Rita Remark

What country are you from, and where do you reside?

I’m Canadian, but I moved to New York six years ago. I live in the East Village, Manhattan.

Title of what you do and/or what company.

I’m a freelance manicurist/nail artist/nail technician/polish enthusiast and I’m currently the essie Global Ambassador.

Education background (school, salons, self-taught)?

I earned my Esthetician certification at George Brown College in Toronto. I later went on to teach at the school which was such an honour. My experience there really formed my career path and it was my joy to hopefully inspire that for others.

What is your signature style/artistic expression of your work?

I like to consider myself equal parts nail technician and nail artist. I think providing a perfect, meticulous manicure is an art even before the polish is applied. I’m passionate about nail health and proper care and so I find manicuring so satisfying. Artistically, I always lean to graphic, minimalist – but impactful! – nail art designs. Crisp linework and bold, distinctive color pairings are my specialty. While gel continues to grow in popularity, my favorite medium is still lacquer. It dries quickly so you have to be speedy, but it’s close to acrylic paint so it’s fun to manipulate with sponges, acetone, different brush shapes and more. 

What is the most fulfilling job you’ve worked on or someone you have worked with?

For most of my career, I’ve poured my time and energy into working on set for campaigns. This is totally by design. I’m really passionate about the industry and I love being on set to help tell the story of a new product or brand. Creating collaboratively with the brand, hair, makeup and styling to find the right tone and expression for the shoot sparks so much joy for me. Nails are a small detail, but they’re also the finishing touch and I love it when I’ve hit the right note and the entire image/video/story falls into place. I’m so proud to work, not just with essie, but with so many other brands like MILK Makeup, Shea Moisture, Maybelline, MATRIX haircare and more to push their vision forward. 

Do you have a career turning point, big break, or person that has helped your career?

I mean, this is so easy for me. My work with essie changed my life. It opened every door that I’ve run through and gave me the platform to build a fulfilling freelance career. Over ten years ago I signed on to become the Lead Nail Artist for essie Canada in Toronto and since then I’ve gone on to work with the global team in New York and carry the title I have now of their Global Ambassador. It’s hard to find anything to top that. 

What was the scariest and proudest moment in your career?

Scariest? Probably my first NY fashion week. It’s an intensely high pressure, unrelenting, fast paced environment. I just jumped in, asked a ton of questions and learned as I went. It became such a formative experience. It taught me to just say yes, be willing to work hard and figure it out as you go.

Proudest? I don’t think I have a single proud moment. I’m proud of my work in general. To have carved out a space for myself as a freelance manicurist in an intensely competitive city like New York is a big source of pride for me. It’s consistently challenging, I’m always learning lessons and growing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

What is next for your career goals?

I’m really passionate about product innovation and nail care so it’d be my dream to one day work closely in development for a new line of products. To work with a team from inspiration to creation to sale would be an absolute thrill.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in your business?

Run through every open door; one big opportunity could lead to work you never dreamed possible. Find your niche; don’t try to be good at everything – be exceptional at a few. Be respectful of your peers; the industry is small and you never know who will give you your next big shot. Never stop learning. Be kind, always. No one wants to work with a grump.

Instagram: @ritaremark