EUPHORIA'S NAIL ARTIST NATALIE MINERVA ON STORY TELLING THROUGH NAIL ART
1. What is your favorite set of nails you designed and created for Season 2 of Euphoria?
My favorite set is probably Maddy’s caged nails. I love making nails with complicated patterns and I especially love black and white designs. I also just loved how they fit into that scene where she finds out Cassie is fucking Nate. It was just a shocking moment and I felt like the nails really fit well with it.
2. Can you tell us more about the process on how you build stories & character development through nail art on the show?
The process involves a few people, not just myself. I usually get styling from Heidi and see what the cast is wearing, and then Donni would fill me in on what’s happening with the characters in that episode while also giving me her two cents on ideas she had beauty wise. I also speak to the cast because they know their characters so well and have a clear vision on who they are and what they would wear. After all of that, I make samples based on all of that information and send it in a group chat and get input from everyone. Maybe we change a thing in one nail or added something to another, and eventually we finalize a decision. I make the nail sets and drop them off on set!
3. What is the most amount of time you’ve spent working on a set of nails for Euphoria?
Maddy’s birthday plaid nails took about 3 hours to make because they were so detailed and required a lot of different techniques and details. Those nails Alexa had a real vision for and had sent me some kawaii and early 2000’s style nails and we made those based off those vibes.
4. If Nate Jacobs rocked a set of nails, what would his look be?
I would see him in a clear gel on short natural nails with small emblems and maybe mattified? Although if you want my real personal opinion, I don’t think Nate Jacobs would be caught dead in nail art LOL.
5. What is your nail trend forecast for summer 2023?
Glow nails, LED nails, and neons! Everyone wants light up or glow nails for their summer night outs and since summer is all about color, we will likely embrace neons.
6. Can we talk about the light up nails you created? What was the inspiration behind THAT! How!?!
Yes! So those are NFC LED chip stickers that you can embed inside acrylic or gel nails. They light up by engaging with the electric current when your NFC capabilities turn on in your phone. It’s definitely a game changer! When I saw them online, I immediately thought OMG, I need to do a Nokia 3310 phone nail with those! I had this image of the game “snake” on the screen and honestly I’m so happy it turned out how I wanted.
7. We love to see artists like Lil Nas X, Troye Sivan and Bad Bunny express themselves through nail art. Do you foresee more men wearing acrylics and nail polish in their day to day expression?
Absolutely! I don’t think that nail art should be limited to one gender because it’s just a fun and creative way to express yourself. It should be for everyone because it makes people feel good! Why the hell not?!
8. Which historical figure would you bring back from the dead to do nails on? Who would it be and what would the look be?
Omg most DEFINITELY Donna Summer! I’m a huge disco head and she’s just my absolute #1 favorite. My dad played Donna Summer every Friday when he picked me up from school and I fell in love with her music since then.
9. Lastly, and most importantly, are you team Maddie or team Cassie?
Oh man. Lol. I think I’m team Maddy even though I do admittedly have a soft spot for Cassie. I think Maddy is learning more about herself and her independence and I love that.
Photos courtesy of Natalie Minerva. Follow Natalie Minerva here.
