Beauty Notes Daily

In the heart of London’s achingly cool Dalston (home to designers like Christopher Kane and Gareth Pugh to name just two), flanked by newsagents and late night take-outs is Wah nails.

The brain child of Sharmadean Reid - whose other job is Sportswear Editor at Arena Homme Plus - Wah nails is a reference space for Wah magazine, her ultra-hip fashion and lifestyle e-zine. Inside you’ll find an Aladdin’s cave of everything cool – vintage clothes, magazines, art by London’s up-and-coming artists - and, of course, the Wah nail bar.

We sent ELLEuk.com’s beauty assistant, Amy Lawrenson, east side to chat to the owner and to test out what is currently London’s coolest manicure.

‘I love menswear, I was brought up on Arena Homme Plus, but at the end of the day I’m a girl!’ Sharmadean tells me, explaining why she is channelling some of her boundless creative energy into the Wah brand. ‘My love of nails comes from watching the spin-off series of Clueless,’ which inspired her to learn to paint nails and apply acrylics, especially as she was becoming increasingly frustrated with the nail bars already located in Dalston. ‘They are too ghetto and never did what I wanted’. Which is where the idea for Wah nails came from.

While you can just drop in for an appointment and choose from ready-prepared designs, I decided to take a more creative approach. Having logged on to Wah Magazine, I printed out my ‘Wah hands’ (pictured below, click here to download your own) and masterminded my own nail designs.

Nothing is too out there, clients ask for all manner of designs from ladybirds to the Chanel logo, but leopard print is the hands down favourite for Dalston regulars right now.

Under the instruction of my editor, I really put Wah to the test by taking along catwalk images from Balmain’s a/w09 show, and asked for ‘Balmainia’!  Just 20 minutes later my nails were silver and black, each one painted with a print from Balmain’s key dresses and tees. I felt unique, super directional and perfectly Dalston-worthy.

And here lies the beauty of Wah nails, can you imagine walking into Nails Inc in your nearest department store and asking for Balmania?

If you can’t get to Dalston anytime soon, Sharmadean’s top tips for trying nail art at home is to have a steady hand (read: no coffee beforehand and don’t attempt it on a hangover) and to seal the painted layers with a top coat of Seche Vite, £8.95 from nails-by-mail.co.uk.

But we suggest you make the trip and try the Wah experience for yourself – we’re hooked.

Nail art from £8, extensions from £30. 420 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AA, 020 7812 9889. Wah Nails is open from 12noon – 8pm Monday to Saturday.
Wah Nails also holds vintage swapping events; log on the Wah-Magazine.com for upcoming event details.

Film edited by Leanne Bayley.