tips & trends
behind the brush: rita remark
Meet the celebrity manicurist and essie Global Lead Educator.
Nails are the ultimate canvas for Rita Remark, a celebrity manicurist and essie Global Lead Educator. Her art school background serves a solid foundation for her current creations, which can be found on the world’s biggest stars (including Serena Williams, Meghan Markle, Kendall Jenner, Cindy Crawford, and Kaia Gerber), the most prestigious runways (like Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Brandon Maxwell, Christian Siriano, and Erdem), and the glossy pages of fashion magazines (Vogue Korea, Grazia USA, CR Fashion Book, Elle India, and Cosmopolitan Germany to name a few). She recently transferred her talents from Toronto to New York City and the Canadian hasn’t stopped turning heads with her gorge and graphic work since touchdown. Here, she shares her no-fail red, the nail care product everyone needs, and how many bottles of polish currently reside in her NYC apartment.
Her must-have essie shade: “I feel like I have a new favorite every month, but if I had to choose, it would be Geranium. This shade of orange-y red is so bright, it's almost neon! I'll wear it for any occasion, anytime of the year, and anytime I want a bold pop of color.”
Her artistic approach: “I love playing with all types of styles, but the nail art that sparks the most joy for me is minimalist. Subtle pattern play, negative space, small details—these are designs that make my heart skip a beat!”
Her biggest source of inspo: “When I'm in a creative funk, I look to fine art for inspiration. It takes me back to my art school days. I remind myself that nail polish is just paint and refer to my favorite works of art or artists to get me back on track.”
Her secret stash: “I own over 800 bottles of essie nail polish. It’s a living!” Her favorite project to date: “A week-long beauty fashion, hair, and nail event in Moscow, Russia. It’s great when my passion for travel and my love of nails meet.”
Her favorite project to date: “A week-long beauty fashion, hair, and nail event in Moscow, Russia. It’s great when my passion for travel and my love of nails meet.”
Her tried-and-true advice: “The question I get asked most is how I take care of unruly cuticles. To no one’s surprise the answer is cuticle oil. It’s the ultimate unsung miracle product.”
