We’re still thinking about Sha’Carri Richardson’s amazing nails even after the Olympic Games in Paris have ended. Her iconic statement, “I’m not back, I’m better,” written in white letters, was emblazoned on both of her thumbs, and her fancy coffin-shaped fingernails were dazzlingly adorned with huge Olympic-colored gemstones.
The brain behind them — 42-year-old Brooklyn-based artist Angie Aguirre. She told Complex, “I put words of affirmation on [Sha’Carri’s] nails. When you’re in the spotlight and you feel like you are carrying the world on your shoulders, you just need something or someone to remind you about who you are.”
She also mentioned that her work was inspired by Florence Griffith Joyner’s out-of-this-world sets, considering she is still the fastest woman in history and has proven to the world that women with long nails can achieve amazing things.
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Aguirre said that despite having “whipped those out in two hours,” as a gift to the top sprinter for emotional support, Richardson put the nails on herself.
She first collaborated with Richardson for the ESPYs, ESPN’s annual awards show, in 2021, and has been doing Richardson’s nails regularly since the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, including her recent Vogue cover and ads for Powerade and Sprite.
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The long acrylic sets are often decorated with crystals, rhinestones, gold studs, and pretty much every other kind of accessory that can be placed on a fingernail.
She boasted, “People like me for what I would call maximalist nails. I can look at anything and be inspired, [even] a couch.”
The nail artist recalled how, as a teenage girl, she discovered her affinity for creating nails. Her large family quickly had her doing nails for everyone when she picked up the skill from her aunts, who had arrived from Panama.
Her “maximalist” imagination was unlocked, and she began to experiment with various types of nail art. Even though she lacked a license at the time, she charged $20 for acrylic painting and other services while still in high school.
After a long and winding route, Aguirre decided to pursue her career as a celebrity nail artist. First, she had to put in a lot of overtime as a foster child case manager after graduating from college to make ends meet since she had bills to pay and a child to care for.
Then, she got the idea of setting up manicure stations at children’s events and offering face painting as a side activity to boost her cash flow. She made up her mind about wanting to do it full-time.
In light of this, Aguirre started attending nail school at night and working her case manager job throughout the day. After her education, the instructor directed her to a salon in Tribeca, where she gained practical experience.
She recounted, “I wanted to open up my own salon, but I had no money to do that. On my 30th birthday, I woke up and I felt worthless. I felt like I’m not living in my purpose. I just felt really bad. I woke up crying and sent my friend a message. She came from a finance background and knew money. We opened up a salon in 2011 in Brooklyn called Very Polished, and it was beautiful.”
She suffered a tragic loss in 2015 when her brother and aunt passed away, which led to depression and a break from the salon Very Polished. But after being offered a nail tech job at Neal Farinah’s salon (the one who does Beyonce’s hair), she resumed nail work after a six-month break.
She began doing nails again during her year of employment there before working for herself out of her boyfriend’s apartment and regaining her confidence.
“I have not had an empty schedule since,” she said.
She revealed that she met Richarson through an agent at her first salon and had her nails done for the 2021 ESPYs. She didn’t hear from the athlete again until she gained ground in Budapest when her team asked Aguirre to get her nails done for a drink campaign.
She said of Richardson, “She’s so dope. She’s an amazing person. Sha’Carri is what I would call a phoenix. When people think you’re done, you’re finished, there’s nothing else you could give, you rise and you shut everyone down. She is resilient. She’s kind. She’s direct. She says what she means and she stands on it. You don’t ever have to figure out what she’s thinking, and that makes things easier when you’re on set. She also cares about her team. She’s always concerned about, ‘Is everyone hungry? Did you guys eat? What are we doing next?’ She’s very involved. She also lets you be creative. She’ll give an input, but it’s never enough to block your creativity.”
Aguirre has also done the nails of popular musician Janelle Monae for the Met Gala in 2017, Angel Reese, and Ice Spice.
