Sophy Robson: ?I think the glamorous nail?the ?60s or ?70s Helmut Newton look?is back in fashion?
SOPHY ROBSON didn?t set out to be London?s hottest manicurist, the woman fashion magazines and hot designers turn to when they want eye-popping nail art and unbelievably clean manicures and pedicures to grace their pages and the catwalk.

?I was really into music and a real tomboy when I was younger. I worked in a record shop called Blackmarket,? she said.

Robson may have been a hip-hop DJ, but even that early, nails were slowly becoming part of her world.

?The hip-hop look was about accessories... hair, shoes, bags, earrings, nails. There was a hip-hop magazine called The Source where I always looked at the nails. A lot of the artists I was into?SWV, Roxanne Shante, Lil Kim?had really long amazing nails. I became obsessed with doing a French manicure on myself as there weren?t many salons you could get your nails done then.?

It was the birth of her daughter in 1998 that altered her world.

?I changed professions as I wanted to do a job where you could work in the day and not at night! Nails seemed like the natural profession choice. Nail bars were starting to become much more popular in London and I had lots of offers to work as soon as I trained in college. I had an edge over a lot of other manicurists as I was hungry and ambitious and I was dedicated to what I was doing. I literally spent every spare moment of time I had working on nails.?

Not content with just working in a nail salon, Robson devoured magazines and began building her portfolio by doing glossies that needed manicurists for shoots.

Her hard work paid off. She was signed up by an agent and started being booked by magazines like Vogue Italia.

High-fashion favorite

Soon, Robson was a high-fashion favorite, doing not just magazine work but also fashion shows and big campaigns. She has become Tom Ford?s go-to girl for shoots, shows and campaigns.

She has also worked with the world?s biggest brands and designers?from Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood to Louis Vuitton and Chanel. She?s played manicurist to countless models and celebrities?Alexa Chung, Kiera Knightley, Gwen Stefani, Erykah Badu, Dita Von Teese and Kate Moss.

Her own nail boutique at Fortnum and Mason draws people for many reasons, one of them her legendary pedicures.

Our exclusive e-mail interview:

Have you always been into nail polish even as a child?

Not really, but I do remember painting my nails with Tippex (whiteout) in school.

You have a daughter. How old is she? Is she into nail polish and nail art, too?

My daughter just turned 12! She is really into nails now and is always asking me to do her and her friends? nails.

You?ve worked with celebrities and models. Any favorites?

Oh yes, loads! I love Daphne Guinness, Kylie, Dita Von Teese, Pamela Anderson, Laetitia Casta. I love Freja Beha, Alessandra Ambrosia and Natasha Poly, Daisy Lowe, Alice Dellal, Hannah Holman, Akexa Chung. I could go on all day!

Who are your favorite designers to work with?

I love Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, Tom Ford, Henry Holland, Gareth Pugh, Giles?the ones who appreciate the importance of good nails.

What?s the most difficult manicure you?ve done?

The first time I worked on the Louis Vuitton show in Paris, I and my team had to do 54 models? hands and feet with the mannequin look. Marc Jacobs is also a perfectionist like me. I was so nervous the night before, and it was quite hard explaining to the team exactly how to match the polish color to the models? skin color, as obviously they are all different shades. But we pulled it off.

You?ve done a lot of nail art. Do you have a favorite? Your masterpiece?

Ha ha! Well I?m English so I find it difficult to describe my work as a masterpiece. I love all the luxury logo nails I do and I love making my own patterns up such as the Marimeko Daisy and the animal print motif.

The rainbow tip also seemed to please people. I am also very proud of the ?new French manicure? I did for the last LV show.

Can you talk about the rainbow manicure you made famous?

It was just an idea I had, as I had always done different colored tips. There were so many rainbow-bright nail polishes that year, so I thought it?d be nice to make it look like a rainbow. I was making pictures for my website and that was one of the ideas in 2007. I had no idea it would become so popular!

What?s the most number of manicures/pedicures you?ve done in a day?

When I was working for Bliss Spa, I was doing seven pedicures a day and managing the nail department, so I am not shy of hard work.

Sometimes I do 12 different manicures in one day for campaigns and shows.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by my culture, my clothes, my shoes, art, objects or accessories I see in shoots. I have random ideas and have to wait for an appropriate time to execute them.

Some people have pointed out that I have taken ideas from street culture and made it couture. I think that?s a fair assessment.

What are some do?s and don?t?s in nail care, manicures and pedicures?

If you take a little bit longer by using a base and top coat, the polish will stay on longer and look so much better.

Any tips for women who have never tried nail art?

Try something simple like a contrast color tip. Leave yourself plenty of time.

What about women who can?t decide on their nail shape?

Use your own cuticle outline as guide and mirror it.

Any fearless nail trend forecasts?

Everyone is asking for ?60s or ?70s Helmut Newton nails. I think the glamorous nail is back in fashion. Hot colors will be military, earthy tones and ?60s retro colors.

What is your secret in keeping your nails healthy?

I put tons of Solar Oil and I wear a protein strengthener when I don?t have polish on to protect them.

Favorite nail polish remover?

Sally Hansen

Is there any shade of polish you use the most?

I have been wearing Nouvelle Vague by Chanel a lot this summer and using it in lots of pictures.

Tell us about the All For Eve Red Nail Polish you created. How can people buy it?

You can buy it online at www.allforeve.co.uk/products/brands/sophy-robson and at Harrods and John Lewis in the UK. All the profits from its sales go to charity, so it feels really to be good to be working with the brand.

Who is your favorite nail icon?

I think it has to be Sharon Stone in ?Casino,? and Lil? Kim.

How do you feel about being called Nail Queen?

Ummmmmm, I love it!