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Mimi D.

Nail Artist

Mimi D. is a bi-coastal freelance manicurist. Starting her career in New York, Mimi had the opportunity to participate in nail art events including an Adidas shoe launch, Comic Con, and Sally Hansen’s Mani Match App release. She also worked with designers like Oscar De La Renta, Diane Von Furstenburg, Luar, and DKNY for several New York Fashion Weeks. While on the West Coast, Mimi manicured top celebrities like Angela Bassett, Tyra Banks, Lena Waithe, Busy Phillips, Rosario Dawson and Ciara for magazines including Essence, Tidal, Parents, and Remix Magazine. Mimi is also the creator of two seasons of the Pinterest Creator Originals show “Hands On with Mimi D”, where she shares everything from product recommendations to nail care tips. She was inducted into Old Dominion University’s inaugural class for the Top 40 under 40 alumni, and is the current and singular champion of the Cosmopolitan Magazine Mani Wars. Mimi shares her knowledge by hosting seminars on how to perfect nail art, as well as educating others on what steps to take to secure work as a celebrity & on set manicurist. She has sat on several panels sharing her knowledge of the industry with other top beauty professionals. Her work has also been featured in commercials, on billboards, and in major retailers all across the U.S.

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Forum Comments (6)

Easiest/safest way remove acrylic nails at home?
You can either use cotton balls soaked in acetone and wrap your nails in aluminum foil, or you can use a bowl. Take a bowl, put acetone in it, and then place your hands in the bowl. Then cover your hand and the bowl with a towel and just let it rest there for about 15 to 20 minutes . Take your hands out, see how much you can gently push off, and then put them back in and keep repeating that process until it comes off completely.
How to get Gel X nails off at home quick
The removal process is the same as for a gel manicure. You would start by filing it down, and then, since you're removing it, I would cut off the bulk of the nail (if you have a longer nail). That way, you're not wasting product trying to remove something that you're just going to cut down anyway. I would cut the nail and then use cotton soaked in acetone wrapped in aluminum foil to remove it. Wait 15-20 minutes for it to work, then use a cuticle pusher to remove the product. If it’s not all off after the first round, rewrap it and wait another 10 or 15 minutes. Continue this process until all of it is removed.
How do you take off shellac nail polish at home?
Shellac is just another name for gel manicure. Start by filing off the top layer, wrapping it with a cotton ball with acetone and aluminum foil, waiting about 15 minutes . Then take it off, and see how much you can gently push off with your cuticle pusher. If it comes off, that’s great, but if you still have some that's stuck on, rewrap it again and continue the process until it all comes off.
What are the best nail shapes?
I like to pick nail shapes based on the person and their hands. I don't have one shape that's just universal for everybody, because some people may not like a round nail, while some people may not like a square nail. I typically talk to the client to figure out what they do on a daily basis and then choose their nail shape based on what would work best for their lifestyle .
What etiquette should you know when visiting the nail salon?
First, if you have an appointment and you want nail art, show up with some kind of idea of what you want, because that will help the appointment go by fairly quickly. If you're torn between two different looks, then bring both and you can ask your nail tech for their opinion.

Then, depending on the location, you have to tailor your behavior to your environment. Some locations are quieter, some more lively – maybe playing music or serving champagne. If you go into a spa setting where it's a bit quieter, obviously, you don't want to go in there and be super loud and boisterous and having 15 side conversations.

If you're going to be on the phone, maybe you put in your headphones and don't have the phone on speaker. Maybe there's a place where you can't bring your kids, so don't bring your kids there.

Just try to think about what would make your nail tech’s job easier and tailor your responses to that. And make sure you pay. Don't run out on your bill. And if they allow tipping, then tip.
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