Nail art has its own world, and like most worlds worth knowing about, it has its gatekeepers. These are the artists behind the manicures you stop and screenshot: the ones doing nails for Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, and Bella Hadid, the ones whose work defines what’s next before anyone else has caught up. Their influence reaches far beyond celebrity — it shapes what brides ask for, what salons offer, and what the rest of us save to our Pinterest boards. Whether you’re looking for your wedding day manicure or just want to know whose work is actually worth following, here are the 20 nail artists you need to know.
Photo & Nails: Michelle Humphrey, Eri Ishizu
Betina R. Goldstein is a Los Angeles-based nail artist and the official CHANEL Nail Artist, represented by The Wall Group. She came to nails unexpectedly, spending years in television before a career-defining moment on a fashion shoot showed her where her real talent lay. Her client list reads like a Vogue front row: Zoë Kravitz, Margot Robbie, Rosie, Gracie Abrams, Alexa Demie, Mia Goth, Alysa Liu, and Julia Garner, among many others. Goldstein’s signature is restraint — clean shapes, precise nudes, sheer finishes that look expensive precisely because they ask nothing of the eye. The kind of manicure that disappears into the look and makes everything else sharper.
Photo: Diamond Dust, Betina Goldstein
Zola Ganzorigt is the woman behind one of the most viral nail moments of the past decade: the glazed donut manicure she created for Hailey Bieber at the 2022 Met Gala. A Los Angeles-based celebrity manicurist and OPI Global Ambassador, she has since built an A-list clientele that includes Sabrina Carpenter, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Christina Aguilera, and BLACKPINK’s Jennie. Her signature style spans minimalist pearlescent finishes, captivating floral designs, and detailed nail jewels — a versatility that keeps her at the top of every celebrity’s speed dial.
Photo: Courtesy of Zola Ganzorigt
Iram Shelton is one of the most sought-after nail artists in the UK, representing a distinctly European approach to luxury nail artistry — refined, precise, and never overdone. With a regular residency at the Bulgari Hotel in London — an address that says everything about her clientele — Shelton has built a reputation for manicures that are both exquisitely crafted and quietly expensive-looking. Her celebrity clients include Sarah Pidgeon, Naomi Watts, Jilianne Moore, Heidi Klum, and Cara Delevingne, and her work is known for fusing intricate nail art with clean, simplistic finishes in a way that feels effortlessly elevated.
Photo: Courtesy of Iram Shelton
Tom Bachik is, by any measure, one of the most accomplished nail artists working in the US today. With over 28 years of experience, Bachik began his career as a graphic designer — a background that shows in the architectural precision of his nail work. His celebrity clientele is extraordinary: Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Hailee Steinfeld, Margot Robbie, Camila Cabello, Anne Hathaway, and Heidi Klum are among his regulars. He was recently named Outstanding Achievement in Nail Artistry at the Daytime Beauty Awards.
Photo: Samm Blake, Courtesy of Tom Bachik
Mei Kawajiri is a New York City based nail artists known professionally as Nails by Mei. Her work is bold, eccentric, and deeply rooted in modern Japanese design: vivid color palettes, avant-garde details, and sculptural elements that turn nails into wearable works of art. Her campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Valentino have made her a runway fixture, and her celebrity clients include Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa, Rosalía, and Jennie.
Photo: Courtesy of Mei Kawajiri, Jason Kim
Dawn Sterling is a New York City-based fashion manicurist and global educator with a distinctive presence in the industry. As the founder of Nail Glam Productions and a recognized authority on fashion-forward nail art, Sterling has built a career that bridges the gap between beauty and high fashion. Her work is rooted in New York’s fashion scene — polished, editorial, and always on-trend — and her global education work means her influence extends well beyond her client list. With over 133K followers on Instagram, she continues to shape conversations around nail artistry, technique, and education.
