ART OF NAILS

Nail art is no longer just a trend but a reflection of the cultural zeitgeist

- WORDS KONIKA DATTA

It's undergoing a shift in perception - akin to what we saw with makeup decades back. Similar to how the latter is now more of a vehicle for creative expression than just a tool for beautifying face, nails, too, are now perceived as mini canvases for showcasing your personality rather than a staple beauty practice involving a few swipes of your polish. If this isn't convincing enough, think about the evolution of this industry: A few years ago, how common was the concept of nail artists and nail salons?

And were manicure trends changing as rapidly as they are today? It's hard to overlook the growing popularity of this space as it has infiltrated in every part of our worlds, from runways to red carpets to our FYP. But in India, it was only in the last couple of years that this business really picked up. Now, we're even seeing a growing demand in all sorts of nail art forms. "While studying in London, I noticed how popular presson nails were abroad, and realised there weren't many such options in India. As artists, we saw this as a perfect way to make nail art more accessible while giving ourselves a new medium to express our creativity," shares Tanvi Shriyan, co-founder of Claw Cupid, a Mumbai-based nail salon created by three sisters. It specialises in luxury custom press-on nails.