Wicked’s nail artist Shea Osei on designing Elphaba’s nails, representation in beauty, and breaking into session work
Episode two of the second season of The Pro Beauty Pod is here – and it features a conversation with Shea Osei, the Essex-based British-Jamaican nail tech behind the iconic nails in the Wicked movie.
In this inspiring episode, Shea shares how she went from owning a Stratford salon to working on a major Hollywood production, creating unforgettable nail looks for Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.
She opens up about what it was really like being a film set nail technician, especially while heavily pregnant, and what it takes to succeed in high-pressure, high-profile creative environments.
We also discuss the importance of Black voices and visibility in the beauty industry, how to build your reputation as a session nail artist, and the skills and mindset needed to take your career to the next level.
Whether you're a nail tech looking to get into film and TV work, or a beauty professional interested in elevating your creative career, this episode is packed with real talk and valuable insights.
Listen to the episode now on all major podcast platforms and subscribe to The Pro Beauty Pod for interviews with beauty industry trailblazers.
We'll be bringing you more episodes over the next few months and have some more amazing guests coming up.
Don't miss our interview with celebrity facialists Nathalie Eleni and Abi Oleck, and we'll also be talking to business mogul Karen Betts about growing a brand, achieving perfect brows, and careers in beauty.
In the meantime, you can check out all of our previous episodes on our Pro Beauty Pod page.
