{"id":47844,"date":"2016-07-12T18:11:14","date_gmt":"2016-07-12T22:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/?p=47844"},"modified":"2016-07-18T12:25:27","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T16:25:27","slug":"the-devil-in-the-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-devil-in-the-details\/","title":{"rendered":"The Devil In The Details"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"cover\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-190.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2609\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-190.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-190-1280x1670.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-190-153x200.jpg 153w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n#cover {\npadding: 10% 20%;\nbackground-color: white;\nposition:relative;\nmargin: 0 auto 30px auto;\ntext-align:center;\n}\n#covertitle {\nposition: absolute;font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01',helvetica,sans-serif;\nbottom: 12%;\nwidth: 80%;\ncolor: white;\nfont-size: 4rem;\nfont-weight:100;\n}\n#introbox,#creditbox {border:1px solid white;padding:80px;max-width: 850px;margin: auto !important;}\n#introbox, #introbox p {font-family:'Open Sans';}\n#introbox{font-size:20px;text-align:center !important;}\n.coverpic {max-width:1280px;margin: 10px auto;}\n.photogtitle {font-size:2rem;}\n#introtxt {margin:80px 0;padding:0 40px;font-size:1.6rem;}\n.opensans,#introtxt, #introbox, .introcredits {font-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;}\n#introbox .introcredits {font-size:.85rem;padding:40px 0;}\n.post p, .post div p:first-child {padding:0}\n.toppic {padding-bottom: 20px;}\n.txtdiv {padding: 0 40px;clear:both;}\n#introbox,.txtbox,.rside {margin:0px 0 10px 0;font-weight:300;}\n.title {font-size:4.2rem;color:black;font-weight:normal;margin:auto;padding:60px 0;text-align:center;text-transform: uppercase;font-family: 'Open Sans';font-weight: 600;}\n.title a {color:black;}\n#introbox .titlename {font-size:8.5rem;}\n#introbox .mdctitle {color:#999;}\n#introbox,.txtbox,.introblurb {text-align:justify;}\n.credits,.covercredits {font-size:0.7rem;text-align:center;}\n#portrait img {max-width:640px !important;}\n.center img {max-width:1280px !important;}\n.center,#portrait{text-align:center;}\n.interview {max-width:560px;\nmargin: 30px auto 60px auto;\nfont-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01',helvetica,sans-serif;\nfont-weight:300;\ntext-align:justify;\npadding:0 80px;}\n.pullquote {font-size:2.4rem;text-align:center;font-style:italic;}\n.coming {padding: 0 80px 80px 80px;margin: -20px 0 40px 0;font-size:2rem;text-align:center;}\n.designerquote {font-family:'Neue Haas Unica W01_n2',helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:1.9rem;font-weight:800;}\n.designersig {font-size:1.8rem;font-weight:100;}\n.txtbox {\nclear:both;\nfont-family:'Open Sans', sans-serif;\nfont-weight: 300;\nwidth:46%;\nmargin:40px auto;\npadding: 60px 5%;\ntext-align:justify;\n}\n.videodiv {\n  height:auto;width:auto;\n  background-color:white;\n  padding:210px 0 260px 0 !important;\n  \n  max-width: 100% !important;\n  margin: auto !important;\n  \n  width:auto;\n}\n.quote {width:65%;margin:40px auto;font-size:1.1em;}\n.center p {margin:0;}\n.featured {font-size:1.6rem;margin:30px 0;}\n.blackimg {background-color:black;}\n.framedimg img {margin:8% 0 0 15%;width:85%;}\n.padimg img {padding:10%;}\n.separ {clear:both;padding:30px;}\n.subtitle {font-size:1.4rem;}\n<\/style>\n<link type=\"text\/css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/\/fast.fonts.net\/cssapi\/1ee7eecc-8318-40d7-9f60-2840770611c0.css\"\/>\n<!-- mdc set, L Futura W01,Linotype Didot W01,Neue Haas Unica W01 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"txtdiv\">\n<div id=\"introbox\">\n<div class=\"title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/the-devil-in-the-details\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS<\/a><br \/>\n<span class=\"subtitle\">MDC Spotlights manicurist Naomi Yasuda<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"introblurb\">\nThe nail bed is most likely the smallest canvas on the planet. Not many can alter its plain appearance and create extraordinary visual delights. Enter manicurist <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/naomi-yasuda'>Naomi Yasuda<\/a> who for almost a decade has been creating decadent nail looks for musical sensations like Madonna, paired herself up with the top photographers in the industry, and been featured in the top fashion books from Vogue to Harper\u2019s Bazaar to CR. No design is too extreme, no idea is too big and for this original MDC editorial she turned her focus to the unexpected\u2026the men. Photographer Ed Singleton takes to task this bad boys club with sartorial selections from Solange Franklin. Will they confess their crimes against fashion? Only time will tell.