6 Independent Nail Artists That Are Turning Our Manicures Into Works Of Art

They say God is in the details. A statement bag, the "wrong shoe," or a bold lip make an outfit THE outfit. Then there's custom nail art, another form of accent piece that's taking over our lives, feeds, and mood boards.

Custom nail art isn't something new, but what's different now versus a decade ago is the growth of nail artists creating tiny masterpieces on the fingertips. Mani me-time suddenly hits different when you feel like a VIP in their private nail studios. Whatever is on your moodboard, they can magically do it for you—with a Russian manicure certification to boot.

We stalked the Internet and asked our manicure enthusiasts for the best private nail artists everyone should know (and book). Get to know these talented individuals and see their mani masterpieces below:

Location: Private residence in the Scout Area, Quezon City

Price: Starts at P600 to P1,100+, depending on the design. Custom nail designs start at P850

How to Book: Kindly message @soda_mnl on Instagram for available slots, booking forms, and quotations.

Sophie is the brains behind Soda MNL. According to her, SODA is a playful abbreviation for "Sophie's obsession (with) d (the) arts." And ofc, her favorite medium is nail art. As a former nail-biter, Sophie shared that nail extensions helped her fight the habit. This experience drove her to make people feel beautiful and confident through sporting cool nail art, while promoting nail health and using proper techniques. She offers structured manicure, soft gel extensions, and hard gel extensions.

She can do all kinds of nail art, from minimalist styles to the more whimsical ones—anime, cartoon, duck, cat claws, and maximalist styles. Sophie loves experimenting and trying new trends, so feel free to collaborate with her for your next (or first-ever) nail art mani.

Location: Along Yakal Street, Makati City

Price: Ranges from P750 to P1,600, depending on the complexity of the nail design

How to Book:  To book an appointment, send her a message on Instagram at @leynails_ph. Tell her your preferred date, time, and the service you'd like, and she’ll get back to you as soon as possible to confirm your slot.

Leah of Leynails PH started doing her nails for fun while she was still a college student. In 2024, she decided to turn her hobby into a small business. She's originally self-taught, but decided to brush up (see what we did there…) on her skills by enrolling in a reputable nail training center. 

Her service lineup includes soft gel extensions, BIAB (Builder in A Bottle), and creative nail art (her favorite!). Her home-based nail studio offers a relaxed, one-on-one experience that prioritizes quality, cleanliness, and client satisfaction. Ley promises that you'll leave with a mani you'll surely love. 💗

Location: Plainview, Mandaluyong (In front of Ovations Production)

Price: Starts at P900 to P2,000, depending on the design.

How to Book: Book via Pya's Calendly, which opens slots every Monday. She also announces it on her IG Stories to make sure everyone knows. She requires a P500 downpayment to secure your slot.

Nails by Pya was established in 2023 while Pya was juggling her architecture studies. Doing manis quickly became the highlight of her day, where she got to be creative and help her clients feel extra cute and confident. For Pya, wielding her magic brush (and tools) is a form of art and takes her to her happy place.

Location: SSS Village, Concepcion Dos, Marikina City, near Marikina Hotel

Rates: Base price ranges from P1,200 to P1,700. Full sets usually range from P2,000 to P2,400

How to Book: Slots are opened weekly and announced via Instagram. To book, send a DM to Ella on Instagram after so she can send a booking link.

Mieux Nails was established in November 2022, when Ella was a sophomore in college. She has always been passionate about art. Fun fact: She dabbles in traditional painting! This passion led her to discover her love for nail art. Her family once owned a salon, so she already had some knowledge. With her small savings from her school allowance, Ella was able to buy nail polish bottles, tools, and equipment. Her family also helped her set up her small corner in their residence. Since then, she's been upgrading her nail tools and services and has undergone training not only in nail art, but also in nail health. Ella offers a wide range of art styles, from minimal and dainty to maximalist and crazy (in a good way!).

Location: Home studio with indoor parking located in Santol, Quezon City

Price: Starts at P1,750 for a single-color plain Russian manicure, and may vary depending on the enhancement required by your nail condition or chosen nail art.

How to Book: Book via Kristel's Calendly.

Back in 2023, Kristel received a life-changing birthday manicure from @socialclimbernails that lit a fire within her. She wasn't into manicures before, but that experience led to learning about the precise techniques of Russian manicures. She started Nails by Tellie and Beauty by Tellie in her private beauty studio in December 2023, where she does makeup workshops and nails. She does soft gel extensions and hard gel, which includes a wide menu of nail art.

Location: Acqua Private Residences, Coronado, Mandaluyong

Rates: Prices depend on the nail tech. Their base rates are the following:

• Ms. Ash, Head Nail Master and Owner -  P3,445 

• Ms. Cheska, Senior Russian Manicure Specialist -  P3,145 

• Ms. Marie, Experienced Russian Manicure Specialist -  P2,845 

• Ms. Xena, Russian Manicure Specialist -  P2,545

How to book: They're strictly by appointment only. Book a slot via their website.

Led by Ashley Colet, Ash Luxe Nails is a team of five nail techs working together to elevate the manicure (and pedicure) experience. These Russian manicure experts left their conventional careers to transform nails into a work of art. After a quick glance at their portfolio, you'll see their craftsmanship. AshLuxe is also the go-to nail studio of influencers and celebs.

Once you've booked your slot, get your mood board and nail inspos ready. If possible, discuss with the nail artist what your dream mani looks like before your appointment. Don't forget to show up on time for your appointment and tip your nail tech generously. And most importantly, don't forget to post your fresh mani on IG and TikTok. That work of art deserves to be shown off!

Follow Ira on Instagram.