Photo: Maraki House, Courtesy of Dawn Sterling
Juan Alvear had one of the most watched nail moments of 2025: the long blue nails with pointed gold tips he created for Chappell Roan on the Grammy red carpet — a look that sparked immediate conversation and became one of the evening’s most discussed beauty moments. Later that same night, Roan changed into a second look, and Alvear delivered again. His ability to create nails that are theatrical, intentional, and perfectly synchronized with a celebrity’s full look has made him a go-to for high-profile red carpet events. Alvear’s work is conceptual and character-driven — every set tells a story.
Photo: Courtesy of Juan Alvear
Brittney Boyce of Nails of LA is a fast-rising name in celebrity nail artistry. Her client roster includes Megan Fox and Kim Kardashian, and her red carpet designs consistently generate coverage. Boyce’s aesthetic lives at the intersection of modern and maximalist — bold enough to make a statement, polished enough to look effortless. She has become a trusted name for clients who want nails that photograph beautifully and hold their own against even the most elaborate looks.
Photo: Courtesy of Brittney Boyce
Queenie Nguyen has been working in the nail industry for over 15 years, and the depth of her craft shows. LA-based and editorial in sensibility, she specializes in natural nails and contemporary nail art that balances high-fashion references with genuine wearability. Her celebrity clients include Greta Lee, Stephanie Hsu, Emma Roberts, Julianne Moore, and Carey Mulligan. Beyond celebrity work, Nguyen has brought her artistry to campaigns for Dior, Prada, Sephora, and Nordstrom. Her philosophy — elevated neutrals, subtle nail jewels, dimensional finishes — is one that resonates deeply with brides looking for a manicure that is sophisticated without being understated.
Photo: Courtesy of Queenie Nguyen
Coca Michelle — born Michelle Nguyen — grew up in East London in a family of nail technicians. By age six she was doing nails; by nine she was painting freestyle designs for her parents’ salon clients. Today, she is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary nail art, with a style that is surreal, whimsical, technically demanding, and completely her own. Coca specialises in long nails, anime-style art, and non-traditional materials. A Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna (class of 2023), her clients include Megan Thee Stallion, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Tyla, Rosalía, Christina Aguilera, and Khloe Kardashian.
Photo: Courtesy of Coca Michelle
Michelle Humphrey is an award-winning nail artist from the United Kingdom. She has spent over two decades building a career at the intersection of fashion, music, and entertainment. Her Glamour Magazine Power List recognition for Best Nail Artist/Influencer reflects an influence that extends beyond her craft. Known for bespoke nail art and specializing in nail enhancements across various mediums, Humphrey’s clients include Dua Lipa — for whom she created an acrylic glitter ombré with encapsulated Fimo canes for the Future Nostalgia album cover. She has collaborated with photographers including Tim Walker, Nick Knight, Mert and Marcus, and the late Peter Lindbergh.
Photo: Courtesy of Michelle Humphrey
Sarah Chue is a rising talent whose trendsetting nail designs have earned her representation at a leading talent agency and a growing presence in editorial and celebrity circles. Chue’s clients include Teyana Taylor, Leslie Bibb, Aimee Lou Wood, and Eva Longoria. Her work reflects a clear point of view — thoughtful, current, and visually engaging.
Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Chue
Angie Aguirre is a master nail technician, educator, and the founder of the Shespolished brand. A Panamanian native raised in Brooklyn, her work is best described as wearable visual art — layered stained glass effects with black graphic outlines, volumetric 3D elements, abstract color fields, sculptural raised embellishments, and mixed-media designs incorporating stones and gold hardware. Each set is a fully realized artistic concept, built with the kind of technical complexity and creative ambition that places her work in a different category from standard nail artistry. With over 12 years of professional experience, Aguirre is also a respected nail educator, and her influence extends well beyond her own client chair.
Photo: Courtesy of Angie Aguirre
Rachel Sun works at the intersection of nail art and conceptual fashion. Her work is a statement in its own right: volumetric crystal clusters, glass stilettos with embedded elements, actual buttons used as art objects on the nail, hand-painted graphic details with a stained glass quality. Her aesthetic appeals to a fashion-forward audience that views nails as an integral part of personal style, not an afterthought. For brides and beauty lovers alike, her feed is one of the most inspiring in the industry.