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"introcredits\">\nPhotography by <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/ed-singleton'>Ed Singleton<\/a> for Models.com<\/p>\n<p>Manicurist <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/naomi-yasuda'>Naomi Yasuda<\/a> (<a href='https:\/\/models.com\/agency\/Streeters-New-York'>Streeters New York<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Stylist <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/solange-franklin'>Solange Franklin<\/a><br \/>\nMakeup <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/laura-stiassni'>Laura Stiassni<\/a> (New York: <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/agency\/ArtList-NY'> ArtList<\/a>)<br \/>\nHair <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/matthew-tuozzoli'>Matthew Tuozzoli<\/a> (<a href='https:\/\/models.com\/agency\/Atelier-Management'>Atelier Management<\/a>)<br \/>\nSet Design <a href=\"http:\/\/www.marieyanmorvan.com\/\">Marie Yan Morvan<\/a><br \/>\nProducer <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/jazmin-alvarez'>Jazmin Alvarez<\/a><br \/>\nCasting <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/jonathan-shia'>Jonathan Shia<\/a><br \/>\nRetouching <a href=\"http:\/\/silhouettestudio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Silhouette Studio<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Models <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/models\/omar-ahmed'>Omar Ahmed<\/a>, <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/models\/noma-han'>Noma Han<\/a> &#038; <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/models\/logan-flatte'>Logan Flatte<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Interview and text by <a href='https:\/\/models.com\/people\/irene-ojo-felix'>Irene Ojo-Felix<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"covercredits\">Above: Devon Halfnight Leflufy shirt, Meadowlark rings<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"txtdiv\">\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>I wanted to start off and just get a feeling how you began. How did you first start even being interested in nails?<\/strong><br \/>\nNails? I\u2019m from Japan and nails have been so popular there for 20 years. When I was maybe 11 or 12, I started doing my own nails and I always liked painting my own. It was just one color but I always had fun colors on my nails. Even my mom always said, you have to take it off before you go to school.<\/p>\n<p>Then my friend and my sisters asked me to do their nails because I was already starting to do some nail art. It was just a flower or one stone, very simple. I always made press on tips for my friends but I didn\u2019t think that it could be a job. I didn\u2019t think that I could make money doing nails but after I graduated high school, I decided to go to beauty school. I tried hair, makeup, and esthetics, but it wasn\u2019t for me. I just loved the nails.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So you said you were always into beauty, were you always into being artistic? I look at nails as it is such a small canvas. What you do is artistic, so detailed, but you have to do it very small. Were you always drawing and sketching? Or did you just evolve into it?<\/strong><br \/>\nI didn\u2019t do that much sketching or drawing but I always loved origami when I was little. I always loved making stuff. My dad, he had a small construction company. When I was 9 or 10 years old, my dad and I made all of my furniture together. So, I always loved making stuff.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And it just kind of evolved into you going to beauty school and you coming across the beauty of nail art?<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah exactly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And did you work out there for a little bit? I know you came to the US?<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah. When I graduated high school I was going to beauty school but at the same time I was working for a salon. It was maybe 1999? Or 2000.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I don\u2019t know how Japan was, but is it anywhere like clients you might have in America? Did people used to bring you pictures and say I want to do this? Or did you freestyle? Were you able to be artistic then?<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah. Also we made a bunch of nail art samples and then the clients chose designs from the samples. I started as a nail tech as a professional when I was 18.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-156.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2609\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-156.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-156-1280x1670.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-156-153x200.jpg 153w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Louis Vuitton shirt<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>I found here in the US if you give references beforehand most manicurists are not willing to go outside of their comfort zone. Maybe they don\u2019t want to mess anything up. Did you find that working in the salon in Japan was a little bit restrictive artistically? Or was it just a stepping stone?<\/strong><br \/>\nMmm\u2026I didn\u2019t think that. But, Japan has a really great education system to be a nail tech. It\u2019s so hard, you have to get licensed to do nails just like here. In order to do the license in Japan you have to study and practice so much to pass the exam so the quality of a manicurists is so high. When I moved to New York I thought I could learn very cutting edge technique but it was actually the opposite. I was kind of disappointed because the level of everyone was so bad.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And no one was really doing nail art. I remember that was one of the first things when I first came to New York that I was really into. All of these new nail art salons that were kind of blossoming. Still to this day, there\u2019s a few cities maybe LA or Miami, but it\u2019s something that\u2019s early confined to a few major cities in America. I don&#8217;t know, I feel like there\u2019s so many\u2026 including yourself\u2026 there are so many artistic viewpoints of how to do something with your nails that are unique and people are willing to pay a premium for.