Pro Spotlight

OPI Pro Spotlight: @boyslikenails

Meet @boyslikenails—a rising LGBTQ+ nail artist making waves with his vibrant personality and unique style.

From a dorm room in Fullerton to a thriving nail career, this LA-based tech owes his success to hard work and the support of his family. Learn his tips for mastering intricate linework, his fave OPI shades, and how he expresses pride through his nail art.

OPI: For our readers who are just discovering your amazing work, can you take us back to the beginning? What sparked your interest in nail artistry, and what was your initial journey like getting started in this creative field?

@boyslikenails: Growing up, I’ve always been a creative person, always building things and drawing. As of now, I am attending Cal State University, Fullerton, to be a Civil and Environmental Engineer. But let’s rewind. Back in June 2022, I was a host at a restaurant complaining about how much I hated my job. My sister @solo_nailssss, who was already an established nail tech, kept pushing me to quit my job and start doing nails. She saw potential in me before I even knew what I was capable of. I was hesitant and scared, but she convinced me by promising me that whatever salary I made biweekly at the restaurant, she would match if I didn’t make the same doing nails. So what did I have to lose? I had the support of my sister and family, now I just had to do the work. She trained me and taught me everything she knew for a few weeks, and I practiced on my boyfriend and mom.

My mom even gave me my first tip that she signed and put on the wall—thank you, Mama. I then moved to Fullerton for school and did nails in the dorms for tips on people's kitchen tables. I had a box of gels, a drill my mama got me, and an Ikea cart, but that didn’t stop me. I practiced nail art and made videos when I had time, until one day my roommate posted me on Reddit, saying he knew someone in the dorms who did nails. I woke up to 80+ followers and 15 messages asking to book me, and I thought I had made it, but that was just the beginning. Since then, I have been servicing for 3 years and it’s the best choice I ever made. The best job I could ever ask for, and it wouldn’t have been possible without my sister, @solo_nailssss. I am forever grateful for my family's support and to my sister for giving me this opportunity.

OPI: Your energy and personality are truly infectious! How does your vibrant personality influence your interactions with clients and your approach to creating nail art?

@boyslikenails: When I meet a client, I try to match their energy and personality as best as I can. If they are more timid, I will relax so I don’t overwhelm them, but if they have a loud personality, I can match that energy too. My goal is to make all my clients as comfortable as possible so they feel relaxed and can trust me. I always like to push my clients out of their comfort zone, but I am very realistic about what I can accomplish with their set and always communicate what I am envisioning so we are on the same page. Usually, after the first or second set, many of my clients let me freestyle and only give me a certain vibe or color palette for me to go off of. I do my best to make each set as unique as possible while still staying true to my clients’ personal style.

OPI: You've already showcased such a fantastic range of styles, from intricate character nails to stunning 3D nail art designs and other trendy looks. What draws you to these different techniques?

@boyslikenails: As I create, I see nails as a form of expression. True art that you can wear. Art has not one specific meaning or color or shape—it’s all subjective. I love exploring different styles and appreciating each one for what it is. That’s the point of art. It's supposed to make you feel something—whether it’s love or disgust, if it made you feel something, job accomplished. My personal favorite style is cyber punk; the chrome, charms, and spikes showcase a new form of art that has only been done in this decade. I think they are so cool and really scream new school nails.

OPI: Your skill with difficult linework nail art is seriously impressive! Can you share some of your go-to techniques or secrets for achieving such precise and detailed nail art?

@boyslikenails: With time, things do get better if you put in the work and practice. I truly do believe a great artist can make even the worst supplies beautiful and unique if you are willing and passionate enough. However, some things that help me do a lot of detailed work are the brushes I use. I have tons of brushes I cycle through depending on what I’m trying to achieve. I also use different gels with different viscosities to get more crisp lines as I outline characters or shapes. It all depends, but I would definitely invest in good brushes and good quality polishes that work with you, not against you. What also helps me is having an art background and seeing nails as a different medium. I have never taken a formal art class, but I have always drawn and built things as a kid, so this isn’t anything new for me. But painting on nails is a completely different ballgame compared to canvas or paper, it just takes a lot of practice and patience.

