Mei Kawajiri, better known on Instagram as @nailsbymei, is a Japanese manicurist whose quirky, over the top nail art has not only gone viral, gaining her over 200k followers on the platform, but has led her to working on the nails of celebrities including Bella Hadid, Ariana Grande and Adriana Lima, and runway shows including Moschino, Marc Jacobs and Comme des Garçons.
Now based in New York, Kawajiri’s work, featuring intricate 3D creations, has taken her from working backstage to the red carpet, making her debut at this year’s British Fashion Awards where she was included in the New Wave: Creatives list. With a client list and presence that continues to grow, Kawajiri’s eccentric and elaborate designs look to remain a staple on celebrity hands and dominate 2020 beauty trends.