<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah, sure. When I moved to New York 9 years ago it was so uncommon still. As I told you I was kind of disappointed but I didn\u2019t plan to stay here for a long time I planned to stay here for 3 months.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And then 3 months became 8 years!<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah! But I wanted to learn as much as I could. I was like, I know everything already.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So when you came to that discovery, what was the inclination for you to stay? Your initial reason for coming was to learn more. When you realized you knew everything, did you find that you could do something in New York?<\/strong><br \/>\nI always had a crazy nails and people\u2019s reaction to my nails was so amazing because they had never seen anything like that. So, I took it as my chance. I actually started working at this salon a week after I moved to New York, I got so lucky. I didn\u2019t even know anyone and I didn\u2019t speak any English when I moved here.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Really?!<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah. I didn\u2019t know anything! [laughs] So, I had some struggles when I moved here because I couldn\u2019t even order food at the restaurants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-046.jpg\" alt=\"ETS16850-S002-046\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2609\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-046.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-046-1280x1670.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-046-153x200.jpg 153w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Annelise Michelson necklace, Opening Ceremony jacket, Pyer Moss pants<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>That\u2019s so crazy. How would you communicate?<\/strong><br \/>\nI couldn\u2019t! So I would have a pen and a notebook and I would just draw stuff. Anyway, I started working in a salon in Williamsburg. I met this girl, she was a hairstylist working there, randomly at a Japanese bar and that\u2019s how I started working in New York City. I didn\u2019t have any clients back then, so I made a poster with phone numbers. You know where people can just take the phone number?<\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s a very guerrilla tactic!<\/strong><br \/>\nBack then there was no Instagram, no Tumblr, no anything to promote yourself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Yeah we take for granted how Instagram is such a great platform for visual inspiration. So, how did that eventually evolve into you working in editorial for runways and celebrity clients? Who was your first celebrity client?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt was Keri Hilson, and then I met Lady Gaga.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And did that lead you down the path to runway?<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah it was so funny so I met this makeup artist at Dunkin Donuts on 2nd avenue. [laughs] It\u2019s such a New York story. I had saved up some money to move here but I didn\u2019t have that many clients early on so I was living off my savings and was so broke. Actually, I was complaining about money to my friends at the Dunkin Donuts and thinking maybe I should move back to Japan this lady came in. It turned out she was my friend\u2019s friend. She saw my nails and asked, \u201cwhere did you get that?\u201d I said, \u201cOh I\u2019m a nail technician this is what I do for a living.\u201d She told me, I need to introduce you to one of my clients and told me to come to the photo shoot tomorrow. I went and it was Keri Hilson. She was working with Lady Gaga too, the makeup artist, and introduced me to her.<\/p>\n<p>But, they weren\u2019t that famous yet because it was the very beginning of their career. I didn\u2019t know who they were. Keri\u2019s hair stylist also did hair for Alicia Keys and then introduced me to her and Alicia Keys\u2019 choreographer knew a bunch of people and she introduced me to so many people too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So you basically worked with so many big influential people. What would you say were the big moments that took your career to that next level?<\/strong><br \/>\nI think Alicia helped me a lot. I did the nails for the Sex and the City movie. One of my clients at the salon, she was a hair stylist and her co-worker was Kim Cattrall\u2019s hair stylist for the show and they called me. It was an amazing experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-230.jpg\" alt=\"ETS16850-S002-230\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1273\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-230.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-230-1280x815.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S002-230-200x127.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Annelise Michelson necklace, Opening Ceremony jacket, Pyer Moss pants, Underground &#038; Devon Halfnight Leflufy boots<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>After doing that did it lead you to do editorial? Or runway? I\u2019m curious when was your first editorial or fashion job.