Photo: Ragan Henderson, Courtesy of Rachel Sun
Naomi Yasuda is one of the most accomplished nail artists of her generation. Born in Japan and based in New York City for over 15 years, she opened Studio Naomi — her own salon in downtown Manhattan — in 2024, fulfilling a longtime dream. Her client list spans decades and genres: Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Alysa Liu, Manon Bannerman, Charli XCX, and Julia Fox, among others. Her campaigns include Kenzo Paris, Chanel, Fendi, LoveShackFancy, and Luar. She feeds off her clients’ ideas, wardrobes, and energy, making every set a genuine co-creation. At the Met Gala, she has been known to work with six celebrities in a single day.
Photo: Courtesy of Naomi Yasuda
Elle Gerstein is a celebrity nail stylist with a signature approach built around customization and multi-technique layering. A specialist in Russian manicure and dual form extensions, she works between Long Island, New York City, and Los Angeles, and her client list reflects that range. Blake Lively, Joey King, Nicole Kidman, Rihanna, and Julianne Moore are among those who have trusted her with their hands. Her philosophy is unapologetically personal: “I’ll do what you want to express — that’s what art is.” Gerstein is also a sharp observer of trends, but wears them lightly as her real focus is on what each client wants to say with their nails.
Photo: Courtesy of Elle Gerstein
Kim Truong began her career at 18, working in her mother’s salon in Maryland. Her big break came when a makeup artist recommended her to the Kardashian family — a single house call that changed everything. Today, she is a fully represented nail artist at A-Frame Agency with a career spanning over two decades and a client roster that includes Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, Addison Rae, Katy Perry, Karol G, Rihanna, and A$AP Rocky. Truong is known for her precision, creativity, and the ability to create iconic looks across a wide aesthetic range. She has also partnered with Lottie London, designing exclusive press-on nail sets inspired by her celebrity work.
Photo: Courtesy of Kim Truong
Yoko Sakakura moved from Japan to the United States at eighteen and built one of LA’s most respected careers in nail artistry. After rising to prominence at MarieNails and eventually managing one of its locations, she opened her own nail bar and developed a signature style inspired by art, fashion, textiles, and nature. Her current clients include Lily Gladstone, Elizabeth Debicki, Olivia Rodrigo, and Bad Bunny, and her earlier celebrity work included Madonna, Katy Perry, Fergie, and Kendall Jenner. In 2018, Sakakura received the Outstanding Achievement in Nail Artistry award at the Daytime Beauty Awards, recognizing the significant impact she has made on the craft. She is also an educator for Airgel Official, passing her expertise to the next generation of nail artists.
Photo: Courtesy of Yoko Sakakura
Eri Ishizu is one of the most quietly powerful names in Hollywood nail artistry. Her client list is a testament to the caliber of her work: Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, Ayo Edebiri, SZA, Lizzo, Dove Cameron, Gwen Stefani, Olivia Dean, and Tyla. Her work has been featured on magazine covers and in editorials for Elle and British publications, and her aesthetic ranges from clean and architectural to detailed and expressive, depending entirely on what the client and moment call for. Ishizu represents the modern LA nail artist at her finest: versatile, technically impeccable, and deeply attuned to the visual language of fashion and celebrity.
Photo: Courtesy of Eri Ishizu
Cam Tran is a celebrity nail artist known for delivering exactly what A-list clients need on the red carpet and in front of a camera: clean, polished, and precisely executed. Her work spans long nude extensions, rich color statements like deep jade marble, metallic chrome finishes, and gem-embellished stilettos — always wearable, always intentional, always photograph-ready. Her celebrity clients include Charli XCX, Nicole Kidman, and Jennie.
Photo: Courtesy of Cam Tran
