“There is nothing better than looking down at your perfectly manicured/painted/bejewelled hands and feeling like an expensive bitch – much cheaper than a 2.55”
Sharmadean Reid, nail artist and fashion consultant whose nail salon, WAH Nails has just opened in Dalston. Read more here…
I have lips on my mind today, in particular, lip balms and lip glosses. First, the good news. I was sent some Body Shop lip balm to try out and I’m pleased to say, it gets my tick of approval. It’s not because it was free, although that is admittedly a good thing since I have boycotted The Body Shop ever since it kept hiking up the price of its Body Butters. Nor is it that £3.98 of every £5 Tantalising Lip Butter (to give it its full name) sold goes to the MTV charity, Staying Alive Foundation which raises money for HIV and Aids awareness and prevention among young people. It’s not even because it has the most delicious fruity fragrance that I can’t quite put my finger on. (Mango? Passionfruit? Peach? A mega-mix of all three? No clue.) It’s the consistency I’m loving. I’m used to Carmex which is pretty wonderful when warmed in a pocket but nasty and dry when it’s cold. This one is smooth, creamy, non-greasy and, oh what’s that fancy word? Ah, hydrating! I should so be a beauty writer.
I met nail artist Sophy Robson at fashion week when I tried to get a photo of her beehive. Sadly the photos were terrible but we had a nice chat about nails and nail art. Later, she agreed to be interviewed…
How did you become a nail artist?
My love of hip hop and music inspired me to be more glam…
What inspires your work?
Making nails the focus without becoming ridiculous.
Favourite photographers to work with?
Solve Sundsbo, Mert & Marcus, Matt Irwin, Alasdair McLellan. Craig McDean was cool but I only worked with him once.
Favourite photographers you would like to work with?
Terry Richardson, David Lachapelle, Juergen Teller, Steven Meisel. I also love Camilla Akrans. Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin were the kings of nail photography but obviously I realise they are no longer with us…
Maddest shoot?
There have been tears, jokes, nudity! And lots and lots of waiting patiently and not so patiently involved over the years. Discussing pubic hair diamante decorations with Tom Ford is a memory I will cherish for ever. And a shoot for Harrods with David Bailey when the ring fell off the model’s finger into the pond in Regents Park. Funny afterwards but not at the time. I also worked for Rolex and was trying to do a perfect manicure in the Libyan desert on a plastic mat and a cardboard wall as my dressing room…
What nail look are you rocking right now?
I have long classic oval natural nails – I cannot wear polish when I am working every day. On my pedicure I have magenta purple.
Who makes the best nail polish?
Essie. I also love the colours of this brand Uslu Airlines but you can only buy it at Colette in Paris.
What’s your secret to a long-lasting manicure?
Prepping the nail plate and using good base and top coat – you can get away with any brand with correct application.
Should you match fingers and toes?
These days there are no rules to beauty….
Which model has the nicest nails?
Natasha Poly and Linda Evangelista.
THE GALLERY:
Read Sophy’s Paris and London Fashion Week adventures here and see more of her work here…
[Pics: www.streeterslondon.com, www.sophyrobson.com]
Hair accessories have been a big trend for summer 2007, there’s no denying it, but I do have one issue with them. As a pendantic Virgo I’m frequently irked when people use the incorrect haberdashery term. As I understand it, a hairband is something worn halfway across the head. Whether it’s made of fabric or something stiff like plastic or metal, it’s essentially channelling the neat and sweet Alice In Wonderland look.
A headband on the other hand (or head) is something different entirely. (more…)
