Nails by Shelly R.
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I'm Shelly, a nationally certified nail technician with a home-based nail salon in Forest Lake, Brisbane.
🏆 ABIA 2026 Sole Operator of the Year Finalist
🌸 Private 1:1 nail studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
✨ BIAB, Gel X, E-file manicures & bespoke nail art
🧼 Sterilised tools (Class B autoclave)
💖 Low-sensory, inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC clients If you've never had your nails done with gel before, you'll be amazed and the natural results it can achieve. When you choose a to go to my private salo
04/09/2026
Whats the difference between a private nail tech and a nail shop?
This client came to me after years of going to nail shops. Her nails were crumbling, there was barely any sidewall left and they had very little natural support.
So instead of constantly covering up the problem, we changed the approach.
We focused on her natural nail health first.
Over time, her nails have grown out stronger, healthier and with proper structure. We’re not trying to make her nails look good for a week or two — we’re building a routine that actually works for her nails.
And this is one of my favourite parts of being her nail tech:
Even now, when she occasionally comes in with a broken nail after a particularly rowdy night out 😂, she knows she’s in safe hands.
I can assess the break, work out what the nail needs and use professional techniques to repair and support it without throwing her straight back into the cycle that caused the damage in the first place.
That’s the difference between just getting your nails done and having a nail tech who actually knows your nails.
If you’re tired of hiding damaged, weak or constantly breaking nails and you’re ready to invest in getting them back on track, this is exactly the kind of work I love doing.
🌸 Private 1:1 appointments only
✨ BIAB, Gel X & E-File Manicure specialist
❣️ Bespoke Home Studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅🏻 4x Certified Nail Technician
🐰 Cruelty-free Japanese & Korean gels
🧼 Sterilised Tools (Class B Autoclave)
🌈 LGBTQIA2+, BIPOC & Neurodivergent ally
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Well… that’s a wrap on award season. 🥹
And honestly, what a bloody year.
When I started Nails by Shelly R. in 2021, I definitely didn’t have “be nominated for two major industry awards in the same year” on my bingo card.
This year I was nominated for Beauty Services in the Local Business Awards, and then found out I’d also been named a finalist for Sole Operator of the Year at the ABIA Awards.
Two completely different awards, both incredibly special in their own way.
The Local Business Awards one probably hits a little differently because it’s about being recognised by the community around you. I’ve built this little home-based nail studio in Forest Lake from the ground up, so having my business recognised as a local Brisbane beauty business means a lot.
And then there was ABIA.
Being in a room surrounded by so many ridiculously talented people from the Australian beauty industry was pretty surreal. I didn’t win, but I walked away feeling incredibly proud of how far I’ve come.
Because this business started with me taking a chance on myself in 2021.
Now I’m looking back at a year where my work has been recognised by two of the beauty and business awards I’ve admired from the sidelines.
That’s pretty cool.
More than anything though, I’m grateful for the people who got me here.
The clients who have trusted me with their nails, some of you since the very beginning.
The ones who tell their friends about me.
The ones who leave reviews, share my posts, tag me, recommend me and cheer me on.
You might not realise it, but all of those little things matter A LOT when you’re a small business.
So thank you. 🥹
Thank you to the Local Business Awards and ABIA for recognising what I’m building here at Nails by Shelly R.
And thank you to everyone who has helped make this little Forest Lake nail studio what it is.
2021 Shelly would be absolutely losing her mind right now. 😂🤍
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30/08/2026
Same vibe, different nails. 💅
I’ve had a few clients bring me very similar inspo lately, and I love seeing how different each set turns out.
Because I’m not here to slap the same design on everyone and call it a day.
Different nail lengths need different things. Different shapes need different placement. And sometimes you want your version of the inspo, not that same set you saw on Pinterest.
So I’ll take the bits you love, experiment with the colours, placement and details, and adapt it to suit the nails you actually have.
Short nails? Yep.
A bit more length? Yep.
Want all the cute little details squeezed onto tiny nails? Challenge accepted. 😂
The result is three sets that started with a similar idea, but none of them looks like copies of each other.
That’s my favourite kind of nail art.
If you’re in Forest Lake or around Brisbane and you’ve got an inspo pic you love but aren’t sure how it’ll work on your nails, bring it with you. We’ll figure it out together. 🫶
🌸 Private 1:1 appointments only
✨ BIAB, Gel X & E-File Manicure specialist
❣️ Bespoke Home Studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅🏻 4x Certified Nail Technician
🐰 Cruelty-free Japanese & Korean gels
🧼 Sterilised Tools (Class B Autoclave)
🌈 LGBTQIA2+, BIPOC & Neurodivergent ally
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28/08/2026
Not every damaged nail needs an extension. Sometimes, it needs a completely different approach. 🤔
Back in March, my client came home from an adventure in the Amazon with her nails in a very different condition to when she left.
After prolonged exposure to the water, her nails had become thin, brittle and much more fragile than usual.
