Pro Spotlight

OPI Pro Spotlight: @rosedoesmynails

From the Oscars, to the Met Gala, to on set with OPI. Meet @rosedoesmynails, celebrity nail artist and this month’s pro.

We sat down with Rose, the mastermind behind Cynthia Erivo’s stunning nail art for our OPI x Wicked holiday collection. Read on to learn how her emotions guide her inspiration, her top 2024 highlight, and allllll the fall looks she’s excited to try.

OPI: How did you start your journey to becoming a successful and renowned nail artist?

Rose: I think what truly got me started was not just realizing, but accepting that I'd never be happy in any career that didn't give me control over my time and freedom of self-expression. When I started doing nails I was honestly just trying it out. I found I was really good at it and the love story blossomed from there.

OPI: Your stunningly colorful nail art and design choices leap right off the hands! What inspires you?

Rose: I'm truly inspired by feelings. Our emotions and inner workings. They are truly SO powerful. They drive us; artists and the like. And I realized my clients choose me not only for my skill, but also for how I make them feel. When I’m inspired, it's usually because something made me “feel a feel” as I tend to express it. I do my best to recreate that feel into a set so I can prescribe it to my clients. I'm inspired by emotions and helping clients experience more of how they want or need to feel.

OPI: Now that it’s October, what fall nail art designs are you excited to try?

Rose: Wow. Fall is my jam. I'm honestly so excited. I'm looking forward to trying tortoise shell sets on longer lengths—with gold 3D accents of course. It's kind of been kept to shorter lengths and I want to see the divas out this winter. I'm really looking forward to creating sets that are mash-ups of moody colors, textured looks, and nails that feel like jewelry.

OPI: You've done nails for celebrities, red carpets, magazine covers, and so much more! What's been the highlight of your career so far?

Rose: Oooo this is hard. This year in itself has been so beautiful. Nothing but highlights. I've been so grateful. But I'd have to say the highlight for me this year was the Met Gala look I created for Cynthia Erivo. I shipped in the most beautiful beetles from Australia and added real roses to encapsulate into Cynthia's set for a true garden terrarium feel. The theme was 'The Garden of Time' and putting that set on her nails made her into the garden itself.

OPI: How did you create the stunning wicked nail art for Cynthia Erivo in the OPI x Wicked Holiday collection, and what was your creative process like?

Rose: Thank you so much. You've been showering me with kindnesses. I've just been in constant amazement and gratitude on this whole journey. It's been my job to pull inspiration from Wicked to create wicked looks for Elphaba. It's been an insanely amazing creative opportunity. More than anything, I'm truly looking forward to officially getting into these holiday looks. It’s my favorite time of year! And when it comes to making those looks come to life, I plan to tell a bit more of a story as I go along. All while paying close attention to Cynthia to be sure I choose an adornment that makes her feel great stepping onto those red carpets.

OPI: Which shade from our new OPI x Wicked Holiday collection is your favorite? 

Rose: Ozitively-Elphaba ;)

OPI: What advice would you give other nail artists who aspire to a career like yours?

Rose: I would sayyyy..... decide what sets you apart and stay consistent in that. And every few quarters, learn something new in nails. Never stop learning.

OPI: Is there one technique or tip/trick that has changed the game for you when creating such elaborate nail art?  

Rose: PLANNING!! Sketch out your designs for sets ahead of time. You'll make something fly when all you have to concern yourself with is creating something you love . Worry about the logistics and execution later.

OPI: What upcoming nail art trends do you predict for the next few months?

Rose: Honestly I can't truly say. I'm not really a 'trendy' girly. But I personally am feeling in the mood for TONS of GREEN and GOLD. OH! And pearl shades and glazed colors in deep moody fall tones. I'd say those are most definitely making a comeback. Especially if I have anything to do with it. LOL.

Don't forget to follow Rose, aka @rosedoesmynails on Instagram!