<br \/>\n<\/strong>When I first started doing photo shoots and stuff I was doing more commercial, I wasn\u2019t doing high fashion shoots. I did a bunch for Covergirl.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I guess maybe this would be like 2010 or 2011 would be when your transition for when your career started\u2026 I saw that you worked with Madonna a couple of times?<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah she is my client. I just saw her last week for the Met Gala.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Oh amazing! How was it working with her as far as her being so influential in music?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s amazing. I get inspired by artists so much because they work so hard to be where they are. Madonna, she works so hard. She is a perfectionist and she\u2019s funny and she\u2019s beautiful. Every time I do her nails I get so much energy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are you more drawn to working with a celebrity vs working in editorial? Are they more reserved or more outgoing with what you can do with their nails?<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen it comes to nail art, working with a celebrity is amazing because they love it and I get to be creative too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I imagine the more outlandish the better.<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah, with editorial photo shoots crazy nails can be very distracting for the pictures. I have to think about how the nails will look in the picture. But, I enjoy doing everything.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I wanted to talk to you about your relationship with Kenzo\u2019s Carol Lim and Humberto Leon and how that kind of came about and developed. I know you do the nails for them backstage?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe first ad I did with them was my favorite job I\u2019ve ever done. Such a genius advertisement! I met them because my friend works for Opening Ceremony. For the Kenzo job, Humberto called me 3 or 4 days before the photoshoot. He was like, \u201coh I need you.\u201d But I was in Japan when he called me. He was like, \u201cwe need you in Paris, can you come?\u201d So I just booked my flight and I ran! It was such an amazing project with Kenzo and Toilet Paper Magazine. And then working with them is so amazing because they\u2019re always open to my ideas. Most of the time when I work with a high fashion company they are kind of conservative and don\u2019t want something too provocative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"videodiv\">\n<video id=\"mainVId\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" poster=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-PLATES-118-1.jpg\" class=\"FullWidthVid ScrollPlay\" loop controls><source src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/external\/174403809.sd.mp4?s=5d7c606ff333bff56a7b2ea76a25706bca7c41a4&#038;profile_id=165\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><source src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx-videos\/ETS16850-PLATES-118-video-2nd.webmhd.webm\" type=\"video\/webm\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/174403809?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen><\/iframe><\/video>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Portrait of Naomi Yasuda<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>This seems almost contradictory but I can imagine for sure.<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah, so they usually say simple clean nails. But Humberto and Carol were like, yeah do something! Do something fun. They are always into fun and new stuff.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So they\u2019re more open to collaboration. Do you guys discuss concepts? How do you come up with what you\u2019re going to do with nails? I would assume before a runway show you have you plan it out a little bit so it\u2019s not total chaos?<\/strong><br \/>\nI usually make nail tips before their show because I usually do nail art but can\u2019t do it on the spot. I go to the studio or show room because I have to see the clothes in person to get inspired. I go there, see the clothes that they made and I make samples and then we discuss what should we change or what color should we use. That\u2019s how we decide the design.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Amazing. So is it you just kind of take little bits and pieces of the prints or colors? Or is it an overall color inspiration that you take from the clothes?<\/strong><br \/>\nThey usually tell me where the inspiration is from or what kind of vibes they\u2019re trying to give. Like, one time the collection was inspired by David Lynch, so I did a blue velvet nail based off one of his most famous movies. I feel like it\u2019s just a nail, but if I do nail art it has to have a story behind it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s funny that you draw that connection between that reference because I was going to ask you next, where do you normally get your inspiration? Now that we\u2019re living in a digital world there are so many visuals that you come across, how do you find fresh and exciting inspiration to suggest to clients? Whether they\u2019re personal clients or big ads?