First time I heard about kinkynails was a year or so when I’ve found the link in a very popular forum. I though it would be a hand modelling site and anxiously typed the link on my browser to port myself in and see what wasall about and why this thread about kinkynails already had 17 replies. So there I was, the page looked fab, fast loading with a good looking, very sweet model in the front page with insanely long nails. What made me quite an impression it wasn’t the length but the look in her eyes. She was wearing them very comfortably as if every woman should wear such long nails (and I’m not saying that she shouldn’t!).
The model in the picture was Sam, the actual owner of kinkynails and Nails4males and on top of that the person behind the idea. I’m always intrigued form people who try something different, something innovative and out of the box. One of these persons is Sam, a starter, daring innovative woman that brought something different in the Nail industry and most importantly it’s for males and females. Now that’s a recipe that can’t go wrong! Moving forward Ann made an exclusive article with Sam with some behind the scenes news and news of what’s coming next from Sam. So stay tuned readers, this is definitely going to be a sequel!
As an outsider looking at your business, it’s a brilliant idea and there was an obvious need, for nails for the male audience. Did you realize that when you started?
It was a transvestite who gave me the whole idea in the first place! I had been working as a nail technician for a few years and attended a friends graduation party in London. I met a TV who was admiring my nails but her thumbs were very wide and nothing was available at the time that could be adhered to the full nail. I had the idea of designing a wide fit nail, and whilst doing my reseach, I thought, why not make them really long too!
Sam, you started the kinkynails.co.uk few years back, which is a massive success already. I was also told that due to this success customers brought down the server once due to crazy traffic. What drove you start a second site, the Nails4males.co.uk ?
It was actually nails4males that came first! After receiving many enquiries, I realised that although most of my customers were men, lots of them were buying the nails for their girlfriends/ partners to wear.I moved more into the fetish market and understood that some people felt uncomfortable purchasing from a ‘transgender’ based site. It was then that kinkynails.com was born!
What are some of the challenges you faced in the beginning of Nails4males.co.uk?
The most difficult challenge was getting the nails made in the first place. It took at least 6 months to source and make the tooling. Because the nails are so long and thin, it was a huge job to find someone that could (or was prepared) do it! Also, as everyone has different sized nails, I had trouble judging sizes before designing and sending the nails. I used to send out a sizing guide with every enquiry but I realise now that it works a lot better if I just have a rough width measurement in mm, or send a mix of small, medium, large or extra large nails.
Are any differences between the products of Nails4males.co.uk and Kinkynails.co.uk?
No, not at all. They are all the same nails, manufactured in the UK from quality ABS plastic.They are made in a 10cm length and can be cut or blended, depending on what length you want.
You are probably the first company that started manufacturing extremely long nails for our male fans as well, was that big demand?
Yes, there was big demand and as far as I’m aware, nails4males was, and still is the only company that make nails as wide, and as long in one piece. Some people like to buy matching finger and toenails. My widest nail is 2cm across, so suitable for both. The most popular length is 10cm.
I believe the longest nails you have in your store are 500mm, half a meter nails!!! Can the glue support this length?
Surprisingly, yes! Although if your hands are very cold, the glue takes longer to set. I was on TV last year wearing 50cm nails. I didn’t have one breakage! I make nails up to 1 metre long, but I don’t advertise these at the moment as are very expensive. 10, 1 metre nails would consist of 100 x 10cm tips all carefully blended and painted. When they are that long, they look quite circular.
If I remember correct I saw you on a few magazines cover long ago, tell us the story behind that.
A journalist got in touch one day after seeing my website. I did an interview with her which was published in the Mirror Magazine. After that, I received lots of offers from other magazines, tv and radio. I turned some of these down as I felt like I was being treated like a freak show, when in fact, I just adore long nails and have a career like everyone else.
Do you wear your long nails frequently?
Yes, all the time! I feel naked without my nails. I love to wear them long with acrylic. At the moment, I have natural overlays as I’m trying to grow my own nails.
I’m dying to ask you about the feedback you receive and the comments.
I get some lovely emails and calls from my customers thanking me. It’s great that I can make a difference. I also get pictures sent to me regularly, which is fantastic but sometimes more than I want to see if you get my drift! Most comments are extremely positive but I love people to give me their ideas. I will always do my best to achieve a certain design/look for someone.Sam I want to thank you for being here with us today, and I want to wish you every success, I’ll looking forward to see what you’ll do next!
Thank you for inviting me. I have lots coming up soon, including some new clear tips which should be available from next week.
