The Essex nail tech who created the unforgettable nail sets is now in charge of the spotlight after Cynthia Erivo’s sharp green nails for Wicked became a distant talking point.
An Essex-based nail technician has seen a surge in recognition after being revealed as the artist behind the eye-catching green manicures featured in the Wicked films.
Shea Osei, 34, who operates under the name Shades of Shea and boasts over 53,000 Instagram followers, served as Cynthia Erivo’s personal nail technician throughout filming.
Her long, oblong green ombré talons, which are a feature in Elphaba’s first scene, have become a viral hit.
It appears that Wicked’s visibility has sparked a broader discussion about the importance of nails in on-screen storytelling now that viewers have seen her work in the movie. Shea, who designed Erivo’s multiple sets, created the sharply shaped, layered green looks that have attracted attention online and inspired people to recreate her work.
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Her nails change from being short to a little longer, the color changes, and it becomes a little more daring, she said, “it just flows seamlessly as she is as Elphaba.”
With Wicked continuing to captivate global audiences and fans who care about every aspect of its design, Shea’s work has emerged as one of the unexpected standouts, firmly establishing her as a leader and bringing long-awaited visibility to her craft. Her bold nail designs have helped carve her name out.
Shea has known Cynthia for more than ten years, but in 2022 she was given the task of designing the nails for the first Wicked movie, which first aired last year.
She worked on 35 press-on nail sets for that production, which lasted 90 minutes between each set, and she was later asked to design new designs for the recently released Wicked: For Good sequel.
Shea began learning nail artistry as a teenager and turned professional at 18 and has cultivated an impressive roster of celebrity clients including Candice Brathwaite and Maya Jama, and previously worked on Erivo’s nails for the Netflix production Luther: The Fallen Sun.
Nevertheless, Shea notices that nails receive considerably less attention in film commentary compared to hair and makeup. “Nails are not so much of a talked-about thing but ever since the first movie [when] she moves her hand behind her hair and everyone sees the nails, that was an epic moment,” she told the BBC.
Source: Mirror
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