Oaf Hacks: DIY Nails with @yo_keshh
Banana bread, Tiger King...and DIY nail art. It was a lockdown essential. Our latest Oaf Hack taps the knowledge & 10 year expertise of Peckham based nail artist Keisha aka @yo_keshh who can paint pretty much anything, and we mean anything, onto your nails.
Keisha gives us the How-To for 3 of our favourite Lazywood collection prints: Gingham, Cherries & Bananas...
@yo_keshh
What you need...
- A variety of coloured nail polishes - we used CND
- A good base coat & top coat - we used CND
- A dotting tool Oaf Hack: a hair grip works perfectly well too
- A striper brush: Specially designed fine tip brush that allows for detailed nail art designs.
- A clean up brush: cleans off any excess polish. Eyeshadow brushes are great for this.
- A steady hand
Gingham - Based on the Feeling Peachy Knit Dress
- Paint the base colour of choice, we went with turquoise. Wait for the first coat to dry then paint the second coat.
- With a striper brush paint 2 vertical lines lines with a contrasting colour. We went with peach to match the dress! Wait a minute to dry and paint 2 horizontal lines with same contrasting colour
- Use clean up brush for any excess polish (with nail polish remover) and finish with top coat
Cherries 🍒 - Based on the Cherry Baby Top
- Paint 2 coats of colour. We went Baby Blue for this one! Be patient & wait to dry.
- Put a blob of red and green polish on a small piece of foil or palette
- With a dotting tool or a hair grip, dot 2 red dots together to create cherries. With striper brush paint two diagonal lines above cherries to create the stem and the paint a curve line to create a leaf shape and fill in.
- Use clean up brush for any excess polish (with nail polish remover) and finish with top coat.
Banana 🍌 - Based on the Fruit Machine Cardigan
- Paint 2 coats of base colour. We chose black to match the cardi. Wait to dry.
- With a striper, paint a long curved line and connect another curved line on top of the first line. Fill in to complete the banana shape. The yellow might need two coats.
- Clean striper and use a contrasting colour and carefully paint a zig zag line under banana.
- Once dry and if needed straighten up zig zag lines and draw a thin curved line in the middle of the banana
- Use clean up brush for any excess polish (with nail polish remover) and finish with top coat.
How did you get into nail art and turn it into a career?
I started doing nail art as a hobby in 2010 when a receptionist at my daughter's nursery showed me her DIY nails and I loved it. I got all the tools and copied designs from Youtube and Tumblr. I was in a job I hated and doing a university degree that wasn't for me so with encouragement from my partner, I decided quit my job, left university and I went to college to become a qualified nail tech and from there I worked in top nail art salons in London. I come from an art background, I love doing my nails and desperately wanted a creative career and being a nail artist has been a very fulfilling, creative career.
Where are your favourite places to find inspiration?
I love finding inspiration from textile prints and I love when I can recreate designs from a clients piece of clothing. Especially if it's abstract. When I'm out and about i'm always taking photos of street art and recreate the image in my head and then onto a nail. I also get inspiration from other great nail artists
What are your favourite designs to paint?
Abstract!! I love designs that will look different every time I do it. For instance, a swirly marble with 7 colours will never look the same twice. I also love to do geometric designs with multiple colours.
What would be your dream project?
I would love to curate a nail art exhibition in a top art gallery and showcase nail art from centuries and decades ago up until present day
What’s your favourite thing about working in London?
I'm born and raised East London and I love the multicultural diversity of London. And to work in London and have every walk of life come and sit with me for over an hour is one of the best things about my job.What are your top nail art tips?
- Get yourself a good striper brush, dotting tool and a clean up brush. The round bit of a hair grip works great as a dotting tool and a make up sponge works great for doing ombre nails
- Invest in a good base coat and top coat, it'll make your mani last longer and help stop staining on your nails. Orly Rubber base coat and Seche Vite Top coat are my favourites
- Watch Youtube nail tutorials or Instagram tutorials to learn designs and techniques
- Don't put too much pressure on yourself and have fun!
