Nails by Shelly R.

The space. The artist. The art. 💖🪩🫶🏻✨️

A little look at the world behind Nails by Shelly R.
The tiny home studio in Forest Lake where we take our time.

The slightly chaotic nail tech who will happily spend way too long figuring out how to make an idea work.

And the finished sets that are usually a little weird, a little colourful and very much not clean-girl nails.

I’ve built this space to feel different from a busy salon. It’s private, 1:1, low-sensory and very much a place where you can come in, switch off and let me do my thing.

Structured manicures, Gel-X extensions and custom nail art for people who want their nails to actually feel like them.

📍 Based in Forest Lake, Brisbane.
🌐 Bookings are open online.

October books are open 👻💖🪩

If you've been thinking about booking in, this is your sign to stop thinking about it and actually pick a date.

I’m here for the clients who want their nails to be a bit weird, a bit colourful and definitely not boring. Chrome, 3D details, tiny gems, crazy colour combinations, little bits of everything — we can have some fun with it.

I work from my private nail studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane, one client at a time, specialising in Structured Manicures, Apres Gel-X and custom nail art.

So whether you're a regular or you've been stalking my work for a while and finally want to come in — October is now available to book online.

Grab your spot through the link in my bio.



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There’s a reason I love getting to know my clients beyond just their nail shape.

When I know what you do, where you’re going, what you normally wear, what you’ll actually be able to live with and, y’know… you as a person, I can make much better decisions with your nails.

This set was a freestyle for a trip to New Zealand, and because I know this client so well, I could just run with it. No Pinterest board. No “I’ll have what she’s having.” Just me going, yep, I know exactly what we’re doing here.

That relationship is a huge part of why I love 1:1 nail appointments. I’m not just doing a set of nails and sending you on your way — I’m learning what works for you, so I can give you better advice, better structure, better retention and designs that actually feel like yours.

And sometimes that means sitting down and letting me freestyle. 😉

📍 Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅 Structured Manicures + Apres Gel-X
🎨 Custom nail art & freestyle sets
🖤 Private, 1:1 appointments

If you’re looking for a Brisbane nail tech who actually gets to know your nails and you, you know where to find me.



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Is gel safe for nails? 🤔

There’s a conversation I think we need to have a little more openly in the nail industry.

And no, this isn't a “China bad, expensive brand good” post.

It’s much bigger than that.

Australia has regulations around cosmetic products and ingredients, but that doesn't mean every gel product you see online has been independently assessed and approved as a professional nail product, or that the person using it has the training to understand what they're working with.

And this is where I think consumers can get caught out.

A bottle can look professional.

A website can look professional.

A product can come with an SDS.

None of those things, on their own, tell you whether the person applying it actually understands gel chemistry, curing, application, product compatibility, nail health, safe removal or allergy prevention.

That's why I care so much about professional products AND professional education.

I've spent years learning this stuff because I don't believe my job is simply putting pretty colours on nails.

I need to understand the products I'm using, why I'm using them, who they're suitable for and how to use them properly.

And honestly, I think that's one of the biggest differences between getting your nails done and seeing a properly trained nail professional.

The industry needs better standards.

And clients deserve to know what they're paying for.

If you're looking for a nail technician in Brisbane who takes nail health, product knowledge, education and safe application seriously, that's exactly what I do here at Nails by Shelly R. in Forest Lake.

Save this one. It might be worth asking a few better questions before your next nail appointment.



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Short nails, but make them fun.

Short doesn’t mean boring, and you definitely don’t need extensions to have really good nail art.

This set has all the little details, just worked around her natural nail length.

If you’ve got short or petite nails and keep thinking your inspo won’t work, send it through anyway. We’ll make it work for you.

September bookings are open in Forest Lake, Brisbane — for regulars and one-off appointments.

