Pro Spotlight
OPI Pro Spotlight: @pressed2perfectionn
The Nail Artist Going Viral for Insane Sculptural Manis
Meet Maria @pressed2perfectionn, the self-proclaimed “extra” nail artist behind some of the most impressive 3D designs on our feed.
@pressed2perfectionn
Known for insane sculptural manis and 3D chrome spills, Maria’s must-haves include nail brushes, cat eye magnets, and a few faves from OPI (Complimentary Wine, Got the Blues for Red, Bare My Soul). From her cozy Cali-based home studio, she breaks down one of her iconic creations, and shares her go-to advice for pros.
Mani of the Moment
“To create depth and movement, I used layered marbling, blooming gel work, crushed shell pieces, and 3D chrome spills.”
GET THE LOOK
Step 1: Paint nails in a vampy red shade like Malaga Wine, leaving two of the tips transparent
Step 2: Add a layer of blooming gel
Step 3: Apply a coat of black nail polish
Step 4: Use a dotting tool and top coat to create little see-through bubbles
Step 5: Apply purple shells, silver balls, metal shavings, and rhinestones for texture
Step 6: On the transparent tips, add spilled 3D chrome details
Inspo: A pair of glasses
“They had beautiful purple swirls on the handles, red frames and gold accents. They had all the colors you think wouldn't go together, but it ended up working perfectly!”
Fun Fact: “About 6-8 of my clients ended up getting the same thing because of how much they loved this set!”
Her Top 5 Tips for Nail Techs
Take online courses. You pay for someone's years of experience and learn from all the fails they've had. They help you save time and prevent you from making the same mistakes they did.
Do mood board and artist's choice nails. This will help you find your personal style and prevent burnout/artist’s block.
Use Instagram ads. This is what genuinely helped me gain my very first clients. I ran a few ads looking for models. Two months later - those models became regulars, and the rest is history :).
Promote your work! As a nail tech, having creative sets is great self promotion and a conversation starter. You can also encapsulate NFC chips under your/your clients' nails and have them programmed to pull up your nail page when you tap it on the phone.
Don't be afraid to dive into it head deep.
“This is the most supportive, open-minded community with the sweetest people in it. You'll always get help if you're not too shy to ask. Be more open and create whatever your soul desires. There are no rules to nail art :)”