<\/strong><br \/>\nI get inspiration from everywhere. Of course on the digital social media platforms, but I also go out a lot and get inspired by people in New York City. Also, I get to meet so many creative people to do my work. That\u2019s why I love doing editorial too because those people who are on set are so unique and focused on their work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you tend to try to stay away from online media as far as getting inspiration? Sometimes I talk to creatives and it\u2019s a 50\/50 split between people who are into Instagram and people who aren\u2019t.<\/strong><br \/>\nI definitely would say 50\/50. I just don\u2019t look at other nail tech\u2019s Instagram pages because I don\u2019t want to copy their designs. I love Instagram and social media, there are so many amazing pages. Art pages and fashion pages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns padimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-097.jpg\" alt=\"ETS16850-S005-097\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2608\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-097.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-097-1280x1669.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S005-097-153x200.jpg 153w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Dita glasses, Billy Reid coat, Louis Vuitton shirt and shorts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>It\u2019s a way for you as an artist to stay true to yourself?<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah I want to be original. I don\u2019t want to be a copycat.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I wanted to go back and ask you, what was the biggest job that you\u2019ve ever worked on as far as the scale of the project? I don\u2019t know if it was an editorial that had a lot of models and you needed a lot of assistants. Maybe something backstage? I imagine runway would be more stressful because there are so many people that you have to do.<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah. That Kenzo show was crazy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Really? Which one was it? You\u2019ve worked with them so many times, how many times?<\/strong><br \/>\n8 or 9 shows?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Does it get bigger and bigger with each show?<\/strong><br \/>\n[laughs] Yeah. The last show I did this flower print nail and a zebra stripe nail. But I only had like, a day to make 900 nail tips. So, it was so crazy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And to make sure that they\u2019re all uniform and perfect.<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah! I did Madonna\u2019s nail for her album cover shoot. It was such a great experience for me. Mert &#038; Marcus shot that picture and then one of the, because she had multiple album covers, and one of them was just her hands grabbing this heart. It was an extensive day I was so excited just to be on set with them. With Madonna and Mert &#038; Marcus. All of the top creative people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S003-283.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1273\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S003-283.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S003-283-1280x815.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S003-283-200x127.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Noma wears: Stylist&#8217;s own glasses, Marieclaire St. John scarf, Dior shirt, Pyer Moss jacket, Orley shorts, Meadowlark rings, Underground &#038; Devon Halfnight Leflufy boots.<br \/>\nOmar wears: Stylist&#8217;s own sunglasses, Annelise Michelson Necklace, Turnbull &#038; Asser scarf, Longjourney jacket, Jil Sander suit, Underground &#038; Devon Halfnight Leflufy shoes.<br \/>\nLogan wears: Stylist&#8217;s own glasses, Annelise Michelson necklace with Louis Vuitton scarf, Versace suit, Ariat boots<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>I was going to ask, if you could work with anybody who would it be? Who is still on your radar?<\/strong><br \/>\nI would like to do Michelle Obama\u2019s nails. That would be so nice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>She\u2019s not so conservative either!<\/strong><br \/>\nShe\u2019s not! She\u2019s super into fashion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>She\u2019s super into fashion. I\u2019m sure if she wasn\u2019t in the spotlight that she\u2019s in now I\u2019m sure she\u2019d be super cool and wear whatever she wants. She seems like a rebel, but classy though. What would you do to her nails?<\/strong><br \/>\nI don\u2019t know, something to match with her outfit. I want to do a bright color like yellow or pink. Something like that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As a nail artist, are you more drawn to bright sparkly things? Or does everything just have a mood as far as colors?<\/strong><br \/>\nYou know, I\u2019ve done everything so now I\u2019m so into simple stuff. I don\u2019t even do nail art to my nails.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019re into one color? Are you serious?<\/strong><br \/>\nOne color, yeah. Now I have red. Just red. And I don\u2019t wear color that often\u2026 just red, black, silver, gold. Because I do nails every day all day so the last thing I want to do is my own nails so I usually just do nothing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have any tips speaking to our readers when it comes to beauty? Always we bring it from a perspective of the industry like how you work but also try to bring it down to the level like our consumers and our audience who is just reading it. Do you have any tips about what they should do as far as like \u2026 healthy nail shape and also if they\u2019re wanting to work with someone who is a nail artist what should they do to prep so it\u2019s easy and they can get what they want\/a positive experience? Just any tips that you might have.