Not fond of bugs? You might want to look away. The latest in weird beauty trends is dead bug nail art, and it’s not for the squeamish. That being said, if you’re interested in all things gothic and avant garde, this trend might be right up your alley.
Nail art is nothing new, from geeky designs to sparkly, three-dimensional sculptures. But nail artist Nicole Casati, the owner of Deadly Nails in Melbourne, Australia, takes the spa treatment one step further by providing manicures that use real bugs. Her painstaking work encases tiny insects and other natural materials inside gel polish. These Deadly Nails manicures celebrate the beauty found in nature – though they’re definitely on the edgy side.
Check out dead bug nail art, your newest beauty obsession. And don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the making of these looks.
Nicole Casati Is The Woman Behind The Trend
Does this nail art have you shook? Well, meet the artist behind it. Nicole Casati, the owner of Deadly Nails salon in Melbourne, Australia, took this trend to Instagram and never looked back. These bug-filled nails may have catapulted her into fame, but they aren’t where she started.
She Specializes In Unconventional Nail Art
Nicole Casati doesn’t just put bugs into the manicures she does at her shop. The salon owner has been known to use real flowers, sprinkles, and even and marijuana flakes as accents on acrylic nails.
She Was Inspired By A Dead Butterfly
Nicole Casati never thought of encasing dead bugs in acrylic nails until one of her children found a dead butterfly. In an effort to preserve its beauty, Casati thought about embedding one of the gorgeous wings into a manicure. The dead bug manicure was born.
She Has An Incredible Technique To Create Each Look
Each manicure at Deadly Nails is a true work of art, and Nicole Casati’s technique is absolutely amazing. First, she removes all polish and files the nail. Then she places the dead bug on top, and covers it in more acrylic. The result is a fully preserved bug carcass that won’t decay because it’s completely sealed.
She Wants To Challenge The Definition Of Beauty
There’s no doubt that Casati’s manicures are unique, but she has a real intent behind every zany manicure. «I want to create things that challenge people’s perception of beauty,» she said.
No Animals Are Harmed In The Process
When dead bug manicures first surfaced on Instagram, some people were outraged at the thought that Nicole Casati was killing creatures for her own profit. She doesn’t – Casati says her bugs are donated by fans of her work or acquired through a licensed taxidermist. Sometimes, people even bring their own critters in.
Scorpions Put The Deadly In Deadly Nails
Nicole Casati juxtaposes danger and beauty in these scorpion nails. A scorpion’s sting is highly poisonous, but it’s harmless when encased in a layer of acrylic. The result is a little bit edgy and unexpectedly pretty.
Real Snakeskin Manicures Add A Little Texture
If spiders and bees aren’t your thing, Deadly Nails offers manicures using real snakeskin. The shed skins are layered underneath acrylic to create a cool textured effect.
Tiny Seahorses Put A Spin On The Mermaid Trend
Seahorses are one of nature’s most intriguing creatures, and Deadly Nails celebrates their beauty with seahorse manicures. After the tiny creatures die of natural causes, their bodies are entombed in glittery, mermaid-ready manicures. Aren’t they cute?
Dead Bug Nails Are Catching On
Though the idea of encasing dead bugs in a manicure started in Nicole Casati’s Australian salon, she’s inspired nail techs all over the world. This lucky lady bug manicure is from House of Glitter, who said they were «giving the middle finger to the haters of amazing art.»
