
Meet our January/February cover artist Lori Anastos (@lori_nails), a member of our first 30 Over 30 cohort and a resident of Arvada, Colorado. Her specialty is marble nail art after she fell in love with it in 2017. She has been a nail artist since she graduated high school when she knew the nail industry was where she was meant to be. Anastos bought her first salon at the age of 23 and sold it several years later to use the money as a down payment for her first home. Since then, she has worked at two salons. Aside from working behind the chair, she is also a nail coach and helps other nail artists to perfect their abilities in nail art.
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Meet our January/February cover artist Lori Anastos (@lori_nails), a member of our first 30 Over 30 cohort and a resident of Arvada, Colorado. Her specialty is marble nail art after she fell in love with it in 2017. She has been a nail artist since she graduated high school when she knew the nail industry was where she was meant to be. Anastos bought her first salon at the age of 23 and sold it several years later to use the money as a down payment for her first home. Since then, she has worked at two salons. Aside from working behind the chair, she is also a nail coach and helps other nail artists to perfect their abilities in nail art.
Nailpro [NP]: How did you get into the nail industry?
Lori Anastos [LA]: The short of it is: When I was only 17, I was at my boyfriend’s softball game and I ended up sitting next to his friend’s girlfriend who owned a nail salon. She was amazing and successful, and I wanted to be just like her! So a few months later, I decided to enroll in the nail tech course in a local beauty school and the rest is history! ( btw...we are still friends to this day).
NP: What do you consider your specialty and why?
LA: My specialty is nail art, but specifically marble nail art. I’ve always been very creative with art even when I was young. I fell in love with (OK maybe obsessed) with marble nails when I first started seeing them in 2017. I made it my mission to master them. After many, many months of trial and error, plus dedication and practice, I finally did!
NP: What is your favorite design to do?
Marble nails! I love marbling for so many reasons. They will never look the same as any other marble nail, so they are very unique. If you mess something up, it’s very easy to fix! I love the creative process. My clients love them because they actually look like real stone on their nails.
NP: Where do you get your inspiration for your creations?
I get my inspiration from seeing other marble nail art designs on Pinterest and Instagram. (There are so many amazing nail artists out there!) When I see one that catches my eye, I will grab similar colors and redesign it with my own style and twist.
NP: Where did you get the inspiration for this look?
For this look, my inspiration came from the colors and feeling of winter. Think rich, deep and velvety depths. I thought of sitting by the fire (under a fuzzy blanket) sipping on cocoa and watching the snow fall... you know, that warm cozy feeling.
NP: What are you hoping for in the future of the nail industry?
I am hoping that the nail industry will evolve in the way that more seasoned nail artists offer education to those who need it, whether paid or free... We are getting there, but I still feel like there is not enough training for the newer nail techs, or for more experienced nail techs who want to level up on specific skills. I’d really love to see a “central training hub” somehow, where nail artists can go to find the specialized training they want or need. I just know how hard it is to find information/training on specific skillsets.
Lori's 5 Salon Must-Haves
- My brushes: 3D, aquarelle and liners.
- Gel polish! I might have a gel polish addiction…
- Marble Inks: These are such a HUGE part of doing my marble nail art.
- My nail table: I had it custom made, so it is comfortable for me to work at for 12 hours, and it has the room I need!
- My overhead light: It’s so important to have a great overhead light. It helps me to see all imperfections, and it’s great when taking my nail photos. I LOVE my light!
How-To: Burgundy Marble
- Apply a burgundy polish in three areas of the nail and blend them toward the center.
- Add a very thin coat of a light beige color in the center between the burgundy areas.
- Apply a gold metallic texture gel by blotting it on with a liner brush in a sporadic motion.
- Use a rose gold texture gel on the opposite side of the nail in again a sporadic motion.
- Add some milky white gel polish to the design to smooth it out.
- Apply a topcoat and cure it for 30 seconds. Make a mixture of plum and black ink on a pallet. Using the ink mixture, create the lines using a 3D nail art brush and some acetone.