🌸 Private 1:1 appointments only
✨ BIAB, Gel X & E-File Manicure specialist
❣️ Bespoke Home Studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅🏻 4x Certified Nail Technician
🐰 Cruelty-free Japanese & Korean gels
🧼 Sterilised Tools (Class B Autoclave)
🌈 LGBTQIA2+, BIPOC & Neurodivergent ally



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Whats the difference between a private nail tech and a nail shop?

This client came to me after years of going to nail shops. Her nails were crumbling, there was barely any sidewall left and they had very little natural support.

So instead of constantly covering up the problem, we changed the approach.

We focused on her natural nail health first.

Over time, her nails have grown out stronger, healthier and with proper structure. We’re not trying to make her nails look good for a week or two — we’re building a routine that actually works for her nails.

And this is one of my favourite parts of being her nail tech:
Even now, when she occasionally comes in with a broken nail after a particularly rowdy night out 😂, she knows she’s in safe hands.

I can assess the break, work out what the nail needs and use professional techniques to repair and support it without throwing her straight back into the cycle that caused the damage in the first place.

That’s the difference between just getting your nails done and having a nail tech who actually knows your nails.
If you’re tired of hiding damaged, weak or constantly breaking nails and you’re ready to invest in getting them back on track, this is exactly the kind of work I love doing.

🌸 Private 1:1 appointments only
✨ BIAB, Gel X & E-File Manicure specialist
❣️ Bespoke Home Studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅🏻 4x Certified Nail Technician
🐰 Cruelty-free Japanese & Korean gels
🧼 Sterilised Tools (Class B Autoclave)
🌈 LGBTQIA2+, BIPOC & Neurodivergent ally



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Same vibe, different nails. 💅

I’ve had a few clients bring me very similar inspo lately, and I love seeing how different each set turns out.
Because I’m not here to slap the same design on everyone and call it a day.

Different nail lengths need different things. Different shapes need different placement. And sometimes you want your version of the inspo, not that same set you saw on Pinterest.

So I’ll take the bits you love, experiment with the colours, placement and details, and adapt it to suit the nails you actually have.

Short nails? Yep.
A bit more length? Yep.
Want all the cute little details squeezed onto tiny nails? Challenge accepted. 😂

The result is three sets that started with a similar idea, but none of them looks like copies of each other.

That’s my favourite kind of nail art.

If you’re in Forest Lake or around Brisbane and you’ve got an inspo pic you love but aren’t sure how it’ll work on your nails, bring it with you. We’ll figure it out together. 🫶

🌸 Private 1:1 appointments only
✨ BIAB, Gel X & E-File Manicure specialist
❣️ Bespoke Home Studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅🏻 4x Certified Nail Technician
🐰 Cruelty-free Japanese & Korean gels
🧼 Sterilised Tools (Class B Autoclave)
🌈 LGBTQIA2+, BIPOC & Neurodivergent ally



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Not every damaged nail needs an extension. Sometimes, it needs a completely different approach. 🤔

Back in March, my client came home from an adventure in the Amazon with her nails in a very different condition to when she left.

After prolonged exposure to the water, her nails had become thin, brittle and much more fragile than usual.

So rather than simply putting extensions over the top or applying gel and hoping for the best, I assessed what her natural nails actually needed.

We went with hard gel armouring to give her natural nails the extra strength and protection they needed while they grew out and recovered.

A few months later, the difference is pretty incredible.

Her nails are stronger than they were before her trip, the shape stays beautifully intact between appointments and the hard gel has held up through life as an international flight attendant — and someone who clearly doesn't believe in sitting still for too long. 😂✈️

This is exactly why I don't believe in taking a one-size-fits-all approach to nails.

Your lifestyle, natural nail condition, nail length and what your hands actually go through all matter when deciding what service and product will work best for you.

Now her nails are ready for whatever adventure comes next.

If you're in Brisbane and your nails are thin, brittle, damaged or simply not lasting the way you'd like them to, this is the kind of problem I love solving.

📍 Private nail studio in Forest Lake, Brisbane
💅 Natural nail care • Hard gel armouring • Structured manicures • Detailed nail art

Bookings are available via the link in my bio.



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