From a roster of A-list celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Richie and even Kim Kardashian, plus being the go-to manicurist for Jennifer Lopez, celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik has a lot to brag about. We chatted with him about his background in the industry, finding inspiration and what it takes to work the red carpet like a pro.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I like to look through magazines as much as everyone else and I also have a bit of my street edge, so I love car magazines and sports stuff and it’s kind of a combination of what’s happening for fashion. I love shoes. I think shoes are a great indicator of patterns and colours, because they are an accessory and nails are also an accessory. The nails are kind of like the exclamation point at the end of the sentence. 

Trend predictions?

What I found with right now on the red carpet and nail art in general is everything is becoming more simplistic. We were kind of on that 80s excess and that 70s disco, and now things are more minimalistic 90s. Bold stripes and patterns, graphic design. I think what we’re going to see now is a lot of punky plaid and bold patterns in that direction as we move from summer into fall/winter. 

Biggest lesson you’ve learned?

[When you’re handling high-profile clients], the think the hardest thing is that you need to be willing to serve. Not as a servant, but as a service-provider. You have to understand that you’re going to work.

Secret beauty weapons?

I think the biggest thing is to educate my clients on keeping their nails very well hydrated. A lot of them won’t carry around cuticle oil, so I tell them to use their facial oils since they usually have a higher level of quality, they have multiple essential oils, smaller molecular weight so it penetrates better and is non-greasy so it’s better for their hands. When they use their facial oil at night before bed, to also rub them into their nails. Also, they don’t realize that their hands are in the sun as much as their face. Using sunscreen is really important.

Who influences you?

I’m influenced by not just nail artists, but makeup artists, hairstylists, stylists—I like to watch their technique and see the process.

Personal mantra?

My parents always taught me to do my best—not to necessarily be the best but to always do my best. When you worry about yourself and making yourself better, you end up becoming one of the best.