First Look Fridays: Manicurist Michina Koide

Harper's Bazaar. Numero. Vogue. Prada. Dolce & Gabbana. Gisele Bundchen. I'm assuming all of these ring a bell! Well, they happen to have one thing in common -- manicurist Michina Koide. This fascinating gal has worked tirelessly in the business for years. Discover tons of interesting facts and learn about her favorite products after the jump!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in Nagoya City, Japan. In 1998, I moved to Tokyo, where I enrolled at the prestigious Mihori Kinoshita makeup and nail school to further develop my passion for Nail Art. After graduating, I worked on various magazine and test shoots in Tokyo. In 2001, I decided to take the next step in my career and move to New York City.

In New York, I continued to work on various magazine and TV commercial shoots which really helped me establish myself. I still live in New York today with my husband and our pet cat! Currently, I am represented by the Art Department.

How did you first become interested in nails, and what led you to become a manicurist?
I love painting and drawing. Growing up, I was constantly involved in painting and drawing activities. When I was a high school student, that's when my interest in makeup, hair, nails and clothes really started taking shape. It came very natural to me as I would love painting nails, making them cute and gorgeous!

In Japan, the nail industry is a bit crazy. Nails are very important to women in Japan and we are always decorating them with more than just nail polish. It's very common to use glitter, or other 3D elements and create an artistic design. I started to love working on nails during this time. Every time I had made a great design on my nails, it would make me very happy!

What are some of the moments that have stood out as highlights in your career?
1) Being able to work on the best runway shows during New York Fashion Week.

2) Meeting some amazing celebrities and pushing my creative abilities with some amazing photographers!

What are the polishes and brands you simply can't live without?
Anything by Chanel and Essie!! My favorite shades to use are Chanel Vamp and Essie Mademoiselle.

What are your top 3 nail tips?
1) Always use a good base coat. This will help the nail polish color last longer.

2) Using a topcoat will help the nail polish color really come alive, give it some "pop!"

3) Take care of your cuticles! Cuticle oil is essential for cleaning and maintaining your cuticle health! It will provide your cuticles with much needed moisture.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
Meeting all the creative and amazing talent that I get to work with day in and day out!

Being a manicurist must be fun -- but what do you do for fun when you're not painting nails?
I love shopping of course! Other than that, I really enjoy snowboarding and hanging out with my friends and family.