.
MINKETTE: Describe your personal style.
DH: LA/NY/JAPAN/WTF
MINKETTE: Describe your nail style – is crazier always better?
DH: Yes!! The silliest things I have done to my own nails is use fake eyelashes and googley eyes and cut the tips to look like teeth.
MINKETTE: Best nail art ever. Go.
DH: 3d acrylic sculptors always get me! There is some really crazy stuff out there though. First thing that pops into mind is these rubber ducky nails done by Naomi Yasuda. That girl is a nail queen!
MINKETTE: A nail art design you’re dying to try.
DH: I see a lot of Japanese nail artists do this really cool marble affect on nails. I’d also love to try a very real looking wood grain pattern on nails.
MINKETTE: Are you OCD about your nails always looking fab?
DH: I was in the beginning but working with acetone so often totally ruins anything I can do on myself! Unless I get gels or wear nail wraps my nails are usually short, clean and naked.
MINKETTE: Do you find yourself always looking at other people’s nails?
DH: Always!!! It’s the first thing I see. You can tell so much about people by the condition of their hands.
MINKETTE: What inspires your nail art?
DH: Fabric, art, textures, music, food, and of course, all these funny nail art and DIY blogs.
MINKETTE: Favorite color.
DH: Oh, that’s so hard. Um, I’ve always loved crimson red, but my favorite nail color is coral, specifically OPI’s Melon of Troy, it looks good on just about anyone. Its been my go-to color since highschool!
Destinee's blue ombre nail art on blogger WeWoreWhat.
MINKETTE: Do you consider yourself bi-coastal? What’s the best/worst part about that?
DH: I’m “try-coastal.” I would love to be able to work in NYC and LA. I’m definitely more into the weather on the West Coast, but there’s just something about New York that I’m falling for. Worst part is the travel time. Best part is everything else.
MINKETTE: What are your favorite places to eat, shop and kick back while you’re on the road?
DH: Any raw food place, the farmer’s market or a tea shop. David’s Tea (NYC), LifeFood Organic (LA), Cafe Gratitude (LA). I would love to have a shopping spree at Michael’s and book it to Santa Cruz, California.
MINKETTE: Who are your artistic icons?
DH: Eartha Kitt, Eriko Nagao, Bianca and Sierra Casady of CocoRosie, Miss Van, Barbarella, Michael Jackson, John Waters, Freddy Mercury.
MINKETTE: Whose nails do you want to be painting in five years?
DH: Emma Stone and Kat Dennings are f*cking rad. I actually want my clientele to consist mostly of men though so. Chris Hemsworth, Adam Levine, Frank Ocean, Samuel L. Jackson – bring ‘em on!
For more of Destinee’s nail art, visit her blog at http://misshandly.tumblr.com/