<\/strong><br \/>\nMoisturizing your hands is really important to have a nice nail. So many people use nail clippers to cut off their nails but it\u2019s really bad for your nails so it\u2019s always better to use a nail file.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-242.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1273\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47869\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-242.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-242-1280x815.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-S001-242-200x127.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\">Devon Halfnight Leflufy shirt, Meadowlark rings<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"txtbox\">\n<p><strong>Oh I didn\u2019t know that! So use a nail file compared to a nail clipper. What makes the clippers bad?<\/strong><br \/>\nBecause the nail is made from 3 different layers. When you use a clipper it separates the layers so the edge of your nails get double or start peeling off.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you source talent from Instagram? How do you even find a talent that you want to bring onto your team.<\/strong><br \/>\nI have one, my first assistant she\u2019s amazing. I don\u2019t know that many other nail techs because I don\u2019t work with them. So\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Exactly. So is it just through recommendations?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy assistant works with other assistants for the shows and stuff so they know other nail technicians. My first assistant introduced me to so many other assistants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>And can kind of help you through word of mouth. It seems like your story is really just like, a circumstantial word of mouth and connections. Network through network through network. You\u2019ve built your team around that, you\u2019ve started out that way. It seems like very much like a, you know\u2026 something that you always wanted to do\u2026<\/strong><br \/>\nAlso when I moved to New York I was out a lot. If somebody invited me to an event or asked me to go somewhere I would say yes. Because I didn\u2019t know how much longer I would stay in New York so I didn\u2019t want to waste any minute. So, I was always out and meeting so many people. My friends are so diverse. For example this week I was hanging out with Amanda Lepore.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I love Amanda!<\/strong><br \/>\nShe\u2019s one of my best friends. I\u2019ve been doing her nails for like 7 years. So like, we know everything about each other. One day I\u2019m hanging out with Amanda Lepore and the next day I\u2019m hanging out with I don&#8217;t know, hip hop artists, and the next day I\u2019m hanging out with high fashion people. So like, those things help me a lot too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It seems like a diverse range.<\/strong><br \/>\nYeah. Because you have to be flexible too. You have to understand many different styles or cultures. I\u2019m kind of exposed to so many different in the scene that need to be creative and inspired too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It seems like a very New York state of mind.<\/strong><br \/>\n[laughs] It is. I just fell in love with the people and the culture. I\u2019m absorbing so many things.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Awesome, so what\u2019s next for you? Is there anything you haven\u2019t accomplished that you want to? Do you want to open up a line of products? A shop? Anything?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt would be awesome to have a salon. I\u2019m kind of sad that I don\u2019t work at a salon now but ideally I\u2019d love to open my own. I also want to make a book showcasing everything I can do! Also I would love to collaborate with other artists too. It could be a photographer or fashion designer, anyone. Collaboration is always fun.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"small-12 columns\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-PLATES-103-1.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1273\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-47859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-PLATES-103-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-PLATES-103-1-1280x815.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/mdx\/i\/2016\/07\/ETS16850-PLATES-103-1-200x127.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"credits\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"separ\"><\/div>\n<p><!---Content---><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MDC Spotlights manicurist Naomi Yasuda in this latest MDC editorial by Ed Singleton<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":47869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[155,2129,99,1538],"tags":[1826,1704,2577,2379,2554,2578,2044,657,2381,2419,2576,2574,1838,2575,2380,2030],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47844"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47844"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47846,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47844\/revisions\/47846"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/mdx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}