A Nail Art Neophyte Sits Down With a Manicurist

Times employee He explains who we are and what we do and provides intuitions behind the scenes on how our journalism meets.

When I decided to write an article Information on the artist for family nails based in New York, based in New York Mei kawajiriI had never had a professional manicure before. Or, really, any manicure.

My mom – a clean maniac you have ever met one – was contrary to manicure on principle, for the fact that the nail polish for nails staines. So, growing up, I would go to a friend’s house and I would secretly paint my nails, just to use Polish removal to rub the tests.

Then in high school, I played softball and, well, I don’t know if you have ever blocked my fingers in a dusty leather glove and I made a ride online, but let’s say only manicures and softballs do not mix exactly.

However, the nails have always been a charm object for me, both in the form of Taloni in Roccia in Pinlla a comma of Sigourney Weaver. In the film “Holes” or Cynthia Erivo’s acrylici-green forestry acrylic In “Evil”.

Last year I came across the Instagram page Of Mrs. Kawajiri, who created elaborate looks for personalized nails such as Stars like Cardi B, Ariana Grande and Bad Bunny. There were nails with hand drawings Portraits of anime heroines. Six -inch acrylic sets built with jewelry and lace. Suggestions affixed with 3D miniatures of asparagus, French fries, Fiocchi di Capelli – Also dirty socks.

These were not just manicures. They were works of art.

So when Dan Saltzstein, the deputy director of the team of projects and collaborations at the Times, approached me in January to ask if I had some ideas for a next one Art of craftsmanship Series on specialists whose work rises to the art level, I had the perfect candidate.

The articles of the series break down an often complex creation process in easily digestible steps: the sharpness of exactly how someone moderates himself adorned, $ 5,000 saddles with a six -year waiting timeFor example, or as an artist of avant -garde balloons patiently convinced the stubborn latex in Ephemeral inflatable sculptures.

Initially I had been ready to participate in a photo shoot in mid -February with Mrs. Kawajiri and our photographer and videographer, Sasha Arutyunova, but my grandfather died (he was 95 years old), and I had to lose filming to participate in his commemorative service.

So I planned an interview with Mrs. Kawajiri for the following week and I had to face the challenge of writing an article that described a three -hour technical process in detail without having observed it. Were there different types of nails advice? Of different sharpness? This was a revelation for me.

But during our 90-minute conversation, Mrs. Kawajiri crossed her brush tools with a thin tip like a strand of hair it uses to create Elaborate hand designed drawings on the nails, The shadow for the eyes that sometimes opts instead of the Polish gel to fill its best 3-D shapes, the name of the 3-D gel which uses to sculpt the croissants and miniature suitcases.

I asked how things worked or how the steps took place when I was unable to fill the empty spaces. What is a basic coat? What is a topcoat? What is the difference between a gel manicure and a normal one?

Mrs. Kawajiri was very patient. And, in a certain sense, my relationships required a more sustained concentration than if I had seen his work.

He did everything part of an enigma for journalists who often show up: it is better to be well informed about a certain topic, allowing you to ask questions informed or nuanced, or to be a neophyte, get to a fresh story, how do many readers do?

I am sure that a fan of artistic nails, or someone who also had a manicure, would have asked for more on specific techniques. But my inexperience in the end – I hope – has made a lighter and more accessible article for readers who did not know the first thing on nail art.

I came away with an appreciation for the art that goes in the creation of levels of mental details on a tiny canvas. I listened while Mrs. Kawajiri explained her nail charm as a form of self-expression. I liked that he found inspiration everywhere, even in his real life, drawing on trivial objects like her baby bottle.

I was reminded that no question is too small to document the demanding process that is needed to create something deceptively complex. I am learning next to the reader, so any question I have are the ones that my audience will probably share.

This is one of the great joys of journalism: I write about people and places that I would never have imagined, and I am often surprised by the level of effort that goes to apparently simple creations, that it is a poetryTHE Oscar red carpet or a set of Nails inspired by chips.

And don’t worry, mom: my nails are still boring, pink and clean as always.