Nat Maloney Nail Artist

Fun fact… when I told my ex-husband I wanted to leave retail and take nails from a part-time side job to my full-time career he kept telling me no.
I remember crying at a family lunch because I was so miserable and that was what it took for him to finally “allow” me to quit my retail job and go all in on nails.

But there were conditions. I had to promise it wouldn’t affect the family in any way. Dinner still had to be cooked, the house still had to be spotless. Looking back now I can hear how controlled I really was.

The funny part? I became fully booked and successful way faster than I expected. And instead of support I got regular comments about needing to “get a real job.” Not because we were struggling financially, not because the family was suffering — but because he had no respect for me or for this industry.

Now look at me:
• Multi-award winning
• Named one of the top 10 nail artists in Perth 5 years in a row
• Running a successful nail distribution business
• Educating other nail techs

So yeah… it IS a real job.
I’m not even sure why I’m sharing this. I was inspired by one of recent posts. Maybe because healing starts with finally telling the truth about what you lived through? **kthem

Red has definitely been the most popular colour in the salon right now and I’m LOVING IT! ⁣This is such a super cute chrome cherry set, great design when you want a little something arty but nothing too crazy. I got you! I can do crazy art, simple art and no art 🍒
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Not all clients have “Instagram perfect” hands — uneven length nail beds, crooked fingers, little flaws… but the art created on their nails matters more than baby smooth skin or perfectly straight hands.⁣ I miss seeing normal everyday hands on my feed. ⁣
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Social media has a way of making people hyper-fixate on imperfections they probably never even noticed before.⁣
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𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱:⁣
• hard gel system
• CN63
• .australia bride to be, ruby UB, black UB & ruby chrome
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Wouldn’t normally post a set if I could spot the slightest flaw in the shaping or French line… but honestly … f**k it.⁣
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I’m still proud of this set. Social media demands perfection but nails always look so much prettier in person than they ever do through a phone camera. Sometimes it’s just bad angles or lighting creating “flaws” that don’t even exist in real life.⁣ It took a whole 5 seconds to pic a photo out of about 40 which normally takes me half an hour. I’m just not overthinking it anymore …
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Moving forward, I’m celebrating more of my work whether it’s perfect or not. It’s still art and it’s still a set I loved creating. ⁣

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱:⁣australia clear builder gel, dreamcover tips & UB white
NU18
mermaid effect
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Sinking my teeth into this throwback 🧛‍♀️🍸 ⁣
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These competition stiletto nails were pure vampire fantasy. Dripping in blood, red crystals, black diamond texture and that unhinged length that screamed “I’ll drain your energy and look flawless doing it.”⁣
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Back when I had the time to go full feral on nail art for competitions and this was when I was a beginner … this was my creative obsession. Hours of bling placement and blood themed glam. I miss that version of me who had the patience (and the freedom) to create like this. My skills have improved so much over the last 8 years that I would love to see how far I could really push myself now.⁣
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Who else used to lose themselves in a creative outlet that life got too busy for? What’s one thing you wish you still had time to create?⁣
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