The hottest accessory these days is one that you don’t have to buy in stores and one that whole-heartedly embraces the DIY movement: nail art. While fashion blogs and sites are now saturated with inspiring new nail designs and techniques the nail art created by New York transplant Jessica Washick is still turning heads. For Washick, who attended Parson’s school of design and is currently a technical designer for Coach, creating amazing nails started as a pastime!
It all started when Washick channeled her frustration after a college boyfriend breakup (yes good things can come from those sometimes) into doing her nails, which consequentially inspired the witty name for her blog: U Don’t Need A Man, U Need A Manicure. Washick, whose nails range from elaborate strawberry patches to “nerd girl” faces, cannot pin point the source of her inspiration but she says that patience and positivity can go a long way. She also recommends just searching the internet (Google anyone?), “where you can find out how to do everything.” For ambitious aspiring nail artists you can hit the books like Washick did, “my favorite nail art book is a vintage step by step Japanese nail art [book]…I studied [it] like a bible for 2 years.”
A member of both the fashion and beauty industries Washick recommends that future fashionistas find a niche where they can thrive and to make “connections because you’re interested, not because you’re an opportunist,” she adds, “don’t stop working…The best way to promote yourself is to do the best work that you can!”
You can Check out Washick’s personal favorite nail designs below and be sure to check out her amazing blog here too to keep up to date with this rising fashion and beauty starlet.
Nerd Girls (Tuesday Bassen Inspired)
“Tuesday’s an amazing illustrator and person. I love her drawings and thought it would be awesome to replicate them onto my nails. I was surprised at how easy it was for me to do this. I had a lot of fun with it. I used the same nail art brush I always use, just less paint to get the thinner strokes. “
Public Service Announcement
“I wanted to do color blocking in a bold and graphic way, completely different from Nerd Girls. It took me about 3-4 hours because I was mixing some of the colors of the nail polish myself. “
Arabian Nights
“I went to M&J trimming, bought Swarovski crystals, and researched Aladdin during my lunch break…I’m not a huge fan of super embellished nails because I like to be able to do things instead of worrying about ruining my nails, but the stones were so strong and stayed put.”