In the quest for extraordinary talent within the nail artistry realm, I had the distinct pleasure of uncovering Bella Li, a gem whose creations redefine the canvas of nail art.
Our series, “Nailz in Bloom,” celebrates the fusion of art, culture, and identity through the lens of BIPOC artists, and Bella stands out as a beacon of innovation and cultural homage in this vibrant community. Dive deeper into Bella’s world of intricate designs and cultural narratives that transcend the typical nail art experience.
Keep reading to discover how Bella Li is not just painting nails but weaving stories that connect and inspire.
Check out our other Nailz in Bloom Interviews featured on the site
Bella Li is a Brooklyn-based nail artist known for her innovative use of Japanese/Korean gel techniques and a flair for culturally inspired design
What inspired you to become a nail artist?
I have always been a creative being since I was a kid. I’ve experimented in all kinds of mediums from ceramics to photography, but when I was a kid I used to paint my nails and try to create cool designs on them.
I never actually went to a nail salon until my early 20s, and I started to love getting my nails done. When the pandemic hit, I started to learn how to do my own nails and found a lot of enjoyment in learning the process of nail care and the challenge of a tiny canvas.
How do you navigate the online space as a nail artist, especially as a BIPOC woman?
I try to be very conscious of the social media consumption I take in. I tend to try to follow other BIPOC artists who pour a lot of their identity into their work, but also just artists whose work I enjoy that happen to be BIPOC as well. Being Asian American, I often try to pay homage to my own culture through cool nail art from time to time.
Can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I focus on Japanese/Korean gel based services, natural nail growth and the wide spectrum of nail art. I don’t think I have a particular style of nail art I do, as I love to learn and try new things out.
Have you ever had to pivot in your career as a nail artist?
Can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
As a nail artist, I’ve been doing this for 3 years, so I would say that I’m still fresh into it. I’m sure that there will be a lot of new experiences to come that I am looking forward to. For now, I’m looking to continue growing my skills and eventually pivot to doing more education related content for the nail community.
Can you share your “backstory” with us?
I am a child of Chinese-Vietnamese immigrants and a child of deaf adults (CODA). I was born and raised in New York City and am still very much around the neighborhoods I grew up in. I am also a career changer!
I previously worked in the public education school system for 5 years before making the switch to doing nails. While I’m not in the traditional school setting anymore, I find a lot of enjoyment in educating my clients and myself in nail care, safety and generally learning more about nails for my own improvement!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
So far it has been humbling to start off in this career from self learning to going to school, to working in salons and trying to piece it all together. I think some of the most interesting things have been the things I’ve learned working for other salons which I can imagine can be a very commonly shared experience for some.
My main takeaway from my experience so far is that we need more accessible education for both nail technicians and clients so that we can all move at a unified standard.
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Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting as a nail artist?
Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My biggest mistake I’ve made so far is a little embarrassing to admit, but I’ll share in the hopes that it can prevent this situation from happening to someone else.
At my first ever salon job, I did not thoroughly read my contract and because I was so excited to get the opportunity to do nails as a hired employee, I missed a lot of important information that should have been clearer.
Always read your contracts (and if you don’t have one, please get one if you are to be an employee to someone else) and make sure that you are comfortable with the terms! Big shout out to my teacher at the time, Ms. P @passportnails, for guiding me in that situation.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in the nail art industry?
I would say, stay consistent and find the niche that makes you happy in this career. When you have your focus that makes you truly inspired, it will reflect in your drive and work that people see.
Nails are for everyone and there are so many creative beings out there, there is a space for everyone in the community.
What is your favorite nail design to create and why?
I love a minimalist vibe with a twist! Something like a negative space design with chrome details is what I often default to on myself, but it does change season to season. At the moment I’ve been loving the different ways to use magnet gel!
What is your favorite nail polish brand to use and why?
I will always have a soft spot for Kokoist as they are the first brand I ever tried. I also really love DGEL and ICEGEL for their colors and unique styles.
What is your favorite nail tool to use and why?
I love my Mithmillo Signature Liner brush in 01. It is so thin and helpful for all kinds of things during a nail service.
Read more of the dope nail artists we are featuring below:
Nailing Creativity in NYC with Talented Nail Artist, Narina
In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception about nail artistry?
At the moment I think a big misconception is that every nail artist enjoys doing all kinds of nail art. While I think most nail artists appreciate all kinds of nail art, not all nail artists love to do every crazy thing you see on Instagram and Tiktok.
I think this puts a lot of pressure on nail technicians to be seen as a jack of all trades and can distract someone from honing in on the particular things they enjoy doing as an artist. While we all share a love for beautifying nails, the art we want to put on nails can all look different, and I think that’s really special to hold on to!
Where are you based and where can our readers follow you on social media?
I’m based in Bushwick, BK and you can follow me on Instagram at miso.nails
Thank you for taking the time to complete this interview! Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Continue to support BIPOC artists and women 
