The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Move over tattoos, it's nail art now!

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Wednesday, Jun 23, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Move over tattoos, it's nail art now!

DVL Padma Priya

Nail art will be the next booming industry in India: expert

PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

beauty on ‘fingertips':Women getting their nails done up at a workshop at Hotel Marriott on Tuesday. -

HYDERABAD: Nails have always been a woman's prized possession. The longer and beautifully shaped they are, the more attention the feminine hands garner.

While most women are aware of the importance of well-kept nails and regular manicure, little is known about ‘Nail Art' in India. Nail art is fast catching up in most south-east Asian countries and is the next hottest thing after tattoos says Synthia Lau, a well-known Singaporean nail artist.

Ms. Lau who is in the city to conduct a three-day workshop on nail art feels this latest fad will be the next booming industry in India. “With multinationals entering the country and spas and salons becoming a regular feature, it's but a matter of time before nail art turns out to be a lucrative business”, she says.

So what exactly is nail art? It is a specialised customized field in which ‘nailists' (people who are exclusively trained in shaping nails) create designs on nails or artificial nail extensions, also known as acrylic nails. “Many women use them to hide their brittle nails,” she says.

These designs may be funky involving multi-colours which often reflect the culture. “In Japan you would have nail art which reflect exquisite Japanese art. India too will have its set of designs and it is a field that requires lot of creativity,” Ms. Lau says. Ms. Lau has been in the field herself for over 12 years in Singapore and is a World Champion in Nail Technology competition.

She runs the Niji Nails Academy Pvt Ltd which has been accredited by City and Guilds, UK. In India, currently getting a specialised nail design can cost anywhere between Rs.500 to Rs.7,000, says Rahaat Khan of Reflections Spa. Ms. Khan, along with Ms. Lau, will be opening a franchise of Niji Nails Academy in the city in the coming months. “Those who specialise in this field are sure to earn quite a lot from it as it is a very specialised field,” Ms. Khan said. The workshop will be conducted from June 24 to June 26. For more details contact 9000025522.

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