So rather than simply putting extensions over the top or applying gel and hoping for the best, I assessed what her natural nails actually needed.
We went with hard gel armouring to give her natural nails the extra strength and protection they needed while they grew out and recovered.
A few months later, the difference is pretty incredible.
Her nails are stronger than they were before her trip, the shape stays beautifully intact between appointments and the hard gel has held up through life as an international flight attendant — and someone who clearly doesn't believe in sitting still for too long. 😂✈️
This is exactly why I don't believe in taking a one-size-fits-all approach to nails.
Your lifestyle, natural nail condition, nail length and what your hands actually go through all matter when deciding what service and product will work best for you.
Now her nails are ready for whatever adventure comes next.
If you're in Brisbane and your nails are thin, brittle, damaged or simply not lasting the way you'd like them to, this is the kind of problem I love solving.
📍 Private nail studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅 Natural nail care • Hard gel armouring • Structured manicures • Detailed nail art
Bookings are available via the link in my bio.
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25/08/2026
September books are open 🗓🪩✨️
I love that not everyone who sits at my table is here for the same reason.
Some of my clients come every 3–4 weeks and wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else now.
Others pop in when they have a wedding, birthday, holiday or just feel like having really fun nails for a while.
This set was one of those appointments. A chance to play with colour, stars, chrome, gems and a few different finishes and make something that felt a bit extra.
You don’t have to commit to regular appointments to book with me. And you also don’t have to wait for a special occasion.
If you’ve been looking for a nail tech in Forest Lake or Brisbane, whether you want a one-off set or somewhere you can become a regular, I’d love to have you in the studio.
September appointments are now available.
Book online when you’re ready 💗
🌸 Private 1:1 appointments only
✨ BIAB, Gel X & E-File Manicure specialist
❣️ Bespoke Home Studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅🏻 4x Certified Nail Technician
🐰 Cruelty-free Japanese & Korean gels
🧼 Sterilised Tools (Class B Autoclave)
🌈 LGBTQIA2+, BIPOC & Neurodivergent ally
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If you’re getting your nails done in Australia, there’s a part of the appointment you probably never see. 👀
The tools used during your manicure don’t just disappear after you leave — there’s a whole cleaning and reprocessing process that happens behind the scenes.
And here’s the important part: nail industry regulations aren’t identical everywhere. What’s required of a nail technician can depend on where you’re operating, including the specific requirements that apply in New South Wales.
If you’re a nail tech, salon owner or client, understanding your local requirements matters — especially when services involve tools that can potentially break the skin.
✨ Clean tools
✨ Correct reprocessing
✨ Proper infection-control practices
✨ Knowing your state/territory requirements
These aren’t the glamorous parts of a nail appointment, but they’re some of the most important.
If you’re a nail technician in Australia, what does instrument cleaning and sterilisation look like where you are? 👇
Save this for later, share it with a nail tech or salon owner, and let me know what state you’re in.
23/08/2026
This one started with as the reference, but I didn’t want to recreate the set exactly. 🤔
We used the overall feel as a starting point, then I pulled from the charms, textures and nail art I already had in the studio and changed the details to make it our own.
I actually prefer working this way. Give me a reference, tell me what you like about it, and I’ll work out how to translate that into something that suits your nails, your style and what I have available.
Chrome, 3D details, charms, hand-painted art and a little bit of chaos. Oh, and a bit of dual form magic ✨️
Definitely not a direct copy, and that was the point.
Custom nail art in Forest Lake, Brisbane. 💖
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22/08/2026
So, I heard whimsy maxxing is trending and I have to admit, I laughed at myself a little because this isn't just a trend, is a lifestyle!
Maximalist, quirky and fun nail designs? We've been doing it for years!
Bedazzling every aspect of our lives? Old news!
If this is your vibe, save for your next nail appointment inspo or book through the link in the Bio 🔗
Stay fab, babes! 💖🪩✨️
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There’s something pretty special about being in a room full of people who are just as passionate about their craft as you are. 🤍
ABIA 2026 was such a good reminder of why I love this industry. Being surrounded by so many talented beauty professionals, all working hard to grow, create, learn and be better at what we do, was genuinely inspiring.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping to take home Sole Operator of the Year. Of course I was! 😂 But while we didn’t win, being a finalist and celebrating alongside so many incredible people was an experience I’ll be grateful for.
What stood out to me most was how genuinely happy everyone was to celebrate each other’s wins. No competition, no comparison — just a room full of people cheering each other on and celebrating the work that goes into building something we’re proud of.
I’m walking away from ABIA feeling incredibly proud of how far Nails by Shelly R. has come, and even more motivated for what’s next.
Thank you to everyone who supported me, encouraged me and celebrated this nomination with me. It means more than you know. 🥂✨
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Address
Forest Lake, QLD
4078
Opening Hours
| Tuesday | 9am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 8pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 8pm |
| Friday | 9am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 3pm |