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Rockin' Nails with Rox V
By Melina Bezirdjian
Image by @nail.lord
Richmond, Virgina-based nail pro Rox V is the personification of the 90s nail salon aesthetic. When you first meet her, it’s hard to determine what is most charming about this immensely charming, pretty woman. Is it her distinctly small voice? Could it be how she juxtaposes her tiny frame with oversized airbrushed tees, athletic pants and chunky plastic shoes? (She’s so stylish that somehow she’s magically able to pull off “scrubs but make it fashion.â€)
Maybe her charm lays in her close cropped platinum hair, tinged slightly green as evidence of her propensity to experiment. Her self-painted nails are certainly worth admiring, as are the iconic Soto gang tattoos on her hands. Also notable: her infectious laugh and sly sense of humor seen in posts where she turns hair clips, jingle-bells and other objects into nail art.
Whatever it is that makes her so charismatic, Rox has been “attracted to nail salons†since the summer she spent in Panama with her aunt at age 12. “I just love the environment... out here hustling, making people pretty!" she explains.
“I like to do my nail sessions like therapy; talk to me!,†Rox exclaimed during our rambling two hour interview where I turned the tables and did her nails while we both opened up about fashion, relationships and, of course, the life changing art of the manicure. She explains the surge of popular interest in nails: "it's always been there but now it's more. I think [because of] Instagram, nails as an accessory is definitely a thing now… they honestly are the best accessory!†I couldn’t agree more!
While she can create any look her clients request, her speciality is original work ranging from minimalist and edgy to ladylike and intricate. She stands out from many equally popular nail techs in that she doesn’t “like recreating other people's art [because] you're just getting a bootleg version [which is] not my original idea.†She’s especially talented at working on short, natural nails. ​
Many of her manicures, including the one she gave me when we first met, utilize the negative space of a “bare†nail accented with opulent yet somehow spartan ornamentation. In a similar paradox, she describes herself as “a minimalist but I have stuff everywhere… I love to stick stuff all over walls… [and] one of my goals in life is be an old lady w/ tons of tchotchkes.â€
Several of her signature manicures are explicitly flashy, using foils over opalescent polish or recreating stones like jade and marble. She’s also a big fan of “tortoiseshell [since it] looks good on everyone.†Other trends she’s pioneered in 2019 include sea glass inspired, jelly nails, lightning nail art, 9D cats-eye and, my personal favorite, mood ring ombre. Not surprisingly, she’s a fan of drawing from 90s trends like smiley faces and grunge.
Although Rox completed cosmetology school, her “mani moves†are largely self-taught. She’s always loved doing her own nails, a passion fostered not only by the salon visits in Panama, but also thanks to a cousin who worked as a Revlon representative who’d bring her various polishes and empty bottles to play with. "I think I ruined every house [I lived in as a teen] by spilling nail polish on the floor," she laughs.
A native of Hopewell, Rox got her professional start in the industry at Bombshell Salon after completing cosmetology school. Demonstrating how adaptable she is, right now she works in two completely different environments: Solar Nails, a typical walk-in salon and the medical-grade Foot and Hand Spa. On top of an already busy schedule, Rox also freelances as an independent nail artist.
She laughs at how many of her clients ask “are those your kids†when they first notice Sweety and Salty, the angel and devil babies tattooed on her left and right hand respectively. She describes the revered tattoo artist Soto Gang as “the sweetest person ever.â€
Rox has been expanding her career through nail pop-ups like the one where I first met her during the grand opening of The Broad. She’s also hosted a semi-regular pop-up at Short Pump mall and the local Swarovski store. In 2020, she intends to do a weeklong nail-artist-in-residency at Cute Nails Salon in Austin, Texas. Ultimately, she hopes to break into editorial work and find a way to provide manicures as part of a nonprofit effort. ​
While I was not able to give Rox the high quality, carefully executed manicure she gives her clients, I had so much fun layering on blue jelly polish over individually placed loose glitter (seen above). In addition to teaching me to paint with my pinky out to steady my hand, she also divulged a few of her favorite nail products. She swears by Seche Vite topcoat and is the person to first introduce me to Floss Gloss, whose "whole marketing and branding and shades" she loves. She’s also a fan of Color Club and Born Pretty.
Despite how much she uses gel for her clients thanks to its enhanced durability, she “still appreciate[s] regular lacquer b/c it's easier to work with and change.†She is, afterall, a fan of experimentation and change. If you’re in need of an energizing jolt to your personal style or a general mood boost in the new year, message Rox to schedule an appointment! Follow my nails account on Instagram to see more of my own manicures and inspirations. ​
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