OPI: As a newer artist making waves, what has your experience been like using OPI products so far? Are there any particular aspects of the brand or its products that resonate with your creative vision?

@boyslikenails: Using OPI products has been such an enlightening experience as they educate me on why they modify certain formulas or parts of a design. Not many brands can have the scientific proof to back up why they created certain products or improved them. For the new OPI GELevate™ Extension System, the amount of thought that went into the packaging and the structure of the apex on the nail is impeccable. This attention to detail has really elevated the nail game and made this something that all brands should be paying attention to.

OPI: Do you have a favorite OPI color (or colors!) that you find yourself reaching for frequently? What is it about that shade that inspires you?

@boyslikenails: My favorite OPI colors have to be “Kyoto Pearl” and the new shade, “Hands in the Clouds.” Both of them are milky white pearls that I have never seen done in a gel formula. This applies to many of OPI’s colors that they offer. Typically, fine pearlescent colors are made in older polish formulas that don’t perform as well as they should in this day and age. In my opinion, OPI does glitters and pearls like no other brand. There are so many colors they have that I can’t even come close to finding a dupe for them because they are so unique. Not to mention, another top contender is “Bare My Soul,” the best nude for all skin colors!

OPI: June is Pride Month, a time for celebration and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. How has being a part of the LGBTQ+ community influenced your personal journey as an artist, and have you found a supportive space within the nail industry?

@boyslikenails: Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community and being a nail technician has its pros and cons. Cons being, some of my clients' partners don’t feel comfortable with me doing their nails because I am a man. But the pros outweigh the cons by far. My biggest pro is that the people who support me ride or die with me to the end. Many of my clients who can’t get services from me due to moving or career purposes have me make them press-ons to shop or schedule an appointment every time they are in town. I also have girls who drive two hours every month for a new set. This dedication to me means the world, and I appreciate all my clientele because without them, I wouldn’t be anything. Being a male in the nail industry has also allowed men (gay or straight) to feel comfortable coming to get their nails done. It’s just self-care at the end of the day. I don’t judge you if you’re a man, woman, trans, gay, bi, etc. Nails don’t have rules on who can and can’t get them.

OPI: How do you like to express your pride, both personally and through your nail artistry? Does your career as a nail tech offer a unique platform for self-expression within the LGBTQ+ community?

@boyslikenails: I express my pride through my nails. Growing up, I was always scared to express my more feminine side because I worried about being judged. Now that I am older, when there’s an event or concert, I show up and show out. I try to do the most extravagant nails I can conjure up. My boyfriend also joins me and allows me to do a crazy set on him, too. I appreciate him for supporting me. We both get dressed up, and the nails are always the main topic of conversation. I do this to show pride, meet potential clients, and showcase who I am as an artist. I see my nails as a form of expression and art that nobody can take from me. Nails make me feel empowered, and even though some people don’t agree with a guy wearing nails, I couldn’t care less. I’m going to do what makes me happy.

OPI: Looking ahead, what are some of your biggest dreams and aspirations within the nail industry? Are there any specific goals you're excited to pursue in the coming years?

@boyslikenails: Being so new in the game, I had a lot of goals that slowly are coming to fruition as I progress. A goal of mine when I started was to work with a big brand and look at what I’m being featured on! Thank you again, OPI. In the future, I plan on starting a beginner nail art course that will be available soon this year. I also plan on working with my sister and having a salon and nail brand down the road. The possibilities are endless, but I’m excited to see what God has planned for me.

OPI: For other aspiring nail artists who are just starting out on their creative journey, what is one piece of advice you would offer them based on your own experiences so far?

@boyslikenails: Some advice I’d give newer artists is that the journey is never linear. It will take lots of sacrifice and time to get to where you want to be, whether that be clientele-wise or skill-wise. I’d also say you have to give to get. When I began, I did so many sets for free or for tips to just get practice. Any time someone’s nails didn’t last or came out ugly, I’d redo them for free or discount their next set.

Take care of your clients and they will take care of you. Protect your reputation. My sister always told me, “You can do a million good things, and the one bad thing you do will leave the biggest everlasting impression.” Be a good person and put good out; good always finds its way back to you.