We gave you a little taste of New-York-based nail artist, Maki Sakamotao, a while back, and now we go more in depth with her background and an in depth look at work from her portfolio. The title nail artist is appropriate for her because she has the gift of talent combined with creativity that lifts her above her peers. She can put down a complex design as well as anyone, but her signature is more in her details and where and how she places a stud or stone so that her work has artistic symmetry and depth that draws one in. Click to the next page to read more about Maki and see more of her work. Also, please be kind to Maki and credit her should you reuse these photos.

Valley Nails and especially nail artist Maki can easily become addictive. That’s just not me talking, I hear it all the time chatting with clients sitting in adjacent seats. While Maki was hooking me up with the two-tone manicure featured above (first spotted on Maki a couple weeks back, her “ex-nails” as she describes them), the woman next to me was talking about how she was hooked on gels. It’s like co-owner Nina Werman was saying, you can be out casually in a pair of sweats, but  flash your nails and you’re game is still completely on. Bottom line, there a lot of fun to look at. One more look at the mani after the flip.

I know it’s still freezing out there and you haven’t laid eyes on your toes in about three months (and you’re still riding with that same pedicure you got about that long ago, aren’t you??), but it’s about to be April, a time when a togther women’s thoughts turn to getting a spiffed up mani and pedi.

If you, like me, have been frustrated by finding a salon that does imaginative nail art that’s in sync with how your brain sees the world, then I suggest you check out Valley Nails on Orchard Street in Manhattan. Look at these samples from the store’s website and see if you don’t think they’d do you proper:

Valley also offers waxing and the site also talks about this food the stores sells called acai, which looks gross but is supposed to be really good for you and sounds like it could taste okay