The creative genius that is Melissa Samuels, of Finesse Your Claws.
For as long as she can commend , Melissa Samuels has always been known asthenail girl . Born and raised in London , Samuels spent gamy schooling hovering over her nail extensions with a blusher brush and a collection of paints .
“ Intricate nail art was n’t really a thing in the UK when I was growing up , so my mom was like ‘ Why do n’t you try and draw on your nails with acrylic paint ? ’ ” Samuel reminisce . “ I did it one time and everybody went crazy over them . That ’s where it all started . ”
Samuels continued to practice designs on herself and protagonist , attend nail school in London ( where they learn the basics of nail preparation and elongation installment ) , and designed the nail art for several British editorial photoshoots . She landed stateside by way of a kinship with a New Yorker . When the human relationship came to an end , the looming question on her mind was , “ What do I do next ? ”
Melissa Samuels at her nail art studio, Finesse Your Claws|Photo by Lucia Buricelli for Thrillist
The decision was loose , there would be no packing up and steer back to the UK . Instead , Samuels dug her roots deeper into New York City and began working as a receptionist then coach at local nail salons in Manhattan and Brooklyn .
In 2020 , Samuels open her own private studio apartment in Bushwick dubbedFinesse Your Claws . seem back , Samuels says , “ It was almost fate that lead me down this path because every job I had , in some fashion , physical body , or bod , led me back to nail art . I knew that if I did n’t try on it full time , I really did n’t have another programme . ”
Three years in and Samuels is fly high . Not only does she overtop a work party of about 65 devoted regulars ( including designerBrandon Blackwood ) , but customer move from all over the country just to get a fresh set at Finesse Your Claws . To shamelessly continue name dropping , retiring patronage has included visits from celebs likeSZA , Lil Yachty , and Justine Skye .
Melissa Samuels' set of the moment|Photo by Lucia Buricelli for Thrillist
But , in a world of rising nail art popularity , what keeps hoi polloi coming back to her studio in particular ? Well , scroll through theFinesse Your ClawsInstagram page , it ’s absolved that Samuels has a alone aptitude for maximalist art .
“ With my style every nail is usually different , but the set comes together as a cohesive look . It ’s a distinctive fashion , ” Samuels explain . “ I love 3D texture , metallic , and chrome too , then I usually free - trend draw into that and add stones on top . By the sentence the nail is built up , there ’s credibly four dissimilar mediums that I ’ve used for the remnant result . ”
Artists like Samuels do n’t just give their clients ten statement while each month , they also provide a safe blank space for multitude to utter their individuality . At the Finesse Your Claws secret studio , the experience is intimate . “ I ’m so intertwined with my clients because it ’s literally just us there chatting for hours — just me and them , ” she says . An average appointment rings in at about four hours , while the tenacious ( for nail like room decorator / influencerAlani Figueroa ’s super - extendo masterpieces ) can last up to 11 hours .
Melissa Samuels hand painting a tweed design|Photo by Lucia Buricelli for Thrillist
For those who ca n’t make it to her studio in - person , the enterprising nail creative person latterly released a line of mechanical press - on nails that can be purchasedonline . While offer both accessibility and affordability , the packets still conjure up that cool , New York City - dash that Samuels ’ name has become synonymous with — but with a slimly more approachable design palette .
When it hail to the hereafter of nail artistic production , Samuels hopes that the great unwashed continue to push the gasbag . “ Do all the texture and do all the jewels , no matter what environment [ you ] work in . Nail art is for everyone . ” Whether you ’re a nail person or not , Finesse Your Claws is a source of divine guidance for all . After all , what ’s better than throwing your inhibitions aside and just having play ?
Oh , and Samuels ’ current grownup dream ? She ’s manifesting a nail session with Cardi B.
The Finesse Your Claws press-on nail collection|Photo by Lucia Buricelli for Thrillist
