The secret of a detailed spring manicure according to a manicurist

From delicate florals to micro-French suggestions, spring is the time to perfect your manicure with intricate, flirty patterns. “I always paid attention to details” – nail stylist Rose Hackle says ESSENCE. Case in point: Hackle’s deep emerald heels Cynthia Erivo on the 2024 Oscars were made of precise swirls and crystals. “From a young age, I loved doing my nails and it always bothered me when the nail designs weren’t done well.”

Below, the nail star shares her pro suggestions for her most detailed manicures.

“I use a variety of tools during my services,” Hackle says. Before he starts, he prepares all of the needed tools to prepare and screw within the nails. “No matter what, the essential tools are cuticle nippers, wood sticks, and a nail file.” But essentially the most instrumental part of each of her services: “I couldn’t do without a tiny diamond piece of flame,” she says. “It is used to completely exfoliate dry skin and cuticles from the nail plate, ensuring a perfectly clean and long-lasting application.” Think: Russian manicure.

5 foolproof steps behind every service

For each client, Hackle follows five foolproof steps. First, it completely removes all work previously done on the clients’ nails – from varnish to gel extensions. This will give her a natural base to start working on. He then prepares the nail (Russian style) with a positive flame diamond, effectively removing the cuticle using an electrical drill. This step guarantees a long-lasting manicure, leaving the cuticles and nail plate as clean as possible. Then, the natural nail is fastidiously filed. “If the shape isn’t perfect, I keep tweaking it until it’s right,” he says.

Hackle then cleans and dries the nail plate before applying the extension, which, combined with the Russian manicure, ensures the set lasts 3-4 weeks. At your local nail salon, a technician may apply nail extensions after which paint your entire hand before curing. “I work nail by nail,” he says, hardening the gel after each finger application. “This allows each nail to be cured individually, rather than curing all 5 nails at once, which prevents product and polish from reaching the side walls and cuticle area, ensuring perfect application.”

Her secret lies behind the main points

Probably the toughest part of the service is finding a nail technician who can encourage you to have some tea. For Hackle, it is easy. “When I approach complex nail art, I do it by calming my heart rate and focusing,” she says. “I also use products that only require one pass to achieve color strength and intensity to avoid duplication (wasting time) and to prevent overlap, which creates undesirable texture in the final look.”

A “no, no” mani that ought to be avoided

“Often people don’t remember to clean their tools,” he admits. “Whether you are at home or in the salon, it is important to have clean tools to prevent the occurrence and/or spread of nail fungus and common nail bacteria.” When performing a Russian manicure, cuticle care is a must. But it is also essential not to overdo it. “Common mistakes include over-trimming the cuticles, cutting the nails too short, excessive filing of the nail bed and thinning of the nail plate.”