00:00I get inspiration from the vibe of the look.
00:03I don't know how it's gonna look at the end,
00:06but I like to create some fun design and go all out.
00:11I'm Tina Tazi, and today I am getting celebrity nail art.
00:14I'm leveling up today because I think that my entire life
00:17has led to this moment.
00:18I've been getting my nails done for a very long time,
00:22and I'm really ready to finally have that,
00:25like, stop you in the street set of nails.
00:28I think nail art is probably my favorite form of art.
00:32I think my interest in nail art
00:33stemmed from loving to physically paint my own nails as a kid.
00:37It truly began on my 13th birthday
00:39when I was gifted my first ever set of acrylic nails,
00:42which was the culmination of watching a lot of
00:45Dennis the Menace as a kid,
00:47and there was this kind of nasty character
00:49who antagonized everyone by, like, tapping her nails
00:51across the countertops,
00:53and on my 13th birthday, that wish was fulfilled,
00:56and I've been tapping on countertops ever since.
00:58I borderline throw function out the window with my nails as it is.
01:02I mean, they would be yay long, just things dangling,
01:07attached to one another, chains connected.
01:09It would be completely out of hand.
01:12Hi, my name is Yoko, and I'm a nail artist based in L.A.
01:16What inspired me to get into nail industry is because I used to love getting my nails done.
01:22When I was little, I used to paint my own nails with markers.
01:26I felt cute, so it just makes me happy.
01:30So I'm certified in Swarovski nail art education,
01:35so I like using crystals, and also I love using airbrush machine to create different nail designs.
01:43I've worked with celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Lisa Ray, and also Moschino Fashion Show.
01:52I don't know. I was hoping to let you do your thing, whatever you're feeling, like, inspired by.
01:56I was thinking to do maybe galaxy, spacey kind of nails with dark backgrounds and sparkles.
02:05Yeah, that sounds perfect, yeah.
02:07And if there's any way to do, like, a fade into that dark,
02:10because I want to keep them for as long as possible so as they grow out,
02:14if the top could, you know, be, like, more see-through and then get darker.
02:18Otherwise, that sounds like a perfect plan.
02:20Okay, let's get started.
02:22Great. Are you ready? Yes.
02:23The only thing I'm a little bit nervous about today is the fact that my natural nails are a bit
02:28weak.
02:28They're a little bit more sensitive than I'd like for them to be.
02:34I start by cleaning her nails with alcohol, pushing her cuticles with a pusher.
02:42Then I use a drill machine, getting rid of all the dead skin on the sidewalls.
02:51After that, I am dusting off and cleaning up the nail pits.
02:59Now they're ready for gel extensions.
03:03I measure each nails to fit the size for gel extensions.
03:09I apply pre-primer and primer on her nail beds.
03:16Then I prep the nail tips by buffing inside and apply primer on top.
03:24Next step would be to apply gel on her nails.
03:29Every time I apply new product, I will have Tina's hand put in a nail lamp.
03:36After applying each nails, put the whole hand into the lamp and cure completely.
03:44Once they're completely dry, gently fire around the cuticle area to make them smooth.
03:52Then dust off and clean the surface of nail beds.
03:58Then I shape the nails into coffin shape.
04:03Now they're ready for colors.
04:06So clean the nails one more time with alcohol.
04:11First, I start off with black.
04:14Then I will apply stencils and airbrush with white gel.
04:22Then after I look at nails, I decide what to add.
04:27I will add stars to make it look more dramatic.
04:33Then I will use sparkle stencil.
04:39On top, I chose a star crystals.
04:44Then I will apply small crystals randomly on her nails.
04:50I will finalize the look with piercing her pinky nails.
04:56I will drill the holes.
05:01Then I will bend the hoops to pierce the nails.
05:13In order for the charms to stay on her nails, I will apply gel around the charms to secure.
05:22To finish it off, I will shape them one more time gently.
05:28I will polish them and apply moisturizing cuticle oil and hand lotion to finish up
05:36a final look.
05:37I absolutely feel like my best self with these nails on.
05:50I feel like I should become a hand model now.
05:52Please contact my agent for booking inquiries.
06:02These pierced rings on my nails are throwing me.
06:05And I keep thinking that her rhinestones are falling off the sides of my nails.
06:10Working with Tina was really fun.
06:12She loves nail art.
06:14And I like working with clients who enjoy the nail designs.
06:18Yoko was incredible, kind, gentle, just really easy to work with and really fun to talk to.
06:26She has such great stories.
06:27And I'm envious of all the incredible celebrity hands that she's touched.
06:30And now mine live alongside those.
06:33Gel eggs are good because they are quick to apply and mostly shaped already.
06:40It took two and a half hours to do Tina's nails.
06:44It seems like it takes a lot of patience.
06:46But I get so lost creating designs that sometimes I don't think of time.
06:53But it's totally worth it.
06:54I am definitely going to be extra careful with these nails.
06:57They are a treasure to me.
06:59The trick to keep the nail art is not to do dishes.
07:04Not to do cleaning.
07:06Not to open cans.
07:08I'm just kidding.
07:09You can wear gloves when you have to do them.
07:11But be gentle.
07:13I recommend Tina to use cuticle oils to have the skin moisturized.
07:19If any charms falls off, she can use glue to reapply.
07:24What I was mostly thinking about while I was sitting with Yoko getting my nails done was
07:29how was it to do Miley's nails?
07:33How was it to do Violet Tchotchke's nails?
07:36How was it to do Issa Rae's nails?
07:39And how am I stacking up with the competition here?
07:41I'm happy with Tina's nails.
07:44I didn't know what I was going to do until I got here today.
07:47And I was inspired by Galaxy theme.
07:50It was really inspiring to watch Yoko's creative process because she sort of just freestyled it.
07:56I am moving in two weeks, which admittedly these nails may not be prime for lifting boxes,
08:06but I'm just going to have to tip the movers a little extra.
08:09Thank you for watching Refinery29.
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