Need a fly manicure? Bernadette Thompson is your go-to gal.
“Before I see your face, I see your hands,” she admits. The manicurist and creator of Bernadette Thompson Nail Care and Color line’s resumé is stacked high – having primped the hands of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood from Beyoncé, to Madonna, to Diddy. Earlier this week at the Met Gala, Thompson flexed her cutting edge nail prowess for reality TV star star turned bonafide star, Kim Kardashian, and pop star sensation Lady Gaga.
Vixen caught up with Thompson to chat about being apart of Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala glam squad, nail trends to be on the lookout for this summer, and her opinion on gel manicures. – Ashley Monae
Vixen: The Met Gala is one of the most fashionable events of the year. How was it this year for you?
Thompson: It was great. I’ve worked with numerous artists and models for the Met Gala over the years. This year in particular, I worked with Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga.
Kim really wowed in her Roberto Cavalli gown. How did you all decide on her nail choice for the night?
The dress was major and we didn’t want anything to compete with it so we decided to keep the makeup and nails neutral. For her nails we opted for a square shape, an active length, and a nude hue that matched the dress.
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For the Kim stans out there, how can they get her exact look?
I used the color “Barely There” on Kim’s nails from The Bernadette Thompson Nail Collection.
What trends are you predicting in terms of nail shape right now?
I think women are moving away from the long pointy nails, and slowly moving towards the square nails again.
What about nail shades for summer?
Very soft, ethereal shades are trending are going to be hot this summer.
Gel manicures are really popular right now, but there are a lot of varying ideas about how they affect the health of your nails. Do you condone them?
As far as gels are concerned, I am not a big fan. If you are not a woman that is going to keep up the maintenance don’t do it. If you are willing to go and maintain the up keep, then I say go ahead, because gel isn’t the healthiest overlay for your nails. They will make them dry and weak.