Long, exotic and bedazzled nails are no new trend in the music world. Just ask Ivy Queen, the reggaeton veteran, who with her sparkly and ornate manicure game has paved the way for today’s Latina artists, including Cardi B, Rosalia and Karol G.
The eccentric nail trend will never go out of style because it’s a form of stealing the spotlight, says Samy Nails founder Samantha Ramirez. “All these extra long nails, designs and patterns are used in the entertainment industry because it’s a way that the nails can be a protagonist and attract a lot of attention.”
Ramirez, who’s a Cuban-born nail technician based in Las Vegas, is the mastermind behind some of Karol G’s most striking nails, including the ones she rocked at the 2018 Latin Grammys, 2019 Premios Juventud, and in the “China” music video.
“Karol G always wants her nails to be ‘extremely extravagant,’ that’s how she calls them,” Ramirez, 28, tells Billboard. “She wants them to be very noticeable.”
If you follow the Colombian singer on Instagram, it’s easy to see that Karol’s nails are always on point and out of the ordinary.
“She comes to me with her design and I help her elaborate on the idea. It’s a team effort,” Ramirez says, admitting that it takes her up to four hours to work on Karol’s nails, whom she has been working with for two years now.
In her four-year career as a professional manicurist, Ramirez has also worked with other celebrities, including Mexican TV personality Gomita. “Becky G started following me on Instagram but we haven’t worked together yet,” she notes.
Because of the global health crisis, Ramirez says her business is on pause but that she continues to share tips and tutorials so that everyone can get their fabulous nails done a la Karol G and Rosalia.
“I don’t like doing plain nails. That’s not my style,” she says. “I love working on extravagant nails on all of my customers.”
