I Scream Nails
Celia Cecchi puts the fun into getting your nails done with cute images of Vegemite pots, soft serves and googlyeyed kittens. By Emma Joyce
Watermelons, toothless pirates or adorable fairy bread sprinkles – you can now have any or all of these on your fingertips. I Scream Nails has an extensive nail art menu, and owner Celina Cecchi tells Time Out that since she opened her first salon in Melbourne the concept has really taken off. She now employs more than 25 nail artists across her two salons in Collingwood and Newtown. “The Melbourne clientele want to create their own designs,” says Cecchi, who ditched a corporate career to bring amusing hand-painted designs to our digits. “They bring in dresses and patterns that they want to match to their nails.”
Cecchi’s top tip for newbies is to browse the menu before visiting. As a specialist nail art salon, they do a quick buff and tidy up before painting popular designs such as unicorns and mermaids, but if you’re looking for a mani-pedi or Shellac, then you’re in the wrong place.
“We get crazy requests all the time,” says the 38 year old with laugh. “The X-rated ones are the funniest; the other day somebody wanted a penis with a little face. We don’t put those pictures on Instagram!”
A dry polish with up to five different designs costs $55, and it’ll take around an hour per appointment. Cecchi revamps the menu every six months or so, but the salons can work with custom designs and embellishments, too, such as a diamante encrusted feature nail. I Scream Nails also produces and uses its own nail polish, which is available to buy online and at the two salons for $14.95 a pot. The polish is vegan, non-toxic and made in Australia. “It took us a year to develop it, because we wanted something that we could stand behind.”
Aside from individual appointments, I Scream Nails offers private bookings for parties and often collaborates with major partners to run pop-up salons at locations such as Westfield and events including the Netball World Cup. “We’re getting really busy with private bookings,” says Cecchi. “We do one nail with nail art and the rest plain so people can keep drinking and have a good time. It works really well at Christmas parties, bat mitzvahs, baby showers… and it’s a great alternative for a hens’ party.”
I Scream Nails 11/130 Carillon Ave, Newtown 2042. 02 9516 0536. iscreamnails.com.au. Tue-Wed & Sun appointment only; Thu, Fri 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-5.30pm.
“We get crazy requests all the time”