Meet Celebrity Nail Pro Elle

Local to Long Island, manicurist to the stars Elle Gerstein shares how she got her start, her unique nail trend philosophy, and what’s new for spring.

Elle Gerstein started doing nails at age 17. Now she’s a go-to nail pro for celebs, brands, and local clients.

What do Blake Lively and Jennifer Lopez have in common with Long Island? Elle Gerstein, a nail pro who counts Lively, Lopez, Kelly Ripa, Lindsay Lohan, and Natasha Bedingfield among her famous clients. She’s also a Long Island native — born and bred in Freeport, and she still lives (and works) there today.

Gerstein got an early start in the industry. Her father manufactured nail supplies, so she was always experimenting. She started working in salons at age 17 and got really good at her trade — so good that her impressive acrylic work caught the eye of singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. Gerstein has been doing J.Lo’s nails ever since, for over twenty years.

Gerstein and I go back to my Redbook magazine days when she created nail looks for our photo shoots and kept the crew laughing. She’s known for her hilarious, tell-it-like-it-is chair-side manner. Gerstein is now a Pretty Local Pro advisor. Here, we catch up on celeb nail looks, spring nail art, and why she’s softened her stance on the French manicure.

A-Lister Nails

From award shows to movie sets, Gerstein is always creating for her celebrity clients. Some recent standouts: “On Lindsay Lohan and J.Lo, I recently did the cat-eye nail, which you’ll also hear called velvet nails and magnet nails.” The look is created with a magnet, resulting in a multi-dimensional effect that resembles a cat’s iris.

Gerstein also did a “blooming nail” on Blake Lively, a technique that creates a blooming, faded French effect, done to match the animal print on Lively’s jacket and skirt. Gerstein cleverly called the look “cashmere mafia,” a new take on the trending mob wife fashion and beauty aesthetic.

Kelly Ripa chose a Russian manicure for the recent Oscars. This nail technique, which originated in Russia, involves removing more of the cuticle around the nail, resulting in a cleaner look that lasts longer. “The Russian manicure is all over Long Island right now, but it’s really important to go to someone well-trained in the technique.”

Lohan’s cat-eye mani, courtesy of @enamelle.

Lively’s Blooming nails, courtesy of @enamelle.

Spring Trends With a Twist

Pantone, the universal color authority, recently named “Fuzzy Peach,” a velvety pinky-peach, the color of the year, and Gerstein says you’ll see it on nails. Sage and leafy greens will also be popular. Gerstein knows what’s trending, but she’s not following them strictly. “I’ll do what you want to express — that’s what art is,” she says. Right now, it’s about customization and combining multiple techniques on one nail. “We’re doing chrome, cats-eye, aura, ink, etc., on one nail,” she says.

“Nail art isn’t going away, and how you wear it comes down to your personal style,” she says. “Someone like Lady Gaga might wear nail art on all 10 ten nails, while someone who works in, say, the medical field may not want to go that route.” You can do nail art on just one accent nail. “Even a little dot can be considered nail art.”

French Mani Redux

In our last interview, Gerstein referred to the square-shaped French manicure as the “stigma of Long Island,” but she points out that the classic look done in pink and white on a square nail is now hot again all over the country with the mob wife aesthetic. “Again, you wear what you’re comfortable with and what reflects your personal style, even if that’s been the French all along,” says Gerstein. “Art should be an expression of you, not an expression of the trends,” she says. “As someone who has been forecasting trends for years now, you want a versatile manicurist who can bring out the best shape and trend for you. There’s not one look that works on everyone.”

The VIP Experience

So, can anyone become Gerstein’s VIP client? “First off, anyone sitting in my chair is a VIP. But it’s not a walk-in facility. You have to plan ahead,” she says. “It may take several months to get an appointment. People can contact me through my Instagram or Facebook page. If available, we’ll take a deposit and go from there.”

Follow Gerstein at @enamelle on Instagram to keep up with her latest work and endless nail inspo.