Our bodies can serve as a canvas for art, and our nails are no exception. But finding the right nail technician to bring your artistic vision to life can sometimes feel like a daunting task.

Luckily, the Denver area is teeming with talented nail artists creating eye-catching designs just like the ones filling your Instagram feed. So whether you like your diamond-clad claws long or are seeking someone who can still deck out your “shorties” (nail speak for short nails, and there’s no shame), look no further than these local gurus.

Acronychous

  • Address: 1704 E. 25th Ave., Denver (Whittier)
  • Services: Structured gel polish, hard gel, Gel X, Kokoist Gelip, waterless pedicures
  • Booking: Book with individual techs on the Acronychous website

Rachael Bowen and her team’s distinct witchy and whimsical style makes this Whittier salon one of the most coveted spots in the city to get your claws done. Try a detailed design (complete with highlights and shadows to make your nails pop) or a fruity 3D set fit for summer. The talented techs take an all-natural approach, meaning you won’t find acrylic or monomer liquids here. Rather, they craft with soft gel extensions or hard gel overlays that are gentler on your natural nails. So, whether you’re getting a sleek set of shorties or coming for those recognizable, rounded stilettos, your natural talons can grow longer and stronger over time.

Art Official Nails

Cartoon nails
Photo by Ashleigh Owens
  • Address: 2250 S. Oneida St., Suite 300, Denver (Goldsmith); 2920 E. Colfax Ave., Denver (Congress Park)
  • Services: Gel X sets, press-on nails, one-on-one nail classes
  • Booking: Find services on Owens’ Square site, but message her on Instagram for a free consultation first.

After her dreamy, custom press-on sets took off on Instagram in 2019 (which later came to the rescue of countless Colorado nail addicts when the pandemic forced salons to shutter), Ashleigh Owens’ sharp eye for detail has since helped her carve out a space as a go-to for intricate, lifelike designs—some of which can take her up to nine hours to create. She’s keen on painting colorful, playful designs (like the cartoon set above that looks straight out of a comic book), but Owens has also perfected simpler, otherwise underrated techniques like stamping, pink and white, and one color Gel X sets. Catch her and 11 other talented artists at Art Official Nails, the salon Owens owns with a location in Goldsmith and another in Congress Park.

The Beauty Collective

Long purple nails with gems
Photo by Rachael Waggoner

Essentially the matriarch of the Mile High City’s modern-day nail scene, Beauty Collective founder and owner Rachael Waggoner has been teaching and mentoring nail pros around the state for more than a decade. So you can trust that each of the 10 other techs at her Lakewood headquarters—a purple, galaxy-patterned cottage, of course—have learned from the best. If you’re into classic, sculpted acrylic nails (the longer the better!) and are lucky enough to snag a spot on Waggoner’s books, she’s known for intricate cartoon drawings and textured 3D nails.

If that’s not your thing, each staffer specializes in their own materials and styles of art, so bouncing between any of the Collective’s different technicians to achieve your dream design isn’t shunned—in fact, Waggoner encourages it. Plus, Waggoner just expanded her business right next door by opening the Beauty Collective Annex, where you can find (and struggle to decide between) six more nail technicians.

Mainstream Nails

  • Address: 1705 E. 31st Ave., Denver (Whittier)
  • Services: Basic manicures and pedicures, acrylic, gel, powder
  • Booking: Book on the Mainstream Nails website or text 303-386-3037

This Whittier outpost offers everything from simple polish manicures to extreme-length 3D nails (we’re fans of this detailed Taco Bell set.) Unsure which of the eight talented nail techs to tap for your handpainted masterpiece? Just text the salon’s office phone ahead of time (303-386-3037) with the design you have in mind, and they’ll help pair you with the best-suited tech. All you have to worry about is sitting back, sipping a peach mimosa ($7) from the in-house wine bar, and relishing the shop talk while you’re treated to a detailed holiday set from resident expert Nessa or camp-y, Swarovski crystal-covered acrylics from owner Melly Nguyen.

The Nest Nail Spa

  • Address: 180 South Union Blvd., Suite 106, Lakewood; 4950 South Newport St., Denver (DTC)
  • Services: CND polish, shellac, French tips, callus treatments, pedicures, kids’ services
  • Booking: Book on the Nest’s website or call 720-524-4046

If you dread getting your nails done because of the headache prompted by the fumes, the Nest Nail Spa provides a breath of fresh air. All of the products used here are eco-conscious and acrylic-free, meaning you’ll find that luxurious salon experience while still leaving with healthy hands. Booking is made simple: Pick from one of two services (the simple express mani or pedi dubbed the Hummingbird, or the luxurious Cardinal featuring an essential oil soak and a sugar scrub), add extras like a CBD massage or nail art, and grab a glass of wine while you’re there. With over 20 artists at both locations creating designs like hotdog nails or classy blue floral swirls, the Nest is the perfect spot for a relaxing day out.

Sets by Dreamgirl

Chunky long nails bejeweled with gems and Hello Kitty charms
Photo courtesy of Sets by Dreamgirl

If you’re craving new talons but Pinterest is uninspiring, just take a look at Celeste Manrique’s Instagram page. Under the name Sets by Dreamgirl, Manrique operates as an independent nail artist out of a studio space in Virginia Village. There, she paints detailed designs like characters from anime series One Piece and creates bedazzled claws with mixed jewels, but she’s just as comfortable with short, office-friendly sets and long head-turners. If you know you’ll need a refill but don’t want to fight for a spot in Manrique’s books, opt in for a subscription, which is worth it for those who get a new set each month.

Sinners

Detailed pink nails with character faces
Nails by @ghostcherrynails on Instagram, photo courtesy of Sinners
  • Address: 5056 Federal Blvd., Denver (Chaffee Park); 1872 S. Broadway, Denver (Platt Park)
  • Services: Gel, Gel X, dip powder, French tips, pedicures
  • Booking: Book online on the Sinners Square site

Founded by hairstylist Anne Garcia and nail artist Sonja Barker last year, Sinners is a salon that prides itself on being an inclusive, welcoming space. With accessibility information posted online, pastel rainbow walls, and doggy treats and water bowls for Fido (four-legged friends are always welcome), Sinners feels more like a hangout with friends than a trip to the salon. Find Pride-inspired checkered nails by Joelle at the Chaffee Park location, 3D gemstone claws by Katia at the Platt Park location, or colorful fruity tips by co-owner Barker. Whoever you book with, we recommend following Sinners’ Instagram page to stay in the loop about occasional specials and model calls.

Yeehaw Claws

Abstract blue nails
Photo by Marj McGee
  • Address: 711 W. 8th Ave., Denver (Lincoln Park)
  • Services: Structured gel, hard gel, regular gel manicure, gel extensions
  • Booking: Book (or join the waitlist when books are closed) on the Yeehaw Claws website

Marj McGee founded Yeehaw Claws in 2023 after hearing from friends that nail appointments at other salons were a stressful experience: The fumes were too strong, the service was rushed, and LGBTQ+ clients were often misgendered by their nail techs. At Yeehaw Claws, McGee aims to provide services that are welcoming to all, including the “gays, theys, and babes,” she says. Inside Lincoln Park’s Bee Sweet hair salon, McGee creates colorful, abstract designs inspired by contemporary art. Click through McGee’s “Wanna make” highlight on her Instagram page to get inspo from murals and ceramics—but make sure you follow her while you’re there to be notified when her books open.