What Are Omakase Nails? I Tried the Manicure Trend That Turns Your Inspiration Into a Custom Set

As a beauty journalist, I’m inundated by nail trends all day, every day. I’ve seen a milky manicure repurposed more ways than I can count, each time named after an edible variation—coconut jelly, vanilla latte, the list goes on. And while trending neutrals are chic and universal, it’s rare that I find manicure inspiration that actually, well, inspires me. That was until I came across omakase nails, a custom-made-to-order manicure with creativity at the helm.In the age of mass trend monotony and AI-generated content, manicures are a facet of the beauty world keeping art and individuality alive—and omakase nails let your interests and personality do the talking. “My goal is to make nail art an experience that allows you to enjoy a little piece of art as part of your everyday life,” says Moe Kim, a Brooklyn-based nail artist who specializes in these one-of-a-kind manicures.@chummy.nailsOmakase nails, named after the dining experience that translates to “I’ll leave it up to you” or “chef’s choice” in Japanese, use objects, patterns, and colors to inspire the design of a manicure. Of course, you don’t have to leave the fate of your fingers solely in your nail artist’s hands.“Some clients prepare mood boards, some just describe the colors they’re drawn to at that moment, and others simply come in and say, ‘do whatever you want,’” explains Oksana Zavora, aka @chummy.nails, a Milan-based nail artist. “I personally love something in between—I like having a starting point, but then having enough freedom to interpret it and express it in my own way.”@moenail_nyOmakase nails can be based on quite literally anything. “I find inspiration in fashion and travel, to nature and everyday life,” says Kim. “I love taking the things I see and experience firsthand and translating those feelings into my designs.” Zavora pulls ideas from “fashion, textiles, interiors, beauty, nature, vintage pieces, movie scenes, color combinations, really everything.”To understand the entire omakase experience, I visited MoeNail in Brooklyn to create my very own custom manicure. I brought a heap of nature photos and animal prints that I found on Pinterest, and worked with Kim to create a hand good enough to frame in a museum (my final result pictured below).Jasmine Hyman for Cosmopolitan“Inspired by each client’s personal style, mood, and reference images, I blend their vision with my own artistic style to create something truly personal,” Kim explains.@chummy.nailsThe beauty of the omakase manicure lies in its uniform miscellany: “I perceive nails as little canvases that should work together in the end, almost like a puzzle,” explains Zavora. “I like adding unexpected accents, colors, or shapes, but ultimately everything feels like it belongs to the same story.”So while the technique incorporates a medley of designs, finishes, and colors, they still all feel somewhat related. “I think color combinations are really important,” Kim adds. “Sometimes it’s just about finding the right contrast.”@moenail_nyDepending on the complexity of the design, omakase nails (including any removal, clipping, filing, buffing, etc.) can require anywhere from one hour to two and a half hours. According to Zavora, “Sometimes it can take longer if the set is particularly detailed or involves several techniques and layers.” My appointment, which included gel removal and moderate designs on all 10 fingers, lasted an hour and 45 minutes.So, next time you’re having trend fatigue and want to deviate from whichever minimalist polish is going viral that week, take a look around you. Your next manicure might just be the shoes you’re wearing, the shirt you recently bought, or the flowers in your garden. The omakase options are truly endless (and are the perfect way to match your favorite accessories at all times).More omakase nail inspiration: @chummy.nails@chummy.nails@overglowededit@moenail_ny@chummy.nailsMeet the ExpertsMoe Kim (@moenail_ny) is a Brooklyn-based manicurist who specializes in Japanese nail art.Oksana Zavora (@chummy.nails) is a Milan-based creative nail artist from Kyiv.Why Trust Cosmopolitan?Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails—from the latest manicure trends to new polish launches. For this story, she spoke with manicurists Moe Kim and Oksana Zavora who specialize in custom nail art, and even got her own omakase manicure.Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.