Nail Mogul, Houston

If there's a new trend in the world of nail art, it's almost a given that Nail Mogul's technicians are already on top of it. Checkerboard nail art? Check. Stiletto points with metallic gold tips? Sure! How about asymmetrically shaped banana-yellow nails topped with glitter and 3-D baubles? No problem. But as wild as the designs can get, Nail Mogul owner Vicki Adams also enjoys devising subtly creative looks that are office-appropriate—such as the elegant half-moon manicure she demonstrated for Ebony. Adams has been a nail tech for nearly two decades, time that includes a stint as an educator for the CND Shellac brand. In that time, she's also developed luxurious spa treatments that incorporate exfoliating sea salt scrubs, soothing soaks, and gentle massage, making skin soft enough for clients to bashfully ask permission to hold their own hand.