The Inca invented nail art in the 13th century to worship their Gods by representing them in animal form on their nails. Nail art really took off in the 90s thanks to the Japanese “Kawaii” fashion. Even if it’s not art understood as “painting” or “sculpture,” it’s nevertheless a matter of meticulous embellishment which spread out worldwide very quickly.
Today’s nail art includes many popularized techniques such as sponge shading, rhinestones, stencils, and brush drawings for ambidextrous people. However, nail artists are still way ahead of products available to all.
South Korea has its own stars, especially Park Eun Kyung, one of the most famous Korean nail artists in the world. The owner of a nail studio in Seoul named UNISTELLA, her work is very well-known in the fashion industry, and she has worked with Vogue and Grazia.
Let us introduce you to UNISTELLA with her interview below!
Can you quickly introduce yourself?
My name’s Park Eun Kyung, 35 (Korean age). I’m the founder of UNISTELLA, a nail artist of 16 years’ experience, and I live in Seoul, Korea.
Why did you choose to become a nail professional? What kind of studies did you do for this job? Where and how long?
I’ve wanted to work in the field of beauty since I was young. When I was in high school, I started learning make-up, but I figured it wasn’t something I wanted, so I quit. After that, I found out about nail art and attended an academy to learn nail art. Then I started working and going to university at the same time. I’ve been doing nails ever since. It’s been 16 years.
Where does the name Unistella come from?
When I created the brand name, I wrote down everything I liked: black, unique, simple, attractive, shiny, star, special, etc. And I thought of a word that would describe these things. So I put together Unique + Stella, which means “special shine.”
Where do you get the inspiration for all your creations? Which model/style would you say is the hardest one to do?
It all depends, really. For bracelet nails, I got inspiration from my own wrist bracelet. For glass nails, it was an abalone shell. For wire nails, a neon sign. When I’m curious about something, I tend to try it out on my nails. There are things that catch my eye right away.
Which products do your customers love most?
I think these are the ones they like the most:
- Glass nails
- Diamond nails
- Bracelet nails
Is nail art really popular in Korea? Is it today’s trend to get your nails done? What type of individual is interested in your work and nail art?
Nail art was very fancy in Korea until 2 years ago, but it’s become rather classy and minimal. False nails and disposable tips are also really popular nowadays, and I’m actually participating to the creation of tips this year.
Many Koreans who come to my salon are in the fashion field: models, celebrities, fashion-beauty editors, bloggers, etc.
You are famous worldwide. How did you reach such impressive renown? When did you feel like you were starting to have an impact on nail art?
Thank you so much, it’s still hard to believe. I feel honored.
When I created the glass nails, I first thought: “maybe absolute beauty exists in this world.” It was loved by a lot of people, not just women, but even men would ask about it when they saw it.
After that, my bracelet nails became a big success, too.
It’s just my personal opinion, but I think my glass nails are what helped me make my breakthrough. If I’d stopped there, it would have been the end, but I continued to create more, such as bracelet nails and many more. Since I’ve been consistently coming up with new art, people seem to believe in and trust me… But that’s just my personal opinion.
What do you like most in your job? Who did you work with that marked you most (celebrities, magazines, a special customer)?
Model Irene. I’ve been working with Irene for a while, for magazine shoots as well as many other works. Irene really loved my glass nails. She got them done for the New York Fashion Week, and that really helped me spread the word about my glass nails worldwide. I’m still really thankful.
What’s the nail art trend in Korea for 2017?
Minimal, Neon, Dry flower… these three.
Finally, do you have any special advice for taking care of your nails?
In my opinion, a nail artist should be able to look at nails as a whole. They should even be able to choose clear and bare nails as the most sophisticated form of nail art.
As I always say, whether it’s regular polish or gel, putting on base and the step before are important. Removing it is even more important than putting it on. This is the way to have healthier nails.
Don’t cut the cuticle too short. Instead, try to create cuticle lines by pushing them and put on some serum or oil around the nails so that they don’t get too dry. Since hands are the body part that gets exposed to the sunlight the most after the face, make sure you apply sunscreen on your hands as well.
Many thanks to Park Eun Kyung for her time.
Interview by Maz’.
French to English translation by Sunnymuffins. Thank you.
Source : Wikipedia
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Ces ongles sont magnifiques j’adore;)
Ces ongles sont magnifiques j’adore;)
Oui ils sont superbes et Park Eun Kyung très gentille.
Oui ils sont superbes et Park Eun Kyung très gentille.