Olivia Dean’s Manicurist Shares How She Got The Singer Ready For The Stage

Gemma Lloyd is based in Grey Lynn but she’s become the go-to manicurist for visiting international stars, from Rita Ora to Olivia Dean. She tells Viva more about her work. Still riding the high from Olivia Dean’s Saturday night concert? We are here at Viva and we’ve made it our The British soul singer stepped out in a custom ensemble from Australian brand St. Agni Studio, which founder Lara Fells designed in collaboration with Dean’s stylist, Simone Beyene. The deep crimson gown featured feather-like embellishments and a soft square neckline. The look was paired with Dean’s signature glam (bold blush a must), long and loose natural curls and a manicure created by Auckland-based nail artist Gemma Lloyd of Studio Ten.A regular fixture backstage at Laneway doing artists’ nails, Lloyd first worked with Dean when she performed at the festival in 2025. “One of the organisers from Laneway passed my details to Olivia’s team and the rest is now history,” she says. Dean is not the only celebrity Lloyd has worked with. She’s become the go-to nail artist for international celebrities filming in New Zealand, including Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams, who star in director Taika Waititi’s 2026 film Klara and the Sun, which is in cinemas from Thursday. Singer Rita Ora (who is married to Waititi) is one of Lloyd’s regulars, and the nail artist worked with the cast of Disney musical franchise Zombies for Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires (2025) and for upcoming film Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea (2027). Florence Pugh travelled to New Zealand to film new Netflix series East of Eden and meeting her was one of Lloyd’s career highlights. “The most memorable moment was when Florence Pugh made me a cup of tea because she was excited that I was also from the UK and loved tea. She made me a cup of Yorkshire Gold. It was probably the best cup of tea I’ve ever had,” Lloyd says. Working with Dean before her Western Springs Bowl show on Saturday night, Lloyd came prepared with a fully stocked kit to ensure she had plenty of options to share with the singer. There was no time for a briefing before Dean’s nail appointment, but she pulled up an inspiration photo from Pinterest to share with Lloyd before the pair discussed shades that would best suit the singer. The result? A short, square nail with a thin French tip – her first time trying this style. Photo / @studioten.nails “Olivia said that it was her first time trying square nails, which made me a little worried in case she didn’t like it! Luckily she loved the shape,” Lloyd says. “She wanted a classic chic look and what we achieved definitely delivered on that. Short square is very ‘in’ at the moment and French tips will forever be a classic.”For nail polish shades, the pair selected a nude Builder Gel base colour. “It complemented her skin tone perfectly,” Lloyd says. “She also wanted to add a little subtle sparkle so we added some gems, which looked unreal on stage and the big screen.”Dean’s short, squared manicure was the opposite of the style chosen by her opening act, Kaait, who selected XXL acrylic nails that made a bold statement on stage. Lloyd says nail designs are the perfect way to communicate individual style. “That’s the best thing about nails – you can be as creative as you like and express your personality through your nail colour or design,” she says. “There will always be trending shapes and designs but luckily there are so many different styles to choose from.”Looking to 2027, Lloyd says a handful of designs, shades and styles will be popular across the board – with manicures running the gamut between understated, natural-looking nails and more creative, expressive nail art. “The clean, healthy nail look is definitely here to stay, but I think we’ll see people experimenting more with textures, like cat-eye and pearlescent finishes, as well as interesting colour combinations and more artistic designs,” she says. “For me, it’s about taking inspiration from trends but making them your own.”Photo / @studioten.nailsLloyd will be backstage again for next year’s Laneway festival at Western Springs Bowl on February 21. She has her fingers crossed she’ll get Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams in her salon chair. “I have been a fan of Paramore since I was a teenager,” she says. Lloyd says she feels grateful for the experiences and opportunities she’s had since starting Studio Ten in 2022, and is excited to work with celebrities in the future. It’s rare to get an appointment with a celebrity beauty expert, but Lloyd’s books are open to the public and she welcomes anyone keen to visit her private studio inside Kenkō Studios in Auckland’s Eden Terrace.Visit Studio Ten, inside Kenkō Studios, 40 St Benedicts Street, Eden Terrace. Bookings at the Instagram link in bio: @studioten.nails.More beautyAre you getting the most out of your sunscreen? What’s worth buying from Merit now that it’s available from Sephora? What’s next in skincare and appearance medicine? Beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti speaks to the experts for their hot takes.